Published 7 April 2010
On a regular basis AUC organizes small scale seminars by inviting interesting guest speakers "who are in town" for presentations and debates with members of the academic community. The seminars are organized with AUC students, as part of their extra-curricular activities. They will aim to connect debates in science and society, focusing on "the big questions".
AUC offers a special series of seminars under the guidance of Prof. dr. Ir. Louise Fresco and Prof. dr. Robbert Dijkgraaf. The seminar series "Climate for Science" aims to focus on a series of subjects that are at the interface between Science and Society. A typical Liberal Arts and Science approach is chosen in order to tackle relevant ‘real world problems'. This may require an interdisciplinary approach, bridging the borders between academic disciplines. The first two seminars in June 2010 will deal with the uncertainties in Science related to the Climate Change. It will address how politicians, scientists, journalists, society other groups of people in different parts of the world deal with these uncertainties. The seminar will take place during the month of June 2010. Students will prepare the lectures and discussions in advance and actively participate Twenty-five students* will be selected to take part in the seminar. The students will be divided into five groups, each representing a part in society that deals with these uncertainties. During the first lecture, students will be assigned a certain group. They will do research on their own group (politicians, scientists, media etc.) to prepare the second lecture, where there will be role-play, in which each student will represent his or her group. | Lecturers: | Prof. dr. Robbert Dijkgraaf | | | Professor of Mathematical Physics at the UvA
President of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) | | | | | | Prof. dr. Ir. Louise Fresco | | | Professor at the UvA, focused on foundation of sustainable development in an international perspective.
Member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) | | | | | Student Assistants: | Sanne Hettinga
Tobias Schuster | | | | | When: | Wednesday 9 June 2010, 14.00 - 17.00
Friday 25 June 2010, 14.00-17.00 | | Where: | AUC Artis Library (Plantage Middenlaan 45) |
| | | * Attendance open to selected students only. |
What is the significance of Islamic art for the identity of Muslims and how has it influenced western culture as we know it? Drs. Michal Shabtay, media artist, filmmaker and curator draws on her knowledge of historical cultural traditions to show that the recognition of the mutual exchange of culture and knowledge, throughout history, can stimulate respect and a better cooperation between cultures. | Speaker: | Drs. Michal Shabtay | | | Artistic Director of the Messis Foundation | | Convener: | Thiandi Grooff | | When: | Thursday 17 May 2010, 18.30 - 20.00 | | Where: | AUC Artis Library (Plantage Middenlaan 45) |
Some of the past Who's in Town lectures:
What is the actual status of Dutch development aid? Why would the Netherlands continue to give aid? What should a reformation in the actual aid structure look like? These are some of the questions that the Scientific Council for Government Policy (WWR) addressed in their report on development aid. As part of the research team, Drs. Vanessa Nigten will present their findings and what should be done about the future of Dutch development aid policy. | Speaker: | Drs. Vanessa Nigten | | | Scientific researcher in development aid at the Scientific Council for Government Policy (WWR) | | Convener: | Casper Thomas, MA | | When: | Monday 7 June 2010, 18.30 - 20.00 | | Where: | AUC Artis Library (Plantage Middenlaan 45) |
Should the efficiency of the United Nations be improved? Does the UN fail to deal with international security issues adequately? Can our generation someday make the UN function more effectively? Amsterdam International Model United Nations will host an evening on the topic of the UN. AIMUN will present itself and its plans to bring MUN to AUC and will proudly host a panel discussion with a variety of experts in the field of the UN. | Panel: | Prof. Dr. Wouter G. Werner | | | Professor of Public International Law, VU University Amsterdam | | | | | | Dr. Dick Leurdijk | | | United Nations expert, Clingendael, Netherlands Institute of International Relations | | | | | | Dr. Ton Zwaan | | | Sociologist and Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, UvA | | | | | Conveners: | AIMUN | | | Dr. Louise Vigeant | | | | | When: | Wednesday 26 May 2010, 18.00 | | Where: | AUC Artis Library (Plantage Middenlaan 45) |
Does development aid hurt or help the countries that receive it? What effects has the economic crisis had on development aid? Drs. Bert Koenders, former Minister for Development Cooperation in the Netherlands, will discuss the positive and negative effects of development aid as well as the repercussions of the economic crisis on development aid. | Speaker: | Drs. Bert Koenders | | | Former Minister for Development Cooperation and member of the PvDA (Dutch Labour Party) | | Convener: | Martijn Hagoort | | When: | Tuesday 18 May 2010, 17.00 - 18.30 | | Where: | AUC Academic Building, Room 1.31 |
Does the advent of the Internet spell demise for the print media? Professor David Thorburn, an expert in the area of film and media and cultural studies, suggests that this view is premature. He discusses why print media will survive the creation of the Internet, just as radio survived the dawn of television. | Speaker: | Prof. David Thorburn | | | Professor of Literature, MIT
Director of MIT Communications Forum | | Convener: | Mr. Tienko Rasker (Ivy League Circle, MIT alumnus) | | When: | Thursday 22 April 2010, 19.00 - 21.00 | | Where: | AUC Artis Library (Plantage Middenlaan 45) |
Boris Dittrich , a resident of the United States and Advocacy Director for Human Rights Watch, will compare the transparency of Dutch democracy with that of the USA. Which system gives more power to the people? And is that a wise thing to do? | Speaker: | Boris Dittrich | | | Advocacy Director, Human Rights Watch (NY)
Former D66 party leader | | Convener: | Dr. Ramon Puras | | When: | Wednesday 14 April 2010, 17.00 - 18.30 | | Where: | AUC Artis Library (Plantage Middenlaan 45) |
The civil war in Sri Lanka ended after 25 years in a cruel final battle in May 2009. The conflict however, remains unresolved. Thérèse Onderdenwijngaard, an expert in the field, will give an overview of the history of Sri Lanka and its recent conflict and describe today's situation. | Speaker: | Drs. Thérèse Onderdenwijngaard | | | Lecturer at the Faculty of Social Sciences
VU University Amsterdam | | Convener: | Tobias Schuster | | When: | Monday 12 April 2010, 18.30 - 20.00 | | Where: | AUC Artis Library (Plantage Middenlaan 45) |
The EU did not achieve its objectives at the Copenhagen Climate Conference in December 2009. Prof. Dr. Berkhout, who was part of the Dutch scientific delegation in Copenhagen outlines the main results of Copenhagen and what this will mean for the future of European climate policy. The event gives an opportunity to discuss whether and how it is possible to prevent a dangerous climate change with a well-known expert in the field. | Speaker: | Prof. Dr. Frans Berkhout | | | Professor of Innovation and Sustainability and
Director of the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) at the VU University Amsterdam | | Convener: | Tobias Schuster | | When: | Thursday 25 March 2010, 18.30 - 20.00 | | Where: | AUC Artis Library (Plantage Middenlaan 45) |
Source: AUC
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