Our Future and Innovation: James Houpis at TEDxHayward

James Houpis is university provost and vice president of academic affairs for California State University, East Bay. Houpis was named dean and professor of geological and environmental sciences at CSU Chico in 2001, and from 2003-2007 was director of the university's Bidwell Environmental Institute. Previously, he served as a professor of environmental sciences at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Ill., where he directed the Environmental Sciences Program from 1998-2001. Houpis received his bachelor's degree in environmental sciences in 1978 and his doctorate in forest science in 1989 from UC Berkeley. He earned a master's degree in biology in 1984 from San Diego State University. He was an environmental scientist and project leader in the Health and Ecological Sciences Division for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory from 1986 to 1996. From 1991-1993, he was an adjunct professor in biological sciences at CSU Chico.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)