Dr. Watson's topic will be "Protecting Our Planet, Securing Our Future: Linkages Among Global Environmental Issues and Human Needs."

Dr. Robert T. Watson is director for Environment and head of the Environment Sector Board at the World Bank. In May 1996 he joined the World Bank as senior scientific advisor at the Environment Department. Before joining the World Bank, he was associate director for environment in the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President in the White House. Prior to joining the Clinton White House, Dr. Watson was director of the Science Division and chief scientist for the Office of Mission to Planet Earth at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Dr. Watson has played a key role in the negotiation of global environment conventions and the evolution of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). From 1991 to 1994, he served as chair ofthe GEF's Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel, and he is chair or co-chair of a number of international scientific assessments, including Working Group II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the United Nations Environment Programme/World Meteorological Organization. Since September 1997, Dr. Watson has served as chair of the IPCC.

Dr. Watson received his Ph.D. in chemistry from London University in 1973 and has received many national and international awards and prizes, including the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences Award for Scientific Freedom and Responsibility in 1993.