You are Invited: The Educational Legacy of Woodrow Wilson

The Woodrow Wilson Center invites you to a Book Discussion:

The Educational Legacy of Woodrow Wilson: From College to Nation

Edited by: James Axtell, Kenan Professor of Humanities Emeritus, College of William & Mary

Moderated by: John Milton Cooper

Thursday, January 12, 2012 ~ 6^th floor Joseph H. and Claire Flom Auditorium ~ 4:00–5:00 pm

In The Educational Legacy of Woodrow Wilson, James Axtell brings together essays by eight leading historians and one historically minded political scientist to examine the long, formative academic phase of Wilson’s career and its connection to his relatively brief tenure in politics.  Together, the essays provide a greatly revised picture of Wilson’s whole career and a deeply nuanced understanding of the evolution of his educational, political, and social philosophy and policies, the ordering of his values and priorities, and the seamless link between his academic and political lives.

Please RSVP in advance by sending an email to maria-stella.gatzoulis@wilsoncenter.org

Posted by: PAGE Staff

STEM Education and Philanthropy

After a long search, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced yesterday that Cornell had been chosen to erect a graduate school focusing on science on Roosevelt Island.  A large portion of the funds are the result of a gift from Cornell alumnus Charles F. Feeney, co-founder of Duty Free Shoppers Group.  While this gift will go a significant way towards creating a STEM graduate school in New York City, it is by no means the first instance of charitable giving impacting STEM education.

Much STEM-centric philanthropy has in recent years come from corporate giving.  However, a growing number of private, individual giving is now going towards STEM education.  While the Gates Foundation, which has a thriving STEM education focus, is not reliant solely on contributions from Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, his individual impact on the direction of the foundation is undeniable.  His Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has also proven very generous when it comes to STEM education.  NYSCI has a program designed to facilitate private philanthropy in science education for underserved high school and college students.  Feeney, as quoted in the New York Times, said of his donation, “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create economic and educational opportunity on a transformational scale.”

Posted by: Clark Taylor

Sources: Gates Foundation, NY Sci, New York Times, Slate, Wall Street Journal

Introducing PAGE’s Twitter Feed

Nearly 18 months after introducing the blog, America and the Global Economy, the Program on America and the Global Economy of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars is proud to announce it has increased its social media presence by joining the ranks of twitter as well.  To find out the latest in innovation policy, STEM education, entrepreneurship, and a whole host of other issues come visit us at @PAGEeconomy early and often.  Fear not, as we will of course still maintain a robust blogging presence in addition to the new twitter feed.  But for those of you who like your updates strictly in 140 characters or less, this is a great way to find out what we’re up to!

Posted by: PAGE Staff

Divided We Stand: Tackling Growing Inequality Now

Kent Hughes, Director of the Program on America and the Global Economy, will be moderating a discussion on inequality.  The details are below.

Divided We Stand:

Tackling growing inequality now

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

9:30am Registration ~ 10:00am-12:00pm Presentation & Discussion

AFL-CIO, Gompers Room ~ 815 16th Street NW ~ Washington, DC 20006

Register online here.  

Presentation: John Martin, Director for Employment, Labor and Social Affairs, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

Discussants: Richard Trumka, Chairman, Trade Union Advisory Committee (TUAC); Charles Heeter, Chairman, Business Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC)

Moderator: Kent Hughes, Director, Program on America and the Global Economy, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

Rising income inequality creates economic, social and political challenges around the globe. It can jeopardize social mobility, as seen in countries where inequality is high and intergenerational earnings mobility is low. The resulting inequality of opportunity will impact economic performance as a whole, including the likely fueling of protectionist sentiments and decreasing support for open trade and free markets.

A new OECD report shows that growing inequalities are not “inevitable.” Globalization and technological changes offer opportunities but also raise challenges that can be tackled with effective and well-targeted policies. Any policy strategy to reduce the growing divide between rich and poor should rest on three main pillars: more intensive human capital investment; inclusive employment promotion; and well-designed tax/transfer redistribution policies.

This gathering will tackle the global questions of: What is the impact of high levels of inequality on policymaking? What can be done to reduce inequality? What is driving the increase in income inequality and, more importantly, how to buck this trend?

