Nay Htun is Professor and Executive Director for Asia Pacific at the University for Peace, New York Office. UPEACE was established by a United Nations General Assembly Decision in 1980 as an international post-graduate institution, with the main campus in Costa Rica. Dr. Nay Htun's current areas of focus are on causes of environmental and natural resource conflicts; traditional methods for conflict prevention and resolution; and reconciliation and healing. Dr. Nay Htun was formerly UN Assistant Secretary General with United Nations Development Programme (in charge of the Asia Pacific Bureau) and United Nations Environment Programme (in charge of Asia Pacific; established the Industry and Environment Office, Paris; also served as Deputy Executive Director). He was seconded to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development Secretariat, Geneva, where he served as Director of Programmes and helped prepare Agenda 21 and organize the Earth Summit at Rio. He serves on the Board of a number of not-for-profit research organizations, including the Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok; and the International Research Institute for Climate Prediction, Columbia University, New York. He is a Fellow and Visiting Professor at Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London University, where he graduated with a Ph.D. degree in Chemical Engineering in 1966, and is also Honorary Professor and Fellow of a number of Universities in the United States and Asia Pacific.