UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Daniel Hillel, a soil scientist described as a leading force in the ecological development of Israel, will offer the keynote address for Penn State's 2005 World Food Day activities at noon on Thursday, Oct. 20, in the Heritage Hall of the Paul Robeson Hetzel Union Building on the University Park campus.

His speech, "Toward Efficient and Sustainable Management of Soil and Water Resources: Lessons from the Past, Prospects for the Future," is sponsored by the department of crop and soil sciences and the Office of International Programs in the College of Agricultural Sciences.

Hillel is professor emeritus of environmental studies at the University of Massachusetts and senior research scientist for the Center for Climate Systems Research at Columbia University. He has written or edited more than 20 books, including "The Natural History of the Bible: An Environmental Exploration of the Hebrew Scriptures," "Out of the Earth: Civilization and the Life of the Soil" and "Rivers of Eden: The Struggle for Water and the Quest for Peace in the Middle East."

"Daniel Hillel was head of the soil and water department at Israel's Hebrew University, and he helped to develop innovative methods to conserve and use that country's limited water and soil resources," says World Food Day committee chair Marilyn McPheron, study-abroad coordinator in the College of Agricultural Sciences. "He's taught at several leading universities in the United States and internationally, is a Guggenheim Award recipient and is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

"As a pre-eminent environmental scientist and international consultant on agricultural development and environmental protection, Dr. Hillel brings a global perspective to our current soil and water management challenges that embraces everything from Hurricane Katrina to urban sprawl."

Along with the noon speech, World Food Day events include a hunger information fair with displays by the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Heifer International, Food Bank, Crop Walk, Empty Bowls and others from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. in Heritage Hall.

Video presentations to be shown as part of the information fair include: "The Promise" at 10 a.m.; "A Constant Struggle: The Hunger in Centre County" at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.; "Sowing Seeds of Hunger" at 1 p.m.; and "Remedies: Healing the Earth" at 3 p.m. All activities are free and open to the public.

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