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SUMMER 2010 The Aspen Institute

features

departments 6 lkey staff 8 l Aspen Institute facts l What is the Aspen Institute? 14 lfrom the president 16 l insights & ideas l What’s new and what’s news at the Institute: former Justice Sandra Day O’Connor headlines a Justice and Society symposium, Admiral Mike Mullen kicks off the McCloskey Summer Speaker Series, a seminar A HISTORIC UPGRADE journey in Africa, the 2010 Harman- 54 Eisner artists-in-residence. Bringing the Institute’s Paepcke Memorial Building into the present while preserving its cherished past. 40 l reading room l The Alma and Joseph Gildenhorn Book 58 Series hosts authors on art, media, and politics. 58 MAXIMUM 42 l ideas in action l IMPACT The Aspen Ideas Festival inspired James When the Aspen Global Calaway—and a multimillion-dollar Leadership Network business enterprise. Fellows spot problems in 44 l society of fellows l their communities or see Symposia and discussion events for the a crisis unfold, they take Institute’s key donor group examine action. humor, revolution, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the good life. 46 l socrates society l Socrates hosts DC Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee and Atlanta Mayor On the Cover: A VisionSpring employee gives an eye exam to a man in Ghana. Photo courtesy Kasim Reed—plus, what’s in store for Jordan Kassalow of VisionSpring. Insets, left to right: The Paepcke Memorial Building and the coming season. Tobias Wolff, both by Dan Bayer. Table of Contents continues on page 4

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departments 79 48 l dialogue l NIH Director Francis Collins, Columbia University physicist Brian Greene, and American Chemistry Society CEO Madeleine Jacobs speak with “PBS NewsHour”’s Margaret Warner about changing the IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF way Americans view science and math. 70 DARWIN 74 51 l dialogue l The New Yorker’s The Institute’s Energy and Jeffrey Toobin talks to Harvard’s Michael Environment Program and National Sandel about philosophy, health care, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and Geographic explore the Galapagos. modern law. 80 l international Aspen l 76 THE NEXT CHAPTER Institut Aspen France l Aspen Institute Germany l Aspen Institute India l Aspen The Aspen Writers’ Foundation and Institute Italia l Aspen Institute Japan l the Institute join forces. Institutul Aspen Romania

93 l faces l Memorable people and events from the season: the Institute’s 26th annual Awards Dinner in New York, the Aspen Strategy Group in DC, the Socrates Society in Aspen, and more.

98 l next l What’s coming up at the Institute—in Aspen, Wye, Washington, and around the world.

102 l contact us l Get in touch with the Institute.

104 l last words l For better or 73 for worse, they said it at the Institute.

4 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 contributors THE AspenIDEA

Editor-in-Chief Jamie Miller Managing Editor ELLIOT GERSON is the Institute’s executive vice president Sacha Z. Scoblic of policy, public programs, and international partnerships. Publisher Gerson’s article on the Institute’s journey to the Galapagos Jennifer Myers (page 70) depicts the wonder of the Islands as well as their Senior Editor importance to science and evolution. Prior to his work at the James Spiegelman Institute, Gerson had an extensive career as a US Supreme Editorial Assistant Court clerk, practicing lawyer, executive in government Jeffrey Harris Gerson and in a presidential campaign, president of leading insur- Art Director ance and health care companies, and executive in two Internet start-ups. Gerson Glenn Pierce also serves on many nonprofit boards, including the board of an Afghan company Project Manager focused on the economic development of Afghanistan. He is the American secre- Connie Otto tary of the Rhodes Trust, where he manages the US Rhodes Scholarships. Senior Production Artist Brenda Waugh The team at the Aspen Writers’ Foundation brought us the story on the Institute’s newest partner (page 76). BRUCE BERGER is a longtime member of the Foundation Contact Editorial: [email protected] and author of the award-winning essay collection The Telling Distance. JULIE COMINS PICKRELL is former executive director of the Foundation and a freelance Advertising: writer. LISA CONSIGLIO is the executive director of the Foundation. And NICOLE Cynthia Cameron (970) 544-3453 HERNANDEZ is the marketing and communications coordinator for the Foundation. [email protected] Design and Production: TMG 1707 L St. NW, Third Floor Washington, DC 20036 General: The Aspen Institute Berger Pickrell Consiglio Hernandez One Dupont Circle NW Suite 700 Washington, DC 20036 Senior Staff (202) 736-5800 www.aspeninstitute.org Walter Isaacson Peter Reiling President and Chief Executive Vice President, Leadership Executive Officer and Seminar Programs; Executive Director, Henry Crown The Aspen Idea is published twice a year by the Aspen Fellowship Program Institute and distributed to Institute constituents, Elliot F. Gerson friends, and supporters. To receive a copy, call Executive Vice President, Susan Sherwin (202) 736-5850. Postmaster: Please send address changes to The Aspen Institute Communications Policy and Public Programs, Executive Vice President, Department, Ste. 700, One Dupont Circle NW, International Partners Development Washington, DC 20036. The opinions and statements expressed by the authors and contributors to this publication do not necessarily reﬂect opinions or positions of the Amy Margerum Aspen Institute, which is a nonpartisan forum. All Executive Vice President, rights reserved. No material in this publication may Operations; be published or copied without the express written Corporate Secretary consent of the Aspen Institute. ©The Aspen Institute All Rights Reserved

