WATERLOO, Ont. (Monday, Sept. 27, 2010) - Joe MacInnis, a renowned deep-sea explorer and researcher, will share his insights into the catastrophic BP oil spill and its impact during a public talk this week at the University of Waterloo.
MacInnis, who was the first man to dive beneath the North Pole, will deliver this year's TD Canada Trust Walter Bean Lecture, entitled Oilstorm: Leadership Lessons from the Gulf of Mexico. It will be held Thursday, Sept. 30 at 4 p.m. in the Humanities Theatre, located in the J.G. Hagey Hall of the Humanities.
Last June, he was one of 28 experts asked to identify possible solutions for controlling the worst oil spill in U.S. history.
In his talk, MacInnis will draw on his vast experience with the Gulf of Mexico's waters and with the creatures and people who depend on them. He will discuss the importance of leadership in times of crisis, as well as some critical lessons salvaged from the disaster.
Using dramatic video clips, MacInnis will demonstrate how great leaders acquire and use 12 essential traits to enhance personal performance.
MacInnis has led or participated in more than 50 major undersea expeditions and logged more time in the Arctic Ocean than any other scientist. His work has earned him many honours, including the Order of Canada. Along with director James Cameron, MacInnis led the $7- million dive to the Titanic that inspired the blockbuster film.
"Dr. MacInnis helped research and write Canada's first national ocean policy," said Mark Seasons, dean of Waterloo's faculty of environment. "He has worked unceasingly to restore the health of the oceans and the Great Lakes. We are grateful that he has agreed to share his knowledge with us, and to deliver this prestigious lecture."
The lecture will also feature a tribute to top climatologist Stephen Schneider, the 2010 TD Canada Trust Walter Bean Visiting Professor in the Environment, who died July 19.
The TD/Walter Bean professorship attracts top international research professors on the environment to Waterloo to give public lectures, teach classes and meet with professors and students.
The professorship is named after the late Walter Bean, who was president of Waterloo Trust until its merger with Canada Trust in 1968. Waterloo's faculties of engineering, environment and science are responsible for planning and organizing the annual professorship. The faculty of environment hosts this year's lecture.
About Waterloo
The University of Waterloo, located at the heart of Canada's Technology Triangle, is one of Canada's leading comprehensive universities. Waterloo is home to 30,000 full- and part-time undergraduate and graduate students who are dedicated to making the future better and brighter. Waterloo, known for the largest post- secondary co-operative education program in the world, supports enterprising partnerships in learning, research and discovery. For more information about Waterloo, visit www.uwaterloo.ca.
