Richard Sandor, who is among America’s most innovative economists, will discuss his recently published book, “Good Derivatives: A Story of Financial and Environmental Innovation,” at a dinner and lecture at the University of Oklahoma on Monday, Oct. 1, 2012.

Widely regarded as the “father of financial futures” and named by TIME Magazine in 2007 as the “father of carbon trading,” Sandor takes on the issues of financial innovation at a time of public distrust of derivatives and a vigorous debate among policy makers about financial markets’ role in the global economy.

In “Good Derivatives,” he uses his personal experience in the global markets to tell the story of how financial innovation has been a positive force in the last four decades. Through the eyes of an inventor of new markets, he explains that if properly designed and regulated, these “good derivatives” can open vast possibilities to address a variety of global problems.

While serving as vice president and chief economist of the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) in the early 1970’s, Sandor was instrumental in the creation of interest rate futures. In 1992, Dr. Sandor was honored by the City of Chicago for his contribution to the creation of financial futures and his recognition as the "father of financial futures.”

Sandor is the founder of the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), the first voluntary, legally binding greenhouse gas cap-and-trade system. In 2003, Sandor was chosen by TIME Magazine as one of its “Heroes for the Planet.” He continued this innovative work by developing the Chicago Climate Futures Exchange (CCFE) in 2004. In 2005, Sandor founded the European Climate Exchange (ECX), Europe’s leading exchange operating in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme and the benchmark for world carbon prices.

He has held academic positions at many institutions including the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University, and at the schools of businesses at the University of California at Berkeley, Stanford University, Columbia University and presently at the Law School at the University of Chicago. Sandor is also a Distinguished Professor of Environmental Finance at Guanghua School of Management at Peking University.

Sandor has also served as chief economist for The Chicago Board of Trade and is a member of the Board of Governors of the School of Art Institute of Chicago as well as the Board of Visitors for the International Programs Center at OU. He has been a featured speaker at financial and environmental conferences around the world.

He and his wife Ellen are also among the nation’s top collectors of art. Their collection of photography was listed by Art and Antiques magazine as one of the top 100 collections in the United States. They are generous donors to the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art at the University of Oklahoma and gave the lead gift to establish the exhibition gallery for photography at the museum. Ellen Sandor is a member of the Board of Visitors of the museum.

A limited number of seats are available for OU students, faculty and staff as well as members of the public interested in climate exchange. Reservations are required. For more information, reservations or accommodations on the basis of disability, call the OU Public Affairs (405) 325-3784 or email specialevents@ou.edu.