From waves to watersheds: integrating socio-economic and environmental values to build sustainability

Len Materman Program Advisor for Stanford University's Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development

Abstract

Solving our major challenges related to the environment and natural disasters requires that we navigate the complex relationships between natural, economic and social interests within society. In preparing future leaders to address these problems, research universities must give students the tools to access and synthesize various disciplines; in recent years, Stanford University has initiated several programs and research projects to try to do just that. Similarly, mitigating the most serious natural hazard facing our nation, the State of Hawai'i, and the University of Hawai'i -- flooding -- requires that we integrate environmental with socio-economic interests, and make a multi-jurisdictional watershed approach the norm rather than the exception.

Bio

Len Materman, Program Advisor for Stanford University's Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development, develops and implements new initiatives for the Center, including its work with the University of Hawai'i. Len also serves as Executive Director of a multi-jurisdictional (three cities and two counties) government agency focused on regional flooding, water supply, environmental and recreational issues in Silicon Valley, and he consults to the U.S. State Department on sustainable development issues. For the past eight years, Len has led the nonprofit America's River Communities, Inc., and in this role he served as the executive producer of a documentary film on watersheds and the Clean Water Act that was broadcast nationally on PBS in 2008. Previously, Len served as an advisor to Stanford's Center for Ocean Solutions, an advisor to the director of FEMA in the Clinton Administration, and on two White House Task Forces. Prior to his work in Washington, DC, Len served as UC Berkeley's government affairs director. Born and raised in Hawai'i, Len has degrees in Biology and Political Science from the University of California, Davis and has done graduate work in Public Policy at UC Berkeley.