The Aspen Idea would like to thank our friends at SoftScribe for their fast, Cert no. SCS-COC-000648 THE ASPEN INSTITUTE accurate, and detailed transcriptions.

6 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 AspenInstitutefacts

Board of Trustees

Chairman Robert K. Steel

Vice Chairman Henry E. Catto

Madeleine K. Albright Paul F. Anderson Mercedes Bass Berl Bernhard Richard S. Braddock Beth A. Brooke Melva Bucksbaum William D. Budinger Stephen L. Carter James S. Crown Andrea Cunningham John Doerr Sylvia A. Earle Michael D. Eisner Brooks Entwistle Leonhard Fischer Alan Fletcher Henrietta Holsman Fore Ann B. Friedman Stephen Friedman Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Michael Brands Mircea Geoana David Gergen Alma L. Gildenhorn WHAT IS THE ASPEN INSTITUTE? Gerald Greenwald Patrick W. Gross Arjun Gupta The Aspen Institute mission is twofold: to foster values-based leadership, encourag- Sidney Harman ing individuals to reflect on the ideals and ideas that define a good society, and to Hayne Hipp Gerald D. Hosier provide a neutral and balanced venue for discussing and acting on critical issues. Ann Frasher Hudson Robert J. Hurst Walter Isaacson The Aspen Institute does this primarily in four ways: Yotaro Kobayashi David H. Koch s Seminars, which help participants reflect on what they think makes a good Ann Korologos Timothy K. Krauskopf society, thereby deepening knowledge, broadening perspectives, and enhancing Leonard A. Lauder Elisabeth Lulin their capacity to solve the problems leaders face. Frederic V. Malek James M. Manyika s Young-leader fellowships around the globe, which bring a selected class of proven William E. Mayer Bonnie Palmer McCloskey leaders together for an intense multi-year program and commitment. The fellows David McCormick Anne Welsh McNulty become better leaders and apply their skills to significant challenges. Karlheinz Muhr Clare Muñana Jerry Murdock s Policy programs, which serve as nonpartisan forums for analysis, consensus Marc Nathanson building, and problem solving on a wide variety of issues. William A. Nitze Her Majesty Queen Noor Jacqueline Novogratz s Public conferences and events, which provide a commons for people to share Olara A. Otunnu Elaine Pagels ideas. Michel Pebereau Charles Powell The Institute is based in Washington, DC; Aspen, Colorado; and by the Wye Michael K. Powell Margot L. Pritzker River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore; it also has an international network of partners. Peter A. Reiling Lynda Resnick Condoleezza Rice LIFETIME TRUSTEES Isaac O. Shongwe William L. Davis Henry A. Kissinger Lloyd G. Schermer Anna Deavere Smith Chairman Alfred Dietsch Robert H. Malott Carlo Scognamiglio Michelle Smith James C. Calaway William H. Donaldson Olivier Mellerio Albert H. Small Gautam Thapar James L. Ferguson Eleanor Merrill Kathy D. Smith Shashi Tharoor* Prince Bandar Bin Sultan Merrill Ford Elinor Bunin Munroe Andrew L. Stern Giulio Tremonti Keith Berwick Richard N. Gardner Sandra Day O’Connor Phillips Talbot Roderick K. von Lipsey John Brademas Jacqueline Grapin Hisashi Owada Paul A. Volcker Vin Weber William T. Coleman, Jr. Irvine O. Hockaday, Jr. John J. Phelan, Jr. Leslie H. Wexner Beatrice Welters Alice Young Lester Crown Nina Rodale Houghton Thomas R. Pickering Frederick B. Whittemore F. Peter Cundill Jérôme Huret Warren B. Rudman *On Leave of Absence Tarun Das William N. Joy Jay Sandrich

