Mak Grgić ASEF Gala National Performs at the in Gallery EU Delegation San Francisco of Slovenia page 2 > page 3 & 4 > page 7 & 8 > NEWSLETTER MARCH 11, 2016, VOLUME 12, NUMBER 4 Opening of New Consulate in Mexico On March 3, Ambassador Ambassador of Mexico to Austria, Dr. Cerar opened in Guadalajara, Slovakia and Slovenia, based in Mexico, a Consulate of the Vienna. Republic of Slovenia, headed by At the beginning of the the Honorary Consul Alejandro evening, Ambassador Dr. Cerar, Díaz y Pérez Duarte. Honorary Consul Diaz and his wife Honorary Consul Diaz is a Lydia greeted the guests. Among career diplomat, who recently retired them were scholars, entrepreneurs, from the Mexican Foreign Service. members of the consular corps in Among other posts, he served as the Guadalajara, including the President of the Guadalajara Ambassador Dr. Cerar and Honorary Honorary Consuls’ Consul Diaz. The reception that Association as followed featured Slovenian wines well as media provided by the representative representatives and distributor of Radgonske Gorice Slovenians living in Wines in Mexico, Mr. Javier Iñiguez, the federal state of served along with Mexican food. Jalisco. During the event, pictures and short The official films on Slovenia were presented to opening ceremony the attendees, who were also offered began with the tourist brochures about the country. presentation of the The opening of the second national anthems of consulate in Mexico will facilitate Slovenia and Mexico bilateral relations between Slovenia and speeches of and Mexico. With help of the Ambassador Dr. Božo Cerar and Honorary Consul Alejandro Diaz. Embassy of Slovenia 2410 California Street, NW twitter.com/SLOinUSA Washington, D.C. 20008, USA T: +1 202 386 66 01 E: [email protected] washington.embassy.si facebook.com/SLOembassyUSA Ambassador Dr. Cerar lectured on the topic: ‘The International Students attending Ambassador’s lecture at the University of Criminal Court: From Nuremberg to Kampala and Beyond’. Guadalajara. honorary consuls, Slovenia is honorary consuls also provide ample on the topic “The International paving the way for cooperation with opportunity for maintaining contact Criminal Court: From Nueremberg Mexico in various spheres from and cooperation with Slovenians to Kampala and Beyond” and met economy, trade and investment to living in Mexico. with the university’s rector Itzcóatl tourism, offering also a multitude of During his visit in Jalisco, Tonatiuh Bravo Padilla. options for cooperation in culture, Ambassador Dr. Cerar also gave higher education and science. The lecture at the University of Guadalajara CULTURE Guitarist Mak Grgić Performs In the Conversations-In- Culture Series On March 1, Slovenian guitar part of the Conversations-in-Culture remarks by the Delegation’s virtuoso Mak Grgić performed at the series and presented to commemorate Spokesperson and Head of Press and Delegation of the European Union the 25th anniversary of the Slovenian Public Diplomacy Section, Mr. James in the United States. The concert was Independence. Following welcoming Barbour, and by Ambassador Dr. Božo Guitarist Mak Grgić and cellist Dorotea Rácz. The event was attended by some 150 guests. MARCH 11, 2016, PAGE 2 Cerar, Mak Grgić took the audience Morricone and Leonard Bernstein in around 150 guests could also admire on an eclectic journey of tunes. his own arrangements, early European an exhibit by of one of the leading During the concert, titled works as well as those by the great Slovenian poster designers, Jože “Music Cosmopolitism”, Mak Grgić classics of the guitar repertoire. Joining Domjan. The exhibition, titled Eye. performed compositions by Slovenian him as a guest artist was the Croatian Thought.Hand. will be on view on composers Nejc Kuhar and Nina cellist Dorotea Rácz. The concert was the premises of the E.U. Delegation Šenk, cinematic music by Ennio followed by a reception, during which through the end of April. Mak Grgić performed compositions by Slovenian composers Nejc Kuhar The concert was followed by a reception and viewing of an exhibit by and Nina Šenk and music by Morricone and Bernstein, among other. Slovenian graphic designer Jože Domjan. EDUCATION American-Slovenian Education Foundation (ASEF) Gala in San Francisco As the Slovenian flag proudly 3rd anniversary of the American- available to others what they saw adorned Westin St. Francis Hotel Slovenian Education Foundation as invaluable experience in the in San Francisco, on February 28 (ASEF). Thanks to two Slovenian American higher education system, people flocked to celebrate the students who wanted to make seven graduate students from The ASEF gala took place in Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco. Photos by: Krista Chew and Ivo Ravnik. MARCH 11, 2016, PAGE 3 