Museum Director Robert Preucel participated in the United Nations Global Colloquium of University Presidents: Preservation of Cultural Heritage at Yale University from April 11-13, 2016. He was invited by President Christina Paxson to serve as the faculty expert representing Brown University.

The Global Colloquium of University Presidents was established in 2004 and meets annually to discuss a topic of concern to leaders in higher education and the Secretary-General. It has addressed such topics as academic freedom, the social benefits of research universities, the role of science in meeting global challenges, empowering women, working for and with young people, and world health.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon selected the preservation of cultural heritage for this year's topic. The colloquium drew University Presidents, Vice Chancellors, and faculty experts from universities in Brazil, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Ethiopia, France, Ghana, India, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Peru, Poland, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Bob gave a presentation on Native American sacred landscapes for the "Cultural Diversity and Heritage Preservation" panel.  He highlighted the cases of Bears Ears in Utah and Oak Flat in Arizona, both of which foreground the ongoing tensions and contradictions between federal, state, corporate and tribal rights and interests.