8 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 AspenInstitutefacts

SEMINARS

The Aspen Seminar Seminarians in Durrës, Albania, at sunset. and political debates regarding For almost 60 years, the Aspen race-related issues, the ways pub- Seminar on Leadership, Values, lic policies and social processes and the Good Society has chal- promote or limit racial equity, and lenged leaders in every field social and cultural influences on to think more critically and popular perceptions of race and deeply about their impact on ethnicity. the world. A premier leadership and professional-development Nature and Society roundtable, the Aspen Seminar is Formerly the “Wilderness a unique opportunity to step away Seminar,” this small-group semi- from the demands of the present nar pairs moderated discussions of and to reflect on the concept of classical and contemporary texts a good and just society—with 20 with expertly guided hikes in the others in a moderated, text-based, Colorado Rockies or excursions Socratic dialogue. What is a good on the Chesapeake Bay, fostering society? How does one make it a a reflective examination of our

reality? What is my role in mak- Breyfogle Todd relationship to nature. ing that happen? The sublime settings of Aspen, Colorado, and the economic crisis, business, green and who wish to share practical Wye Faculty Programs Maryland’s Eastern Shore are investing, energy security, media strategies that generate positive, In a longstanding collaboration ideal for rejuvenating body, mind, and values, the future of democ- lasting impacts domestically and with the Association of American and spirit. “The Aspen Seminar racy, bioethics, and religious funda- around the world. Because of the Colleges and Universities, these is the best whetstone out there,” mentalism). Seminars are offered highly participatory nature of this seminars engage faculty, senior says Reed Hastings, founder and over long weekends in Aspen; at seminar, the program is closed to academic administrators, and col- CEO of Netflix. “It changed my the Institute’s Wye River campus; auditors and is open only to those lege presidents in an exchange of life totally,” says Leonard Lauder, and daylong seminars in New York, who can make the three-day com- ideas about liberal arts education, chairman of the Estee Lauder Washington, Los Angeles, Chicago, mitment. For more information, citizenship, and the global polity. Companies. “Everyone needs and San Francisco. The program including speakers, agenda, and the Aspen Seminar to help navi- provides moderated dialogue, out- registration materials, visit www. Custom Seminars gate the future.” To learn more, door activities, and time devoted aspeninstitute.org/psi by mid- Custom seminars enable organiza- visit www.aspeninstitute.org/ to informal relationship-building. February or contact Tracey tions and companies to develop aspenseminar. It also provides an introduction for Totten at tracey.totten@aspen one- to multi-day seminars rel- this diverse network of entrepre- institute.org. evant to their day-to-day opera- Justice and Society neurs, investors, academics, policy tions. This program has grown to The Justice and Society Seminar experts, journalists, etc. into the Racial Equity and Society include many of the world’s lead- focuses on conceptions of justice broader range of Institute programs. The Racial Equity and Society ing corporations. and how a just society ought to Visit www.aspeninstitute.org/ Seminars are designed to provide deal with issues such as private socrates. an opportunity for participants to conduct and public mores, the immerse themselves in readings, HOW TO SIGN UP social impact of economic dispari- Philanthropy Seminar study, and dialogue on issues For more information or to ties, the extent of entitlements, The seminar is a collaboration of race, ethnicity, and equity in register for a seminar, equality and the breakdown of with the Global Philanthropy the United States. Through a contact Charlene Costello long-held hierarchies of race and Forum and is open to principals curriculum of carefully selected at (410) 820-5374 or visit gender, the purposes of criminal of family foundations, individual readings and facilitated dialogue www.aspeninstitute.org/ punishment, and the contours philanthropists, and CEOs of sessions, participants explore a seminars. Limited financial of justice in a globalized world. private and corporate foundations range of issues, including histori- assistance is available for Readings for the seminar range who seek a meaningful explora- cal and contemporary dynamics most seminars. from classic philosophical texts tion of philanthropic values of structural racism, ideological to short stories, films, and plays, to cases currently before the Supreme Court. For more infor- 2010 SEMINAR SCHEDULE mation, visit www.aspen institute.org/jss. The Aspen Seminar* Topical Seminars Visit www.aspeninstitute.org/aspenseminar for Socrates Society Seminar The Socrates Society more information on upcoming seminars in 2010.* July 2–5, Aspen Emerging leaders (approximately October 22–24, Wye, Maryland ages 28–45) come together with *By invitation/nomination only. For more information, expert moderators for text-based contact Todd Breyfogle at todd.breyfogle@aspen November 12–13, Salon, San Francisco, California seminars on contemporary issues institute.org (past topics include: the impact of

