What's New @ The Aspen Institute February 2009

Live @ the Institute

With a new administration on the brink of passing the largest stimulus bill in history, David Wessel, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, and Steven Weisman examine the ramifications of a broken financial system.

Michael Kinsley discusses his new book, Creative Capitalism: A Conversation with Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Other Economic Leaders, and what doing good means in today's financial climate.

Obama selected Harvard Professor John Holdren as his White House Science Advisor. Holdren spoke about the need for urgent action on climate change during the 2008 Aspen Ideas Festival.

Former Afghan Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani and former UN advisor Clare Lockhart, authors of Fixing Failed States and co-directors of the Institute's Market Building Initiative, discuss state-building, Afghanistan, and the financial crisis.

J.B. Schramm, CEO of College Summit, and Shirley Sagawa, a domestic policy expert, speak at the Institute about their report on improving graduation and college attendance rates in low income high schools.

Watch more video clips here.

February 2009

Dear Friends,
I am happy to report that next month we’ll be unveiling a refreshed and improved website with added features and better usability. We encourage you to visit us online and to join us in person...at the upcoming Aspen Environment Forum (March 25-28) or to the many other events, seminars and programs listed below. There's a lot happening at the Aspen Institute in the coming months.
Best regards,
Jim Spiegelman
VP/Communications and Public Affairs

Coming Soon:

Aspen Environment Forum: With the faltering economy in the news daily, there has never been a more critical time for leaders to engage around the nexus of energy supplies and resources, energy security, and business and finance. The Institute and National Geographic invite you to join the global conversation at the 2009 Aspen Environment Forum, themed "Powering the Planet: Energy for the Long Run." To register, view the current speaker list of nearly 80 leading international voices and experts, and learn more, visit the website. Aspen, CO — March 25-28

Aspen Health Forum: Join the Aspen Institute, Time magazine, and more than 100 leading thinkers in an exploration of the science of sex, food for a new world, the mysteries of the mind, boomer medicine, and "Body 2.0." To register or learn more, visit the website. Aspen, CO — July 24-27

Aspen-Rodel Fellowships in Public Leadership: Nominations are now being accepted for the next class of Aspen-Rodel Fellows. Visit our website to learn about the nomination process; contact Mickey Edwards, 202-736-5823, for more information.

Exploring Hamlet through Film: Over the course of two sessions, Shakespeare experts Ken and Carol Adelman will lead participants through an interactive film exploration of Hamlet. Fee: $125 (dinner provided). For more information, contact Jessica Peet. Aspen, CO — February 5 & 12, 7-9:30 p.m.

Aspen Seminar: The Institute's signature seminar invites a group of accomplished participants to engage in a Socratic exploration of classic and contemporary texts about leadership, values, and the good society. For information on being nominated to attend the Aspen Seminar, visit the website or contact Todd Breyfogle. Aspen, CO — February 7-12, 14-19, 20-25; March 7-12, 13-18

Alma and Joseph Gildenhorn Book Series: Join us for the next installments of the Institute's DC-based lunchtime book talks. To RSVP, contact Rachel Sommers.

• Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Institute trustee and author of both Lincoln on Slavery and Race and In Search of Our Roots: How 19 Extraordinary African Americans Reclaimed Their Past. Washington, DC — February 10
• Robert G. Kaiser, former Washington Post managing editor and author of So Damn Much Money: The Triumph of Lobbying and the Corrosion of American Government. Washington, DC — March 16
• Lynda Resnick, Institute trustee, president of Roll International, and author of Rubies in the Orchard: How to Uncover the Hidden Gems in Your Business. Washington, DC — April 1

Socrates Society: The Institute brings together a diverse group of emerging leaders to engage in expert moderated seminars on contemporary issues. There is still time to register for the President's Day weekend seminar, with topics including the economy, business innovation and competitiveness, and a nuclear negotiation simulation for the Middle East. And join us in Aspen on June 28 for the annual Socrates Society benefit dinner featuring New York Times columnist Tom Friedman. Contact Melissa Ingber or Margaret Fisher to learn more. Aspen, CO — February 13-16; June 28

Dancing in Times of Distress: A Seminar & Ballet: In a collaborative event between the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Colorado Mountain College, and the Aspen Institute, participants will spend the afternoon examining Twyla Tharp's "Sue's Leg," followed by an evening performance by the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. Guest lecturers include Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Artistic Director Tom Mossbrucker and Executive Director Jean-Philippe Malaty. Fee: $195 includes ballet ticket ($135 without ticket). For more information, contact Jessica Peet. Aspen, CO — February 14, 1:30 p.m.

"The End of White America?": Join us for a lunch discussion with James Bennet, editor of The Atlantic, and Ta-Nehisi Coates, contributing editor to The Atlantic, about the magazine's special State of the Union issue (Jan/Feb ’09). To RSVP, contact Rachel Sommers. Washington, DC – February 23

Aspen Strategy Group Roundtable: Featuring Robert Hefner, author of The Grand Energy Transition, with Herman Franssen, President of International Energy Associates and former chief economist of the International Energy Agency. To RSVP, contact Julie Song. Washington, DC – February 24, 12 p.m.

Society of Fellows: The March SOF symposium, "Fixing Failed States," will draw on the resources of one of the Institute's newest policy programs, the Market Building Initiative. This three-day event will be moderated by program director Clare Lockhart, co-author of Fixing Failed States. For more information, contact Patrick Kelly. Aspen, CO — March 16-19

Aspen Network for Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE): Recently transformed from an annual convening into a formal policy program at the Institute, ANDE strives to reduce poverty by unleashing the potential of small and growing businesses in developing countries. Its global launch in London will include an evening reception on March 23 and half-day conference on the 24th. Interested in attending or learning more about ANDE? Contact Joanna Herrmann. London — March 23-24

Wildlife Conservation & Human Well Being in Africa: In October, the Aspen Institute and the African Wildlife Foundation teamed up to present an one-of-a-kind seminar about African wildlife and wildlands conservation in the context of African politics and equitable development. The combination of wildlife viewing, seminars, and special guests added a unique dimension and learning experience to the wonder of the world-class African safari. The next Seminar is being planned at Singita in February 2010. To reserve your place or for more information, please contact Donna Horney.

For events all year long, visit our global calendar.

Hot Off the Presses:

As announced on the presidential transition website, President Barack Obama named Aspen Institute Henry Crown Fellow Arne Duncan to be US Secretary of Education. Duncan, the chief executive of the Chicago Public Schools system and also a member of the Institute’s Education and Society Program Urban Superintendents Network, was confirmed on January 20.

As reported by the Associated Press, former FCC Chairman Kevin Martin joins the Institute as a senior fellow in the Communications and Society Program. He becomes the fourth consecutive FCC chair, including Reed Hundt, William Kennard and Michael Powell, to accept this fellowship at the end of their tenure. Read the press release.

A group including automakers, environmental organizations, and California regulators was recently convened by the Institute’s Energy and Environment Program for a series of confidential discussions on automobile fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions. Read the group's statement here.

ICT: The 21st Century Transitional Initiative calls for bold and broad measures by the new Obama Administration to promote widespread diffusion and adoption of broadband communications, promotion of new applications, and the use of communications to save energy costs and reduce carbon emissions.

Encouraging Entrepreneurship: A Microenterprise Development Policy Agenda, an article from CFED and the Institute’s FIELD program, proposes a number of public policies that would support emerging entrepreneurs.