ODU President's Lecture Series Bringing Jean-Michel Cousteau to Campus
April 05, 2012
Jean-Michel Cousteau, filmmaker, environmental activist and son of oceanographic legend Jacques Cousteau, will visit Old Dominion University April 23 as speaker for the President's Lecture Series.
His talk will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the North Cafeteria of Webb Center. All President's Lecture Series presentations are free and open to the public.
Since being "thrown overboard" by his father at age 7, wearing newly invented scuba gear, Cousteau has dedicated himself to raising awareness of the importance of protecting the world's water resources and the life contained in them.
For 40 years, the son of the famed ocean explorer has investigated the ocean realm aboard the family's small watercraft Calypso and Alcyone. Honoring his father's heritage, Cousteau founded the Ocean Futures Society in 1999 to carry on this pioneering work.
Cousteau has produced more than 80 films, and has received an Emmy, Peabody Award, the Sept d'Or and Cable Ace Award. In 1989, he became a syndicated columnist for the Los Angeles Times, and his articles have appeared in more than 60 newspapers worldwide.
The Ocean Futures Society, a nonprofit marine conservation and education organization, serves as a "voice for the ocean" by communicating in all media the critical bond between people and the sea, and the importance of prudent environmental policy.
As the organization's chairman of the board, Cousteau travels the world, meeting with leaders and policymakers at both the grassroots level and the highest levels of government and business. His message is the same - educate and energize alliances for positive change.
Cousteau was honored with the Environmental Hero Award, presented by then-Vice President Al Gore at the White House National Oceans Conference in 1998. The recipient of honors from maritime organizations around the world, Cousteau received in 2008 a lifetime achievement award from Jules Verne Adventures and the national Marine Sanctuaries Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award.
For more information about Cousteau's talk for the President's Lecture Series, call ODU's Office of University Events at 757-683-5759.