 Posted by: PAGE Staff

You are Invited – Climate Finance: Innovative Financing Sources for Sustainable Development

      New Rules for Global Finance, Heinrich Böll Stiftung – North America, and the Woodrow Wilson

International Center for Scholars

Present

Climate Finance: Innovative Financing Sources for

Sustainable Development

Introduction

John Sewell, Senior Scholar, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

Discussants:

Beth Urbanas, Deputy Director, Office of Environment & Energy, U.S. Treasury (invited); Ian Parry, Technical Assistance Advisor (Climate Change and Environment), Tax Policy, Fiscal Affairs Department, International Monetary Fund; Ari Huhtala, Senior Environmental Specialist, Climate Change Team,  Environment Department, World Bank; Liane Schalatek, Associate Director, Heinrich Böll Stiftung – North America; David Waskow, Climate Change Program Manager, Oxfam America

The climate summit in Durban/South Africa ended this weekend with a comprehensive yet unfinished climate agreement. Yet some advances were made in the discourse about providing urgently needed financial resources to deal with climate effects in developing countries.  Financing would come from the industrialized countries and be in addition to existing commitments.  In addition, the added resources will be used to address major development, social and environmental benefits that go well beyond a narrow mitigation and adaptation focus.  With traditional donor countries’ budgets severely constrained, innovative and alternative financing sources for sustainable development are gaining some momentum, inside and outside the climate negotiations context.  This panel will bring together speakers from a variety of backgrounds, including international financial institutions, governments, think tanks and civil society groups.  The panel will focus on some of the concrete financing options on the table for sustainable development that go beyond direct public contributions by developed countries.  These varied proposals include taxes and levies on air and maritime transport, special drawing rights and financial transaction taxes.

Thursday, December 15, 2011 ~ 12-2pm ~ 5^th Floor Conference Room

RSVP (acceptances only) to jbaker@new-rules.org

Posted by: PAGE Staff

You are Invited: Jackson-Vanik After Russia’s Accession to the WTO

The Kennan Institute and Wilson Center on the Hill present:

 Jackson-Vanik After Russia’s Accession to the WTO

Tuesday, December 13, 2011   12:00-1:15 p.m.

B-338 Rayburn House Office Building

Russia’s application to join the World Trade Organization is expected to be approved this month.  To take advantage of the new trade opportunities, the United States will need to permanently waive provisions of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment. The original intent behind Jackson-Vanik was to force the Soviet Union to permit more liberal immigration. While immigration is now unrestricted, there is still concern about human rights in Russia. A panel of experts will address the trade, human rights, and other U.S. national interests associated with Russia’s entry into the WTO.

RANDI LEVINAS, Executive Vice President, U.S.-Russia Business Council; THOMAS O. MELIA, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Department of State (TBC); RICHARD PERLE, Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute; LARA IGLITZIN, Executive Director, Henry M. Jackson Foundation

Moderated by: WILLIAM POMERANZ, Deputy Director, Kennan Institute

Please RSVP acceptances only to onthehill@wilsoncenter.org or 202-691-4357. 

Posted by: PAGE Staff

Partnering Scientists and Teachers: Priming the STEM Pipeline

The Program on America and the Global Economy Presents:

Partnering Scientists and Teachers:

Priming the STEM Pipeline

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

9:00 – 10:30 a.m.

5th Floor Conference Room, Woodrow Wilson Center

Something powerful happens when teachers and students work side-by-side with scientists and engineers. They come to understand the practice of science and engineering, while scientists and engineers learn to communicate their work in a way that makes sense to the public. These types of partnerships are being recommended by a series of recent legislative initiatives and STEM organizations. Our panel will discuss first-hand experience with teacher-scientist partnerships and how they can strengthen K-12 STEM education.

________________________________________________________________________

Richard Boone, Professor of Ecosystem Ecology at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks; DaNel Hogan, Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow, and Teacher, Kuna High School, Idaho; Dave Oberbillig, Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow, and Teacher, Hellgate High School, Montana; Tim Spuck, Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow, and Teacher, Oil City Area High School, Pennsylvania; Horace Walcott, Josh Westin Research Mentor, Brooklyn Technical High School, New York; Sarah Young, Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow, and Teacher, Rowland Hall Middle School, Utah

_______________________________________________________________________

Please RSVP acceptances only to page@wilsoncenter.org

Directions to the Wilson Center can be found here.