Slovenia have already profited from Slovene classical composer Friderik astronaut Dr. Ronald M. Šega, who ASEF’s program. Under the adept Širca’s work. Dr. Denny McShane charmed his listeners with stories of direction of Slovenia’s Honorary flawlessly performed an original outer space. Seated on the stage next Counsul, Tom Brandi, Jure Leskovec composition for his spellbound fans. to the interviewer, Honorary Consul and Peter Rožič have amassed a A sumptuous meal, served in a superb Tom Brandi, Dr. Šega told of his first fervent following of like-minded 32nd floor setting as the lights of the visit to Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana, supporters across the United States. city flickered below, was enjoyed by and his gracious midnight welcome Board members include Dr. Božo all - including St. Francis’ beneficent at the airport by the-then President, Cerar, Slovenia’s present ambassador General Manager John Hutar, who Milan Kučan. “But who are all these to the United States, former Senator also happens to be ASEF’s treasurer. people waiting behind the fence?” from Iowa, Tom Harkin, and former Of course, no Slovenian gathering asked the astronaut. “They’re your U.S. ambassador to Slovenia, Johnny is complete without potica. Jože relatives.” Dr. Šega recounted how Young. Antolin’s array of variations on the he had promised the President to The fundraising event on traditional delicacy drew a crowd take a photo of Slovenia from his February 28, honored educational that included his own children. Dan shuttle. After 5-days of being socked pursuits in American-Slovenian Zemelman’s musical accompaniment in by fog, the trip was extended by relations. At the beginning of the enriched the cocktail hour as well as one day. On that 6th day, the skies evening, Soprano Suzana Ograjenšek, the dinner. parted to give the perfect view of his whose voice graced the first gala, This year’s ASEF Lifetime family’s homeland. entranced the black-tie audience with Achievement Award went to Honorary Consul Tom Brandi and Dr. Ronald M. Šega. The fundraising event on February 28, honored educational pursuits in American-Slovenian relations. ANNOUNCEMENT ASEF Fellowship Program 2016 The American-Slovenian and the U.S. with the objective of giving Eligibility Education Foundation (ASEF) talented Slovenian students the ability fellowship program provides student to realize their potential to the fullest. Applications are open to full- time financial support, allowing fellows to The ASEF fellowship provides funding Slovenian as well as Slovenian- focus on their research. Fellowships build (travel, housing, and living expenses) American students enrolled in lasting relationships between ASEF and for a 10 week summer research visit to a higher education institution. academic institutions. The purpose of a U.S. university or research institution A typical applicant is a senior the fellowship is to strengthen research in the area of applicant’s field of study/ undergraduate, master’s, or junior and study exchange between Slovenia expertise. PhD student. MARCH 11, 2016, PAGE 4 Participating institutions Computational and molecular Applications should include: biology: The fellowship provides - Application form funding for a 10 week summer University of California, - Curriculum Vitae with a focus on research visit to the following San Francisco, Prof. Andrej Šali, applicant’s research. research groups: who works on projects that use - Transcripts of applicant’s courses. large-scale computational models - A Research statement (no longer Political and social studies: grounded in the laws of physics and than 2 pages) that should include: evolution to study the structure and Previous research experience: list Harvard University, Dr. function of proteins. Developing and describe all of your project/ Peter Verovšek who works in methods for: predicting the research work for courses, international political theory. His structures of proteins; determining participation at research projects, research examines how socially the structures of macromolecular lab work at your department, your mediated collective memories serve assemblies; and annotating the independent research, relevant as resources for political innovation functions of proteins using their summer internship experience, and in the aftermath of broad historical structures. sim. ruptures. He is currently starting - A proposal for a project or an idea a new project examining flexible University of California, for your thesis/dissertation that you approaches to the implementation San Francisco, Prof. Matija want to work on during your visit. of the emerging global transitional Peterlin, who works on molecular Describe the project or the idea and justice norm. biology, immunology, virology argue