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January 08, 2005

Professor William R. Moomaw Receives Honorary Doctorate from University of Belgrade, Serbia

During this past fall, Professor William R. Moomaw, Professor of International Environmental Policy and Director of the Center for International Environment & Resource Policy at the Fletcher School, received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro. This honorary degree, in the form of a beautiful parchment, was presented to Professor Moomaw by the Dean of the University of Belgrade, Dr Deyan Popovich, who was wearing a traditional gown at the ceremony.

At the occasion, Prof. Moomaw delivered a speech on the “Chemistry of Sustainability,” presenting some of his past work and his lifelong aspiration for a cleaner planet that could sustain the ways of a modern human being. In his address, Prof. Moomaw aimed to share with guests how changes in the world have driven his choice to move from the field of physical chemist to a policy expert. “I wish to describe a different kind of chemistry that encompasses science, but also economics, law and policy. I find the chemistry metaphor to be a useful one for conveying the richness of the world of sustainability in which I now find myself working. I have moved from being a natural scientist to being a policy scientist (perhaps a political chemist rather than a political scientist) where I am called upon to translate science into policy relevant terms both for my students and academic colleagues, but also for decision makers who have the power to create real improvements in the well being of all people.”

Fletcher alumni and past fellows in Serbia and Montenegro were especially proud of Professor Moomaw. On this short trip, Professor Moomaw met with Rod Moore (State Department Fellow ’00), who is now working as Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Belgrade and Ana S. Trbovich (BA/MALD ’98, current Fletcher PhD student), who is serving as Assistant Minister of International Economic Relations in the Serbian government. Enthusiastic congratulations and warm greetings for Professor Moomaw also came from the Kosovo province of Serbia, which gathers several Fletcher alumni including Fiona Scholand Evans (MALD ’00), currently working as the Political Officer in the US Office in Prishtina.

To read Prof. Moomaw’s full acceptance speech, go to the Center’s website at http://fletcher.tufts.edu/ierp/moomaw_speech.shtml

Posted by jessica at January 8, 2005 01:34 PM