PatK

Scientific and Technological Cooperation and the Trans-Atlantic Economy – the “Fifth Freedom”

November 25, 2014

James Gavigan, Minister Counselor, EU Mission to the United States

This program was held in collaboration with the Delegation of the European Union to the United States.

Even though the pursuit of new knowledge has never been delimited to national borders, the fact that public funds for science are largely in the hands of national authorities acts as a constraint on its international character. Moreover, the private financing of science mostly puts private interests ahead of the common good.

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Scientific and Technological Cooperation and the Trans-Atlantic Economy – the “Fifth Freedom”PatK2019-05-01T14:20:27-07:00

The US and Southeast Asia: The Challenging Times Continue

September 30, 2014

Will Itoh, Ambassador, Director, Washington International Programs, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Senior Advisor, McLarty Associates

Just in the past year, the political and economic atmosphere in mainland Southeast Asia – from Myanmar to Vietnam – has dramatically shifted. Myanmar’s “Arab spring” has faded, economically prosperous Thailand has succumbed to political control by a military junta, and still Communist Vietnam is locked in a fierce contest with China over disputed islands in the South China Sea. In April 2012, the Santa Fe World Affairs Forum devoted its two day symposium to an exploration of US-Asian relations. This month’s session by Asian specialist Ambassador Will Itoh explores the changes that have subsequently taken place in Asia’s dynamic Southeast corner and their implications for the US.

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The US and Southeast Asia: The Challenging Times ContinuePatK2019-05-01T14:20:27-07:00

Slovakia in the European Union 10 Years On: Promises Fulfilled?

August 12, 2014

Rick Zednik, EURActiv CEO

The spring of 2004 was momentous in the history of independent Slovakia. On May 1 of that year, the country joined the European Union. Coming as it did less than five weeks after Slovakia joined NATO, this marked the culmination of a long process that was highly uncertain in the 1990′s. A decade later, we can now reflect on what enabled Slovakia to join these European and trans-Atlantic structures, and how the subsequent integration has fared.

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Slovakia in the European Union 10 Years On: Promises Fulfilled?PatK2019-05-01T14:20:27-07:00

Still Thinking about the Unthinkable: Maintaining Nuclear Stability through Times of Transition

June 16, 2014

Houston T Hawkins, Senior Fellow, Principal Directorate, Global Security, Los Alamos National Laboratory

Any reduction of the nation’s nuclear arsenal will have consequences, both direct and ancillary. Before the U.S. moves too far in shrinking nuclear stockpiles, many circumstances will need to be carefully evaluated. The following developments would deserve particular attention: foreign force modernizations, especially those which might signify a waning of American technological superiority; the re-emergence of confrontational strategies by countries like China and Russia; nuclear proliferation activities not justified by credible civilian applications; and the strengthening of international terror networks directed against the U.S. and its allies.

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Still Thinking about the Unthinkable: Maintaining Nuclear Stability through Times of TransitionPatK2019-05-01T14:20:27-07:00

“Let My Dataset Change Your Mindset” TED talk (Video)

February 21, 2014

Hans Rosling, MD, Karolinska Institute, Moderator Arvid Lundy

Even the most worldly and well-traveled among us will have their perspectives shifted by Hans Rosling. A professor of global health at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute, his current work focuses on dispelling common myths about the so-called developing world, which (he points out) is no longer worlds away from the West. In fact, most of the Third World is on the same trajectory toward health and prosperity, and many countries are moving twice as fast as the west did. (more…)

“Let My Dataset Change Your Mindset” TED talk (Video)PatK2019-05-01T14:20:27-07:00

US Foreign AID and Child Survival: . . . What the US could Still Accomplish

November 15, 2013

David Douglas

We are living through an unprecedented decline in deaths of children worldwide from preventable diseases. U.S. foreign aid played a central role in this little-known story.
Around the world 6 million fewer children will die this year than in 1990. This global effort has been collaborative, but such success would not have happened except for U.S. foreign aid, which is only 1{fe681502a50b39155a3ca75d1ea8a550fe0ee8275f6f89ef466f508ac0f80879} of the federal budget. Yet as much progress has been made in global health, 18,000 children will die today, mainly from diseases that are preventable.

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US Foreign AID and Child Survival: . . . What the US could Still AccomplishPatK2019-05-01T14:20:27-07:00

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November 15, 2013