SUMMER 2010 THE ASPEN IDEA 9 AspenInstitutefacts

POLICY PROGRAMS Each program has a different policy area at its core, but all AND PARTNERSHIPS strive to promote dialogue and informed leadership.

COUNCIL OF WOMEN WORLD LEADERS mobilizes women leaders globally for collective action on issues of critical importance to women. The Council promotes good governance and gender equality, and enhances the experience of democracy globally by increasing the number, effectiveness, and visibility of women who lead at the highest levels. www.womenworldleaders.org www.aspeninstitute.org/cwwl

ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM advances strategies Participants in the Aspen Network that connect the poor and under- of Development Entrepreneurs’ served to the mainstream econ- Investment Manager Training omy by providing tools, training, course in Nairobi, Kenya. and information to organizations Jenny Everett that help low-income individuals ADVOCACY AND EXCHANGE ASPEN STRATEGY GROUP uses COMMISSION ON NO CHILD start a business, find a better job, PROGRAM ON AGENT a bipartisan lens to identify and LEFT BEHIND is designed to and build wealth. ORANGE/DIOXIN promotes dia- examine the most contentious inform the anticipated reauthori- www.aspeninstitute.org/eop logue within the US policy com- foreign policy and national secu- zation of this landmark legislation munity and between the United rity concerns facing the United by holding hearings, conduct- EDUCATION AND SOCIETY States and Vietnam on solutions States and to assess America’s ing and distilling research, and PROGRAM helps local, state, and to the continuing impact of the evolving strategic interests. developing recommendations to national education leaders share wartime use of herbicides in www.aspeninstitute.org/asg improve its effectiveness. knowledge about how school Vietnam. www.nclbcommission.org systems can improve the educa- www.aspeninstitute.org/ ASPEN WRITERS’ FOUNDATION tion and life chances of poor and agentorangeprogram encourages writers in their craft COMMUNICATIONS AND minority students, and works with and readers in their appreciation SOCIETY PROGRAM promotes them to create programs and poli- ADVOCACY PLANNING AND of literature. Through its rep- dialogue and innovation in cies to accomplish these goals. EVALUATION PROGRAM and ertoire of year-round programs, communications and informa- www.aspeninstitute.org/ its Continuous Progress Strategic the Foundation serves more than tion policy. It convenes leaders education Services help partners and clients 100,000 literary enthusiasts of to assess the impact of modern plan, evaluate, and learn from all ages annually by provoking communications and information ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT efforts to shape public policy. thought and inspiring creativity. systems and develops new models PROGRAM brings together lead- Consultants work with founda- www.aspenwriters.org for communications policy. ers in business, government, tions and NGOs in the US, www.aspeninstitute.org/c&s educational, research, and envi- Tanzania, Kenya, France, and BUSINESS AND SOCIETY ronmental organizations to seek Germany on issues as diverse as PROGRAM is dedicated to devel- COMMUNITY STRATEGIES creative solutions to domestic and curbing teen obesity and increas- oping leaders for a sustainable GROUP designs and manages international policy issues involv- ing access to family planning. global society. Through dialogue action-inducing peer-learning ing energy and the environment. www.aspeninstitute.org/apep and education, the Program chal- among community-based lead- www.aspeninstitute.org/ee www.continuousprogress.org lenges business leaders to link ers and policymakers to advance financial success with social and local economic development, GLOBAL HEALTH AND ASPEN NETWORK OF DEVEL- environmental innovation. civic capacity, family livelihoods, DEVELOPMENT supports leader- OPMENT ENTREPRENEURS is a www.aspeninstitute.org/bsp and the development of philan- ship in health in low- and middle- global network of organizations thropic resources. income countries and promotes committed to creating and imple- CHANGE AND PROSPERITY: www.aspeninstitute.org/csg innovative strategies to address menting market-based solutions THE PROGRAM ON THE WORLD global health and poverty at a to global poverty. Members pro- ECONOMY promotes dialogue CONGRESSIONAL PROGRAM significant scale. vide critical financing and busi- among leaders in business, offers nonpartisan educational www.aspeninstitute.org/ghd ness support to small and growing finance, government, academia, programs designed to foster lead- businesses that create significant and the media from industrialized ership on public policy issues GLOBAL INITIATIVE ON ARTS, economic, environmental, and and developing nations to gener- among members of the US CULTURE, AND SOCIETY seeks social impacts in developing ate new approaches to major eco- Congress. to build a neutral platform for countries. nomic challenges. www.aspeninstitute.org/ reflection, network-building, www.aspeninstitute.org/ande www.aspeninstitute.org/pwe congressional policy formulation, leadership

