Dr Lopez-Portillo, a resident of Beckley, is a specialist in the subject of accelerating technological change and its socio-economic impact. He continues to be an advisor to the Mexican Government regarding science diplomacy and the UN Resolution on "Impact of rapid technological change on the achievement of the SDGs”. His recent work on this topic is reflected in his book entitled: “The Great Transition” (2018). His multifaceted professional experience allows him to tackle the issues of the impact of technological change from different angles.

José Ramón has served as vice-minister in the Federal Government of Mexico and is a former ambassador and Independent Chairman of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The UN Secretary-General nominated him again as a member of the Group of 10 experts of the Technology Facilitation Mechanism (2018-).

​He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Oxford, where he has worked on several academic projects. His wife, Mantina, has previously given us an excellent talk on the Monarch Butterfly and its annual migration to Mexico.

This talk will be on Zoom and in the pub.

The talk has been recorded. To request access to the recording, please email info@bacbs.org.