February 4th, 2010
SMBA series kicks off with stimulating lecture

SMBA senior Maggie Boylan presents Brock Brown of the Texas State University Geography Department with a gift from the student body after his lecture on campus. Photo by Don Anders.

STAFF REPORT

The first of the Distinguished Lecture Series at San Marcos Baptist Academy (SMBA) took place last week as Brock Brown of Texas State challenged his listeners to think about the “cultural economy,” a new term to the high school students.

“Each generation makes the decisions that will affect the future,” said Brown, who went on to pose this question: “Will there be enough resources for you, your family, your children and grandchildren and for the global economy—are we sustainable?”

Brown outlined the factors that affect the cultural economy including energy, technology and the environment. He said that young people in today’s world must do more than just learn information. They must be willing to observe, identify problems and make creative solutions for the challenges that will present themselves in the future.

Brown is an award-winning professor in Texas State’s world renowned Geography Department. It is the largest and most highly recognized undergraduate geography department in the country.

Four more Texas State geography professors will participate in the lecture series, including Fred Day on Feb. 16 with the topic, “Population Dynamics of Texas.” Other lectures in the series include “Changes in Urban Form ” with Kenneth Romig on Feb. 23, “The Geography of the Holocaust” with Alberto Giordano on March 25, and “Disaster in Texas: The Dust Bowl of the 1930’s” by Denise Blanchard on March 31.

Each lecture takes place at the SMBA library and is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Attendees must call (512) 752-8006 to reserve space or get additional information.