10 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 AspenInstitutefacts

development, and resource institutions that allow citizens to PUBLIC PROGRAMS mobilization in the fields of participate in the benefits of a arts, culture, and socioeconomic globalizing world. Aspen Ideas Festival Aspen in New York development. www.aspeninstitute.org/ This weeklong, large-scale public The Institute now hosts a variety www.aspeninstitute.org/culture policy-work/market-building event—co-hosted by The Atlantic of programs in New York City, andsociety magazine—brings some of the from book talks to symposia. MIDDLE EAST PROGRAMS world’s brightest minds and lead- For information, contact Lidia HEALTH, BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE, focuses on a comprehensive ers to Aspen every summer for Barabash at lidia.barabash@aspen AND SOCIETY INITIATIVE approach toward the Middle informed and enlightened dia- institute.org or at (202) 736-2913. examines domestic and inter- East with the US-Palestinian logue on the planet’s most press- Or visit www.aspeninstitute. national policy issues related to Partnership, the Emirates- ing issues. The Festival will take org/newyork. health, medicine, nutrition, and Aspen Forum on Innovation, place from July 5 through July 11, biotechnology through a com- Partners for New Beginning, the 2010. For information, visit Aspen Environment Forum bination of roundtable discus- US-Lebanon Dialogue, and the www.aifestival.org. The 2010 Aspen Environment sions, speaker series, and public Huda and Samia Farouki lunch Forum, presented by the Institute forums. series. These initiatives work with The Washington Ideas and National Geographic, will www.aspeninstitute.org/health American, Middle Eastern, and Forum convene eminent leaders in Muslim business and political Presented in partnership with energy and the environment HOMELAND SECURITY leaders dedicated to a peaceful The Atlantic and The Newseum, on the Aspen Meadows campus INITIATIVE examines issues resolution to all Middle East this Washington, DC-based event from July 25 to 28, 2010. For relating to US homeland secu- conflicts and to forging partner- features leading figures in public information, visit rity, assessing progress made by ships between America and the policy discussing the most impor- www.aspenenvironment.org. the Department of Homeland Muslim world. tant issues of the day. The 2010 Security, and developing recom- www.aspeninstitute.org/ Forum will take place September Cultural Diplomacy Forum mendations to make Americans mideast 30 and October 1. By invitation. On October 4, 2010, the Institute safer. For information, contact Lidia will examine the relationship www.aspeninstitute.org/ PROGRAM ON PHILANTHROPY Barabash at lidia.barabash@ between arts, culture, and politics security AND SOCIAL INNOVATION aspeninstitute.org or at with its third annual Cultural employs seminars, leadership (202) 736-2913. Diplomacy Forum, this year INITIATIVE ON FINANCIAL programs, and evidence-based at the Phillips Collection in SECURITY convenes a leadership discussions to strengthen and Aspen Community Washington. For more informa- group from the financial-services inform philanthropy, the non- Programs tion, visit www.aspencdf.org. industry to explore financial profit sector, and social enterprise The Institute offers residents of products that create lifelong asset- so that each can contribute to the Aspen, Colorado, and the sur- Aspen Security Forum building opportunities for the tens good society, domestically and rounding Roaring Fork Valley a In June 2010, the Institute will of millions of working Americans internationally. variety of programs and events host its first Aspen Security Forum, who currently lack access to www.aspeninstitute.org/psi throughout the year, including presented by the Institute, The tax-advantaged or employer- the McCloskey Speaker Series, New York Times, and Government subsidized savings vehicles. REALIZING RIGHTS: THE the Arts & Ideas Series, the Security News. The event will www.aspeninstitute.org/ifs ETHICAL GLOBALIZATION Community Great Ideas Seminar convene leaders in government, INITIATIVE aims to put human for adults and high school stu- industry, media, think tanks, and JUSTICE AND SOCIETY rights principles at the heart of dents, the Sharing Shakespeare academia to explore key homeland PROGRAM convenes leaders global governance by catalyz- discussion series, and the New security and counterterrorism from several professions to affect ing new thinking and action Views film series, a collaboration issues on the Aspen Meadows national and international policy to address global inequities. with Aspen Film. For informa- campus from June 28 to July 1, regarding human rights, inter- Founded by former President tion, contact Cristal Logan at 2010. For information, visit national law, transitional justice, of Ireland Mary Robinson, it is [email protected]. www.aspensecurityforum.org. and multilateral peacekeeping a partnership of the Institute, operations. Through public pro- Columbia University, and the grams and roundtable discussions, International Council on Human the Program focuses on issues Rights Policy. that crosscut law and public www.aspeninstitute.org/egi policy. www.aspeninstitute.org/justice ROUNDTABLE ON COMMUNITY CHANGE is a forum in which MARKET-BUILDING INITIATIVE leaders working to revitalize generates dialogue, develops distressed urban and rural com- frameworks, and supports active munities can address common engagement for countries build- problems and share strategies for ing legitimate market economies promoting positive change. after conflict and instability. The www.aspeninstitute.org/rcc CBS’s “Face the Nation” host Bob Initiative aims to create value Schieffer with Senator Amy Klobuchar at the Washington Ideas Forum.

