Shteyngart, who teaches writing at Columbia University and Princeton University, is the author of The Russian Debutante’s Handbook (2002), Absurdistan (2006), and Super Sad True Love Story (2010). His writing has been featured in The New Yorker, The New York Times, and Slate. He is the winner of the Stephen Crane Award for First Fiction and the Book-of-the-Month Club First Fiction Award.

This Lecture Series brings guests to Tufts to share their journeys as entrepreneurial leaders. Alan’s sons, Jacob A08, and Caleb A11, describe their father as “an entrepreneur who embraced change” and hope that the Alan Shapiro Entrepreneurial Lectures inspire students and alumni to explore the world of entrepreneurship.

The Lyon & Bendheim Alumni Lecture series was established by JB Lyon, A85, and Tom Bendheim, A85, and chooses lectures that are leaders in their respective fields and have repeatedly proven themselves with tremendous achievements at the highest levels. The series mission is to bring prominent and successful alumni to campus to share their wisdom and experience with students.

On Mar. 7,  speaker Mary Davis, assistant professor in the department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning, will present on her research involving the relationship between economics and public health. When asked about her inspiration for this connection, Davis responded:

“I started working on a large epidemiologic study at Harvard investigating the connection between exposure to diesel exhaust and lung cancer. Since cancer takes a long time to develop, we needed to understand what exposures looked like in the past before environmental monitoring data were available. So I started looking into filling in the gaps with economic data, with the hypothesis that greater levels of economic activity generate air pollution.”

The theme of this semesters TIE Talks is Environmental Justice. Davis offered her own perspective on this semesters theme:

“For me, the term environmental justice broadly encompasses any group that is disproportionately exposed to environmental harm, especially those without the political clout to effect change.”

Moreover, the TIE Talks create another arena for environment-related discussion. Davis commented on the significance of the TIE Talks:

“I think that the TIE Talks provide an excellent opportunity to bring visibility to environmental issues on campus.”

TIE was started as a result of a growing need for more environmental programs and activities at Tufts. Since then, it has supported numerous research projects and events.Today, TIE continues to build more awareness and attention for environmental research, teaching and leadership.

Mary Davis’ lecture will be held Wednesday Mar. 7, 4:30 to 6:30pm, TIE Conference Room, Miller Hall.

[View the story "Television Reporting on Environmental Topics: Endangered?" on Storify]

The event was sponsored by the Environmental Studies program. Check out the schedule of upcoming Lunch and Learn events.