WelcomernSusan K. McIntosh, Director, Scientia Institute/De Lange Conferences, Rice UniversityrnrnMichael O. Emerson, Chair, De Lange Conference VIIrnAllyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology and Founding Director, Center on Race, Religion, and Urban Life, Rice UniversityrnrnRichard Raymond Johnson, Co-Chair, De Lange Conference VIIrnDirector of Sustainability, Facilities Engineering and Planning Department, Rice University; Associate Director, Center for the Study of Environment and Societyrnhttp://sustainability.rice.edurnrnC. H. (Herb) Ward, Co-Chair, De Lange Conference VIIrnProfessor, Civil and Environmental Engineering and Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyrnDepartment of Civil and Environmental EngineeringrnEditor-in-Chief, Environmental Toxicology & ChemistryrnrnMayoral Welcome rnIntroduction of Mayor of Houston:rnAllen Matusow is the academic affairs director at the Baker Institute and the William Gaines Twyman Professor of History at Rice University. He specializes in 20th century U.S. history and has written or edited five books, including "The Unraveling of America: A History of Liberalism in the 1960s" and "Nixon's Economy: Booms, Busts, Dollars and Votes." Matusow is currently writing on the world and Jimmy Carter.rnrnMayor Bill White has served as Mayor of Houston since January 2004. White received national recognition for his quick-thinking and innovative response to the needs of New Orleans residents fleering Hurricane Katrina. White’s successes as Mayor include neighborhood water sewage improvements, a reform of the city’s pension fund, cutting property tax rates, and pinpointing areas of high crime to curb criminal activity.rnrnMayors Panel: Provided via partnership with the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policyrn(three 20 minute talks plus a 30 minute moderated panel)rnrnIntroduction of Mayors: rnAllen Matusow, Academic Affairs Director, James A. Baker Institute for Public PolicyrnrnFirst mayor: rnAntanas Mockusis a Colombian mathematician, philosopher, and politician who served as Mayor of Bogotá for two terms. He frequently used humorous initiatives, such as hiring 20 mimes to make fun of traffic violators, to improve city life. Under his leadership Bogotá saw improvements in water, security, sewage, and traffic.rnhttp://www.hno.harvard.edu/gazette/2004/03.11/01-mockus.htmlrnhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2066545.stmrnrnSecond mayor: rnMustafa Syed Kamal is Mayor of Karachi, Pakistan. As one of the major ports of South Asia, Karachi has become a leading industrial, commercial and financial hub of Pakistan. In a recent interview with NPR, Kamal says he want to reshape his sprawling, dirty city once known for its green, leafy parks. In order to provide maximum services to the people, emphasis has been placed on the development and improvement of environmental conditions for the betterment of general public. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Geneva has granted ISO certification 9001 to City Government Karachi for providing best services to its citizens.rnhttp://www.karachicity.gov.pk/rnhttp://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91071685rnrnThird mayor: rnShuki Forer is the Mayor of the City of Rehovot, located in the center of Israel, south of Tel Aviv. Having welcomed immigrants from Poland, Yemen, Russia, Ethiopia, Morocco, the former Soviet Union, and North America, Rehovot is known as a city of newcomers and a community where people actually get along with each other. It is also recognized as a City of Science and Culture, and is Israel's citrus capital. http://www.rehovotisrael.com/city.html