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OS a June 12, 1979

JOSHUA LEDERBERG

PRESIDENT

Mr. Laurance S.. Rockefeller
Room 5600

30 Rockefeller Plaza

New York, New York 10020

Dear Laurance:

I am writing to bring you up-to-date on plans which
are underway for the 1979 Fairfield Osborn Memorial Lec-~-
ture. As you recall, we have agreed that responsibility
for organizing the lectures should rotate, each year,
among the Conservation Foundation, The New York Zoologi-
cal Society and The Rockefeller University. This rota-
tional system will efficiently centralize, with each
organization in turn, the tasks of selecting a speaker,
date and location, as well as all necessary details of
invitations and physical arrangements. I am confident
that we will all find this to be an effective way of
conducting the Fairfield Osborn Lectures while still
insuring that the three sponsoring organizations are
regularly and fully informed of plans as they develop.

*

I am delighted that we have been successful in en-
listing Dr. Russell Peterson, newly appointed President
of the National Audubon Society, to give the next Fair-
field Osborn Lecture on Monday, November 12, here at the
University. Enclosed is a copy of Dr. Peterson's biography
as it appears in the International Who's Who along with an
article which you may have seen in the May 22nd New York
Times. We have enthusiastic recommendations from those
who know him as both a scientist and a public official
committed to informed analysis and action on environmental
issues.

 

It is very good news that you have invited Prince
.Philip-to-speak-on-behalf of -The-New York Zoological -Society
at Alice Tully Hall in the fall of 1980. That important
occasion will be followed, in 1981, by a speaker to be
enlisted by the Conservation Foundation.
Mr. Laurance S. Rockefeller
June 12, 1979

-2-

Our plans are already in process for the November
12 lecture so that we can extend invitations as far in
advance as possible. In that regard, your help in sub-
mitting lists of invitees is most important at this
time. Messrs. Richard Dana and Barry Dress of the
University's staff will be in touch with you, and you
may wish to designate a member of your organization
with whom they can coordinate all invitations and other
arrangements.

There is every reason for the Fairfield Osborn Lec-
tures to flourish as an important forum for the presen-
tation of distinguished speakers who address significant
and compelling topics related to conservation. As we
look to the future, it would be useful to pool a range
of suggestions for possible lecturers, and my colleagues
and I will be developing our thoughts for joint review.
Two other items for our mutual concern are the possi-
bility of publishing each lecture, and the development
of a small, annual conference to explore more systemati-
cally the themes advanced at the lectures. I am very
interested in your reactions and any other ideas you may
have for shaping the lecture series.

Finally, I should like to express my gratitude for
the generous support provided by The New York Z200logical
Society and the Conservation Foundation which makes the
Osborn Lectures possible.

My thanks for your partnership in this program.

You Sincerely

   

cc: Mr. William K. Reilly
Mr. William Conway
Mr. Howard Phipps, Jr.

Encl.

bec: Mr. Rodney W. Nichols
Mr. Richard Dana
Mr. Barry Dress