Posted by: PAGE Staff

Happening Right Now: Doing Business in a More Transparent World

The Program on America and the Global Economy

invites you to a panel discussion:

DOING BUSINESS IN A MORE TRANSPARENT WORLD:

A Discussion of the 2012 World Bank Report

with

Augusto Lopez-Claros

Director, Global Indicators and Analysis, World Bank-IFC

Commentators

Peter Bakvis, Director, Washington Office of the International Trade Union Confederation; Johnny Moloto, Deputy Chief of Mission, South African Embassy; Frank Vargo, Vice President of International Economic Affairs, National Association of Manufacturers

Moderated by: John Sewell, Senior Scholar, Wilson Center

Every year since 2002, the World Bank’s Doing Business Project has released a report ranking the world’s economies. This highly influential report is used by policy makers and business leaders to create economic regulations and strategies in countries around the globe. What are the benefits and drawbacks to the World Bank’s approach? How does the report support innovation and entrepreneurship? What type of guidance is given to developing and emerging economies? What are the short- and long-term implications of the report’s recommendations? Join a panel of business, labor, and economic experts on December 6 for a careful and critical examination of this year’s report, Doing Business in a More Transparent World.  The report is available online at www.doingbusiness.org

Tuesday, December 6, 2011 – 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Sixth Floor Board Room, Woodrow Wilson Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.

Please respond with acceptances only to PAGE@wilsoncenter.org.

Posted by: PAGE Staff

Watch Live: Conservation Initiative in the Trans-Pacific Partnership

The Asia Program, Environmental Change and Security Program, and Program on America and the Global Economy Present:

Conservation Initiatives in the Trans-Pacific Partnership

Monday, December 5, 2011  2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

The Joseph H. and Claire Flom Auditorium, 6^th Floor, Woodrow Wilson Center

This event has now concluded.  For an archived video of the proceedings click here.

Negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement are making strides toward promoting environmental stewardship along with expanded trade.  Join Ambassador Marantis for the discussion regarding progress in the TPP environment negotiations.

Keynote Address:

      Demetrios J. Marantis, Deputy US Trade Representative, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative

Discussants:

      Eric Bilsky, Assistant General Counsel, Oceana; Lisa Handy, Environmental Investigation Agency; Mark Linscott, Assistant US Trade Representative, Environment and Natural Resources, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative

Moderated by: William Krist, Senior Policy Scholar, Woodrow Wilson Center

Please RSVP acceptances only to page@wilsoncenter.org

Posted by: PAGE Staff

Guest Contributor William Krist: Environmental Goods and Services in APEC Negotiations

Leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) resolved to cut tariffs on environmental goods to 5 percent or less by 2015 and to remove barriers to expanded trade in environmental goods and services at their meeting November 8 to 13 in Honolulu. If accomplished, this could be a boon to both U.S. exporters and to the environment.

U.S. tariffs on many green goods are already 5 percent or less, so fulfilling this commitment would not require significant action by the U.S. However, tariff rates maintained by China and some other APEC members are significantly higher, and reducing these to five percent or less could help American exporters. Reducing trade barriers also has the potential to promote better environmental stewardship by APEC members.

However, implementation of this commitment will be difficult.  APEC members agreed to develop a list of environmental goods to be covered, but defining environmental goods has proven to be a sticking point in the WTO Doha round negotiations. If APEC members succeed in this effort however, it could be a model for the deadlocked WTO Doha round negotiations, since APEC members account for fifty percent of the world’s GDP and forty percent of world trade.

An advantage of APEC is not to legally bind its member economies, which can promote self-motivated initiatives by each member and enable APEC to compromise on more ambitious goals; however, this principle can be a disadvantage as it makes compliance more problematic.

Sources: APEC

Photo Credit: EIA

William K. Krist is a Senior Policy Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center.  He is a former Senior Vice President of the American Electronics Association.  He has written extensively on trade, development, and the environment. Takanori Hayashi is a Research Assistant at the Woodrow Wilson Center.