As I walked into the classroom and waited in a short line to grab some lunch, Dr. Musil walked right up to me and introduced himself. I thought to myself, for having such an esteemed and extensive background, what an approachable and friendly man. Robert K. Musil, PhD, MPH is the President and CEO of the Rachel Carson Council, founded in 1965 by her closest friends and colleagues. Dr. Musil also teaches on climate change and American environmental politics at the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, School of Public Affairs at American University. From 1992-2006, Dr. Musil was the longest-serving Executive Director and CEO of Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR), winner of the 1985 Nobel Prize for Peace. He is a graduate of Yale and holds a Ph.D. from Northwestern University and an M.P.H. in environmental health from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. As a Woodrow Wilson Foundation Visiting Fellow since 2006, Dr. Musil travels to several universities throughout the year speaking and inspiring students across the nation. Dr. Musil’s interest in global sustainability, security, and health issues peaked during Agent Orange and the Vietnam War. He became an advocacy leader and a campus activist organizing anti-war campaigns which led him to later launch and lead PSR campaigns for sage and affordable drinking water, clean air, and to prevent toxic pollution.
During the lunch, Dr. Musil spoke of Rachel Carson’s determination and ardent will to protect the living world and all of its creatures. As he discussed details and ideas from his new book Rachel Carson and Her Sisters: Extraordinary Women Who Have Shaped America’s Environment, Dr. Musil stressed the fact that Rachel Carson was not alone in this fight for a cleaner and safer world. She was supported by and connected to several people who helped pave the path for her work in communicating our world’s environmental threats. One student asked, “How can we blend science and politics to work towards a more sustainable future?” As a member of the Green Group, representing the nation’s thirty-four largest environmental groups, Dr. Musil has worked closely over the years with leading public figures including Presidents and Vice Presidents, numerous cabinet members, and Congressional leaders. Dr. Musil mentioned how having the ability to respect each other’s views and perceptions on a certain situation is absolutely crucial in order to come to an agreement. Learning how to coexist may be one of our only solutions for reaching a compromise with the goal of creating impactful change. Another student asked, “Where is the movement? If global warming is such a threat to humanity, where are the people making changes and doing something about it?” Dr. Musil explained how there is a growing environmental movement. Just because the media isn’t always covering these stories, that doesn’t mean that it’s not there. The more we work together to raise awareness and inspire future generations, the more this movement will continue to grow. Just as Margret Mitchell once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
I’d like to thank the Kozmetsky Center at St. Edward’s University for providing this opportunity. Overall, the lunch lecture with Dr. Musil was very beneficial. I thought it was a great chance for students to learn from such an honored figure in environmental policy.
For more information on his organization please visit the Rachel Carson Council and check out the full tour of Dr. Musil’s Book and Lecture appearances.
-Christine Lacayo
Sustainability Graduate Assistant
Master’s in Environmental Management and Sustainability