Roads are the essential building blocks of economic development. Without roads, there can be no hydro projects, no electricity or telephone towers, and limited access to health care institutions and quality education. But what are the environmental, socioeconomic, and sociocultural impacts of expanding rural road networks in Nepal and globally?        

Join us for a Chats in the Stacks book talk with Robert E. Beazley and James P. Lassoie, coauthors of the new book Himalayan Mobilities (Springer Briefs in Environmental Science; June 23, 2017). The construction of new roads can also bring unintended negative impacts on the environment, the economy, and the cultural practices of communities. They will discuss the history of rural road development, the challenges of designing and constructing efficient future roads and what obstacles need to be overcome. Robert Beazley is a PhD student in the Department of Natural Resources, and James Lassoie is CALS International Professor of Conservation, in the Department of Natural Resources at Cornell. He teaches sustainable natural resource management and the application of interdisciplinary science to conservation. Lassoie received the 2016 Carpenter Memorial Advising Award for his contributions to the undergraduate experience.

Light refreshments served.

The book talk series at Mann Library is supported by the Mary A. Morrison Public Education Fund.