Featuring: Larry Burns Former Vice President of Research and Development, General Motors

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director, The Earth Institute, Columbia University

On October 1, 2009, Larry Burns completed a distinguished career with General Motors, where he served as corporate vice president of research and development. In addition to driving innovation in today’s vehicles, Burns led GM’s development of a new automotive “DNA” that marries electrically driven and “connected vehicle” technologies. The goal is to realize sustainable personal mobility with smart vehicles that are aspirational and affordable. He has been a major voice for the reinvention of the automobile and the diversification of transportation energy. Within GM, he personally championed vehicle electrification, “connected” vehicles, fuel cells, bio-fuels, advanced batteries, autonomous driving and a series of innovative concept vehicles. Burns holds a Ph.D. in civil engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. Burns recently completed a book entitled Reinventing the Automobile: Personal Urban Mobility for the 21st Century. It is scheduled for publication in January 2010.

Open to the public. Light refreshments will