This Sunday--Plouffe on Meet The Press

This weekend on Meet The Press, David Gregory will interview David Plouffe, Barack Obama's campaign manager, and The Forum's featured speaker at our February 6, 2010 program. On Sunday's program Plouffe will be discussing his new book The Audacity to Win, about his work on Obama's campaign. The book is scheduled for release on November 3rd.

When he comes to The Richmond Forum, Plouffe will be sharing his perspective on the future of the American democratic process in a world of tweeting Senators, blogging constituents, social networks for every special interest and policy position, and untold new ways for administrations to communicate directly with citizens. Should be fascinating!

Botany of Desire Tonight

Tune in tonight to see the documentary The Botany of Desire, based on the book of the same name by Michael Pollan. The program airs tonight on WCVE Richmond PBS & WHTJ Charlottesville PBS at 8pm. Check listings for your local PBS station.

Pollan spoke at The Richmond Forum last April with Marion Nestle.

Greg Mortenson Named One of "America's Best Leaders"

U.S. News & World Report has just named Greg Mortenson one of "American's Best Leaders" for 2009.

The magazine writes, "Greg Mortenson has been instrumental in furthering the cause of education, particularly for girls, in unstable areas of Pakistan. In so doing, Mortenson has also become an unofficial adviser to U.S. officials seeking a way forward in Pakistan and Afghanistan."

Read the full article here.

Greg Mortenson will be appearing at The Richmond Forum on January 9, 2010.

What Got Neil Interested In Science?

Check out what got Neil deGrasse Tyson into science when he was 9 years old...



Source: NOVA scienceNOW

Will Greg Mortenson Be Awarded The Nobel Peace Prize on Friday?

This is Nobel Prize week.

Yesterday the Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to three Americans focused on age research "for the discovery of how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and the enzyme telomerase." Two more Americans were among this year's recipients of the Nobel Prize in Physics "for the invention of an imaging semiconductor circuit—the CCD sensor."

The prize announcements will continue daily until the announcement of the Nobel Peace Prize Friday morning at 4:00 AM Eastern time. Greg Mortenson, who will be addressing The Richmond Forum on January 9th, is among this year's Peace Prize nominees.

I, for one, plan to set my alarm clock a bit earlier than usual Friday morning!

President Tony Blair?

The Times in London is reporting that "Tony Blair is in line to be proclaimed Europe's first president within weeks if the Irish vote 'yes' in today's referendum."

Read the full story here.

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair addressed The Richmond Forum last November 1st.