Woodlands Conference and Mitchell Prize

George and Cynthia Mitchell, inspired by Dennis Meadows, author of “Limits to Growth,” convened the first The Woodlands Conference, a symposium addressing the issues of sustainable societies, in 1975. The Mitchell Prize—a $100,000 cash prize awarded for the scholarly paper that best communicated the means and possibilities of transition to sustainable societies—was also established. Six more conferences were held and awards bestowed over the next 28 years. Avant-garde for its time, conference participants are recognized today as the pioneers of the sustainability movement.