Though problems of going to the moon and curing cancer can take precedence, the Honors College hopes to create the same awareness for coastal sustainability.Author Mike Tidwell will speak at the Honors College Convocation tonight at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Cotillion Ballroom to raise awareness for coastal sustainability.Tidwell’s book, “Bayou Farewell: The Rich Life and Tragic Death of Louisiana’s Cajun Coast,” discusses the effects of coastal depletion on the Louisiana coastline.Tidwell predicted the Hurricane Katrina disaster in his book, which was published in 2003, a University news release said.The Honors College chose “Bayou Farewell” as its first convocation book for incoming freshmen to read, and the college offers a class on the human response for natural disasters.”We wanted to pick a book that we would have all of our freshmen read and that would be used in their gateway class that they have coming into their honors college,” Honors College Dean Nancy Clark said.The issue of coastal sustainability did not start or end with Hurricane Katrina, which “Bayou Farewell” illustrates, she said.Reggie Galjour, French junior read “Bayou Farewell” for her Honors College class during her freshman year.”It was very informative and interesting,” she said. “I’m sure the guy’s going to be a good speaker if he speaks anything like he writes.”Raised in Bayou Lafourche, Galjour understands the effects of coastal depletion and hurricanes.”[‘Bayou Farewell’] definitely raises awareness for out-of-state students, and, hopefully, it will energize students that are from [Louisiana],” she said.The School of the Coast and Environment partnered with the Honors College to promote the University’s Coastal Sustainability Agenda, which is included in the University’s Flagship Agenda, said Robert Twilley, associate vice chancellor of research and economic development.”Our job is, as a university, how to fix [the coast] … [and] to really understand the solution,” he said. “You have to understand the problem.”Twilley is excited for the challenge the University faces with research and development with coastal sustainability.”It is a hallmark that LSU has chosen to solve one of the most critical issues in Louisiana,” he said.————Contact Kristen M’lissa Rowlett at [email protected]