History

In 1998, Dr. Nat Robertson, distinguished alumnus of Emory, provided the university with a generous gift to fund a chair in science and society. The Nat C. Robertson Distinguished Professorship in Science & Society was established, and has brought several outstanding scholars to Emory, providing courses, seminars, and sharing their knowledge and experiences with faculty, students, and the community.

The program begun by Dr. Robertson’s gift has been designed to be a signature initiative of Emory College and an instructive model for fusing undergraduate teaching, the highest quality research, and public service. The rotating professorship is awarded to outstanding senior scholars whose work and distinction have come in addressing the link between science and society. The Robertson professors selected to participate will spend time on the Emory campus teaching undergraduates and meeting with students and faculty, in addition to offering public lectures.

Thus far there have been eight visiting Nat C. Robertson Distinguished Professors: Dr. Howard Kushner, Dr. David Suzuki, Dr. John Krige, Dr. David Freedberg, Dr. Anne Harrington, author Greg Bear, Dr. Marjorie Lorch, and Dr. Jules Pretty.. Each has shared his or her unique talents with the Emory community and contributed to expanding our understanding of the inter-relationships of science and society. Dr. John Krige has been invited to return to Emory during the 2007-2008 academic year to teach an undergraduate and a graduate course.

Click on the names to the left to learn more about the individual Robertson professors and their areas of study and activities while at Emory.

Copyright 2006, Emory College, Program in Science & Society
Contact: Jim Wynn at jrwynn@emory.edu