(Oct. 26, 2009) - Dr. Zachary Karabell, a renowned author, economic analyst and political historian will speak on myths and facts regarding linkage between the Chinese and American economies in a special campus presentation on Nov. 5, at 7 p.m., in the auditorium of the Health and Natural Sciences building.
His presentation, entitled “Superfusion: How China and America Became One Economy and Why the World’s Prosperity Depends on It”, is part of this year’s Leaders in Information Literacy (LIL) Grant Program.
“Dr. Karabell is one of the foremost experts studying the political and economic relationship between the United States and China,” said Dr. Ross Alexander, associate professor of political science.  “We chose him due to his expertise and because he can dispel some of the myths about the future of U.S.-China relations.  His talk will be especially relevant to students of political science, international affairs, business, economics, languages, and history.”
Karabell is president of River Twice Research, where he analyzes political and economic trends and challenges many commonly held beliefs in fields ranging from environmental stability to the world economy.  As the portfolio manager of the China-US growth fund, he identified deep implications of an entity now referred to as “Chimerica”: the converging economies of China and the United States.
The university’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), a component of academic accreditation, sponsors the information literacy program, which began in fall 2007 to encourage information literacy integration in the classroom.  Information literacy is the ability to know when information is needed and how to access, evaluate, and use information effectively and ethically.  This year, the program offered 10 grants of $1000 each to encourage and recognize instructors who incorporate information literacy into their lessons.  
“Many innovative faculty members have utilized information literacy in a variety of ways in just about every academic discipline on campus,” Alexander said.  
Karabell’s speech will reinforce these values as he speaks about the intricacies of the economic relationship between China and the United States.  
To promote the importance of discerning quality information, President Barack Obama proclaimed October as National Information Literacy Month.
A portion of the proclamation states, “Though we may know how to find the information we need, we must also know how to evaluate it…We now live in a world where anyone can publish an opinion or perspective, whether true or not, and have that opinion amplified within the information marketplace. At the same time, Americans have unprecedented access to the diverse and independent sources of information, as well as institutions such as libraries and universities, that can help separate truth from fiction and signal from noise.”
Karabell’s Nov. 5 presentation is free and open to the public.

-- Mike Marshall