Best-selling author and ocean conservationist Paul Greenberg will talk about the multibillion-dollar omega-3 industry, the subject of his latest book, on April 9 (Tuesday) at the University of Notre Dame.
The event, including a reception and book signing, will take place at 7 p.m. in 102 DeBartolo Hall. It is free and open to the public.
“Paul Greenberg is a champion of the world’s oceans. He has done perhaps more than any other writer or educator to draw attention to the connection between ocean health, human health and planetary health,” said Debra Javeline, a professor in the Department of Political Science at Notre Dame who specializes in mass political behavior and the politics of climate change adaptation. “All those interested in sustainability, food politics, nutrition and thriving fish-filled waters will benefit from hearing Greenberg’s voice.”
Omega-3 fatty acids have long been celebrated by doctors and dietitians as key to a healthy heart and sharper mind. In the past few decades, that promise has been encapsulated in fish oil pills, one of America’s most popular dietary supplements. Greenberg’s latest book, “The Omega Principle: Seafood and the Quest for a Long Life and Healthier Planet,” investigates the industry behind these “miracle” pills and the collision between the survival of the ocean ecosystem and the human quest for health and long life at all costs.
“The health of our oceans is fundamental to the health of our planet and home,” said Joannes Westerink, chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences at Notre Dame. “Our human history has always been intimately tied to the oceans and it is critical we become grateful and thoughtful stewards of this vital component of our Earth system. Paul Greenberg’s works have thoughtfully brought into the national conversation critical elements of the health and sustainability of our ocean system.”
In addition to the “Omega Principle,” Greenberg is the James Beard award-winning author of the New York Times best-seller “Four Fish: The Future of the Last Wild Food” and “American Catch: The Fight for our Local Seafood.” He is a regular contributor to the New York Times and lectures widely on seafood and ocean sustainability. His 2015 TED talk has been viewed more than 1 million times.
Greenberg’s visit is sponsored by the Minor in Sustainability; Reilly Center for Science, Technology and Values; Environmental Change Initiative; Minor in Resiliency and Sustainability of Engineering Systems; College of Science; Richter Lecture Series on Environmental Sustainability; and Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences.
For more information, email sus@nd.edu.
Contact: Erin Blasko, assistant director of media relations, 574-631-4127, eblasko@nd.edu