Event: Democratizing Development: How Technology is Disrupting Traditional Development Models

On April 15, 2008 the Society for International Development's Washington, DC Chapter and the Academy of Educational Development are co-sponsoring this event on technology and development.

Will technology put the traditional development model and development players "out of business"? Or, will technology enable both old and new players to contribute effectively to combating poverty?

During the session, panelists will demonstrate their technology and share their views. Panelists in attendance will include:

• Raj Kumar, President, The Development Executive Group
• Premal Shah, President, Kiva
• Pierre Wielezynski, Communications Officer, Online Outreach, World Bank

The session will be moderated by: Matthew Clark, Director, Global Strategic Accounts, Microsoft

For more information and to RSVP: http://www.sidw.org/event/

*Thanks to OID for the pointer.

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Event: Does China Have an Energy Diplomacy?: Reflections on China's Energy Security and its Impact on Foreign Policy

GWU's Sigur Center for Asian Studies' Lecture Series on Transnational Asia is hosting Linda Jakobson, Senior Researcher at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs on Wednesday, April 9, 2008 from 12:30 - 1:45pm.

Place: Lindner Family Commons, The Elliott School of International Affairs, 6th Floor, 1957 E Street, NW
RSVP: Please RSVP with your name, affiliation, and e-mail to gsigur at gwu dot edu by Monday, April 7, 2008.
For more information visit http://www.gwu.edu/~sigur/events.html#energy Read more!

Internship Opportunity: Economic Policy Program at the German Marshall Fund

This DC-based internship opportunity came our way through the Organization of International Development at GWU. This may be of interest for those in the energy/environmental policy fields.

The Economics Policy Program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) seeks a part-time intern to pursue substantive research and analysis on core program issues as well as administrative support. Starting date would be immediately or any time in early 2008.
The German Marshall Fund’s Economic Policy Program seeks to advance prosperity, opportunity, stability and good governance in the transatlantic community and around the world. The program has four main areas:
- Development and aid policies;
- Trade policies, including agricultural and biofuels policies;
- Climate and trade policies.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Duties will include conducting background research and literature reviews on specific topics including Africa, economic development and agriculture; gathering and organizing statistical data; performing scans of Africa-based organizations; tracking Africa-related events; and editing and contributing to policy-relevant publications. The intern should expect to balance work on a longer-term project on infrastructure and economic development with time-sensitive requests as needed. The intern will also have the opportunity to participate in policy meetings at both GMF and external organizations, and may be asked to summarize key points for the program team. Further duties include logistical and administrative support for the Program Associate and for the Managing Director of the Agricultural Markets Program at the Hewlett Foundation.

This graduate level internship is unpaid but offers an ideal opportunity to acquire substantive professional experience for those interested in a career in public policy or international affairs. Our office is in a great Metro-accessible location, just blocks from Dupont Circle. GMF offers a stimulating, supportive work environment. The intern will be considered to be a full member of the Economic Policy Program team.

SKILLS AND BACKGROUND:
An ideal candidate will:
- have excellent analytical and writing skills and previous research experience
- be able to commit 15 hours per week (primarily during the standard 9-5 workday)
- be creative, organized, self-directed and responsible
- be comfortable working independently and as part of a team, and multi-tasking
- possess a background in economics, international trade, agriculture, development and/or international relations, preferably with some experience working on African issues
- be able to start as soon as possible.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
To be considered for this internship please send cover letter, resume, and a short writing sample (a research paper demonstrating finely tuned writing skills and relevance to the Economic Policy Program’s areas of interest) to Ms. Ulrike Leis at uleis at gmfus dot org.

Please be sure to describe your specific dates of availability (3-12 months) and anticipated weekly schedule (indicating your willingness to work at least 15 hours each week); your relevant background and qualifications for this position; and an idea of your specific interests in the fields of economics, trade, agriculture, and/or development.
This specific internship position may be eligible for funding.
GMF is equal opportunity employer.
The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) is a public policy and grant making institution dedicated to fostering cooperation between the United States and Europe in the spirit of the postwar Marshall Plan. GMF promotes the study of international and domestic policies, supports comparative research and debate on key issues, and assists policy and opinion leaders’ understanding of these issues. For more information see www.gmfus.org. Read more!

The D. Allan Bromley Annual Lecture on Science and Society

In mid-April, CISTP will support a group of students from the Center to attend this lecture:

The Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa and the GeorgeWashington University present the D. Allan Bromley Lecture with speaker Nicholas S. Vonortas, Director, Center for International Science and Technology Policy at the George Washington University.

