Research Triangle Park, N.C.  We are what we eat. And in America today the deeper implications of that truism can be fairly troubling. When bestselling author Michael Pollan speaks at the Morehead Planetarium on October 11th at 7:00 p.m., his message will resonate with ecologists, economists, and ethicists as well as anyone who cares about what they eat. His lecture "The Omnivore's Dilemma: Searching for the Perfect Meal in a Fast Food World" will address the profound political, economic, psychological, and even moral implications that arise from modern agribusiness and the distance we have placed, both metaphorically and literally, between ourselves and the growth and production of our food.

A noted naturalist, environmental journalist, and popular lecturer, Pollan's national bestseller, The Botany of Desire (Random House, 2001) explored the historical interplay between humans and cultivated plant species. His most recent book, The Omnivore's Dilemma (Penguin, 2006) examines the challenges and anxieties that Americans face when they ask, "What's to eat?" Tracing the ingredients of four meals from the table back to their origins, Pollan powerfully articulates an argument for more mindful consumption—not only for what goes into the foods we eat, but for how they are produced, and where. What, for instance, is the environmental impact of eating organic greens that must be shipped cross-country? Why should we be concerned about the dominance of corn-derived foods in our national diet?

Michael Pollan appears at the Morehead Planetarium as part of the National Humanities Center's Autonomy, Singularity, Creativity: The Human and the Humanities initiative (ASC). The ASC initiative, sponsored in part by UNC-Chapel Hill and other Triangle research universities, facilitates dialogue between scientists and humanists on the new conceptions of the human that are emerging in contemporary science and technology. "We are excited to have Michael Pollan participate in ASC," said Geoffrey Harpham, President and Director of the National Humanities Center. "He is a scholar and writer whose approach eloquently bridges the concerns of scientists and humanists. We are also pleased to partner with the Morehead Planetarium in bringing him to UNC and the Triangle community."

For more information on Michael Pollan's appearance or involvement with the National Humanities Center, or to schedule an interview, please call Don Solomon at 919-549-0661 or e-mail him at dsolomon@nhc.rtp.nc.us.