Michael Pollan

The majority of author Michael Pollan's keynotes address the important role that food habits play in society as well as delving into cost-benefit analyses of traditional agricultural practices and the importance of sustainability in that sector.

Pollan is a contributing writer for New York Times Magazine and the author of several novels, four of which have been placed on the New York Times Best Seller list, including 'The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals,' which was cited as one of the best books in 2006 by both the New York Times and the Washington Post.

After completing a B.A. in English at Bennington College, where he graduated in 1977, Pollan then progressed to also earn an M.A. in English from Columbia University in 1981. He is currently a professor at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism where he lectures about the importance of making fundamental changes to traditional processes in agriculture, education, food and environmental practices.

His keynote speeches and his writing have earned him a place on both the 2010 'TIME 100' and Newsweek's 'New Thought Leaders' lists of influential people for his engaging dissemination of thought-provoking ideas.