This presentation focuses on the dramatic changes in our understanding of science, technology and innovation policy during the past few decades. Consideration is first given to the knowledge-based economy. Next, a focus on the fundamentals of contemporary policy and the need for a balanced supply-cum-demand approach is considered. Policy in the United States is followed with a discussion of the current major debates among policy analysts.

The presentation is open to the public and starts at 5:30pm on Thursday, April 17, 2008. We hope to meet our Canadian colleagues and add to the relationship already shared between the two universities. Please visit http://www.telfer.uottawa.ca/ for more information.

About Dr. D. Allan Bromley:

One of the world's leading nuclear physicists, D. Allan Bromley, died on February 11, 2005. He was born in Westmeath, Ontario in 1926. Dr. Bromley was the first person to hold the Cabinet-level rank of Assistant to the President for Science and Technology from 1989 to 1993 during the first Bush administration. Prior to this Dr. Bromley sat on former President Reagan's White House Science Council. Dr. Bromley was a former president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a recipient of the National Medal of Science, the highest U.S. scientific award.

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Linking Knowledge with Action for Sustainable Development, National Academies Event

The Arthur M. Sackler Colloquia of the National Academies of Sciences for 2008 is focusing on sustainable development.
This upcoming Thursday and Friday, April 3-4, 2008, experts on topics ranging from scientific assessment, HIV/AIDS, R&D funding and dispersion, agricultural partnerships, etc. will speak on the issues in relation to sustainability.
More information and descriptions of the event can be found here.
Although the colloquium is not free ($100 for students), the 8th Annual Sackler Lecture is free and open to the public. The lecture takes place on Thursday. From 4:40-6pm, a reception and poster session will take place. From 6-7pm, Michael Crow of Arizona State University will give the lecture: Opportunities and Limits in the Creation of Useful Knowledge for Sustainable Development.
RSVP is required for the lecture. Read more!

April 4: Meet the Center & Spring ISTP Reception

Don't miss the April 4 Meet the Center & Spring ISTP Reception! This event is the SISTP kick-off event. Come join us as the Society introduces itself and its initiatives and faculty and scholars of the Center give brief talks on their current work and plans for upcoming semesters.

Tentative agenda:

• Introduction: Society for ISTP (SISTP)
• Faculty Talks (Introduction, Background, Areas of Expertise and Activities)
• Dr. John Logsdon
  
• Dr. David Grier
• Dr. Colleen Hartman
• Dr. Caroline Wagner
• Dr. Nicholas Vonortas
• Dr. Henry Hertzfield
  
• Spring Reception

For more information and to RSVP contact cistp at gwu dot edu before April 2nd. This event is open to those affiliated with the Center for International Science and Technology Policy at GWU.

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Last Journal Club of the Semester: April 11

Friday, April 11 will be the last Journal Club of Spring 08, with the topic of Ethanol as a viable alternative fuel, and alternative fuels in general. Readings coming soon! Read more!

Journal Club: GMOs

This Friday, March 28, 2008, we will hold our second journal club meeting and we hope you can attend. The topic is broadly based on GMOs and Biotech. The attached readings will be used to initiate discussion.

We will meet at CISTP in the Elliott School from 6pm to 7:30pm on Friday, March 28, 2008. Beverages will be provided. Although Friday is not the best evening for everyone, it seems to be the time when the most people are available (no classes, etc.). Also, if this Friday is anything like the last, we will most likely move to a local watering hole following the JC.

Below are four articles (relatively short):
1- ISAAA Executive summary gives a brief overview of biotech/GMOs
2- GMO_risks_ethics: covers the risks and concerns of omitting research in the context of GMOs
3- GMO_scientific responsibility: a short piece covering the roles of scientists in the use of 'golden rice'
4- Labeling Policy for GMOs: covers the debate on labeling GMOs

We hope to see you there! Read more!

Journal Club: Science in the Capitol

The first ISTP Society Journal Club (henceforth JC!) will be held on Friday, March 7 at CISTP Conference Room starting at 5:30-7:00pm. The first half-hour will be devoted to ISTP Society updates followed by the JC.

The readings are:

Science_USPresidentialCandidat

es: A brief summary of the candidates position on S&T issues published in Science.
Science-OTA-Mooney: A brief opinion piece about the possibility of reviving Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) by science writer Chris Mooney.
Science-Politics-Kelly: An analysis of the conflict between science and politics by Henry Kelly, President of the Federation of American Scientists (FAS).

I have provided links below for additional information about S&T topics and Elections 2008-

AAAS - http://election2008.aaas.org/
Student Pugwash - http://www.spusa.org/2008vote/
Science Debate 2008 - http://www.sciencedebate2008.com/www/index.php?id=8

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