Abu Dhabi Women's College welcomes Nobel Laureate Dr. Wangari Maathai and the Festival of Thinkers

Dr. Maathai is the first African woman to receive a Nobel Prize and the first woman in East and Central Africa to earn a doctorate degree. She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace. She has been listed in the United Nations Environment Programme's Global 500 Hall of Fame, named as one of the 100 heroines of the world, and elected by Earth Times as one of the 100 persons in the world who have made a difference in the environmental arena. She is an elected member of the Kenyan Parliament and is Kenya's Assistant Minister for Environment and Natural Resources.

"What an honor it is to have someone of such personal integrity and courage as Dr. Maathai visit our campus," said Dr. Bradley Cook, Director of ADWC. "She is a phenomenal example of leadership, commitment and social consciousness, and she demonstrates the power and influence for good that one citizen can have if she passionately believes in a cause. She is a tremendous role model for our students."

Dr. Maathai will address the audience of students and global leaders on the theme of "Future Challenges - A Vision for Children and Women of the World". The presentation will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Riz Khan of Al Jazeera.

Scheduled panelists include Rana Sabbagh, correspondent of the "Times London" in Jordan; Shabana Azmi, classical actress and Member of Parliament in India; Rohini Nilekani, Chairperson of Arghyam Trust in India; Zelmira Koch, Director and Head of Global Division of Chartwell Education; Lynn Nesbit of Janklow and Nesbit Associates in the United States; Dorothy Herman, CEO of Prudential Douglas Elliman in the United States; Jamie Amelio, President of Caring for Cambodia in the United States; Linda G. Davila, Chair of Board of Trustees, New York Institute of Technology; and Devi Cherian, journalist and social activist in India.

ADWC's Applied Media students will take on the responsibility for recording and documenting Dr. Maathai's presentation and the panel discussion. The students will also be responsible for confirming the live videostreaming of the proceedings to the ADWC Auditorium for the overflow audience. Following the discussion, the panelist members will meet with the Applied Media students for one-on-one interviews.

Dr. Maathai will also meet directly with ADWC students to discuss what they can do to protect the environment, how they can create their own visions to meet the challenges of the future, and how to create change in their own lives and communities. The students will also address the ideas and commentaries presented during the panel discussion.