McDonough to participate in panel discussion on sustainability

University of Michigan-Dearborn is hosting a presentation by world-renowned architect William McDonough, designer of Ford’s new Rouge Center manufacturing plant on Feb. 13 from 4-6 p.m.

McDonough’s presentation, entitled The Ford Rouge Plant: The History and Sustainability of Sustainable Manufacturing, will be followed by a panel discussion with the following experts:

Lindy Biggs, professor of history and executive director of the Sustainability Initiative at Auburn University.

Biggs has written about the development of mass production factories in the early 20th century and used the Rouge complex as one of her case studies. Jonathan Smith, UM-Dearborn English professor and event coordinator says that Biggs has a  "deep historical understanding of the Rouge as a place and of the importance of how the Rouge organized space and people." Her role at Auburn’s Sustainability Institute further bolsters her natural connection to this event.

Timothy Luke, professor of political science at Virginia Tech.

Smith explains that Luke studies the relationship between capitalism and nature and the environment, and characterizes him as "a critique-er of sustainability" who is doubtful that the movement can actually go far enough towards achieving its goals. Smith is happy that Luke’s participation ensures that the afternoon "is not simply a 'preaching to the choir' event. Let’s ask some questions of sustainability’s assumptions."  

Jay Richardson of Sustainable Business Solutions.

Richardson worked very closely with McDonough on the implementation of his designs at the Rouge. Smith says, "He brings the perspective of what’s involved with actually taking a design philosophy and plans and bringing them into physical existence. What are the issues, what are the difficulties when those designs and concepts have to be brought into physical reality?"

The event is the second annual Technology and Culture Forum. Technology and Culture is a peer-reviewed academic journal studies the history of technology.

UM-Dearborn, University of Detroit Mercy and The Henry Ford are helping to underwrite the publication for five years, and will each be producing an event per year as part of their arrangement. UM-Dearborn’s first forum, in a format similar to this, presented multiple perspectives on the future of the automotive industry.

The event is free and open to the public and will be held in Lecture Hall B of the campus's Social Sciences Building. UM-Dearborn will podcast the discussion on its website; metromode will post the link.