chains and underpin the credible Sam Kittner

SUMMER 2010 THE ASPEN IDEA 11 AspenInstitutefacts

The Henry Crown Fellowship Program Aspen Institute/ The flagship leadership NewSchools program. Fellows: www.aspeninstitute.org/crown Entrepreneurial Leaders for The Catto Fellowship Program Public Education Leaders in the Environment. www.aspeninstitute.org/ www.aspeninstitute.org/catto newschoolsfellows

The Liberty Fellowship Leaders in the state The Aspen Institute-Rodel of South Carolina. Fellowships in Public Leadership www.aspeninstitute.org/liberty American Elected Leaders. www.aspeninstitute.org/rodel

The Africa Leadership Initiative (ALI)/West Africa Leaders in Ghana and Nigeria. The Central America www.aspeninstitute.org/ali Leadership Initiative (CALI) www.aspeninstitute.org/cali

Nigeria Leadership Initiative- Senior Fellows Program www.aspeninstitute.org/nli

Imagesource/Photolibrary For information on the Aspen Global Leadership Network,

12 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 Aspen Global LeadershipAspen NetworkInstitutefacts

ince 1997, the Institute has built on a series of programs for accomplished leaders in the United States and abroad—from South Carolina to South Africa. Beginning with and inspired by the SHenry Crown Fellowship Program, these initiatives share a goal of developing a new generation of civically engaged men and women by encouraging them to move “from success to significance.” Each program selects an annual class of approximately 20 proven leaders and convenes them several times over the course of two years for a series of intensive leadership seminars. Each Fellow is also required to design and carry out a high-impact leadership project. This family of initiatives comprises the Aspen Global Leadership Network. Today, the AGLN numbers more than 1,000 Fellows from 43 countries and continues to grow.

The India Leadership Initiative (ILI) www.aspeninstitute.org/ili

The Middle East Leadership Initiative (MELI) www.aspeninstitute.org/meli

The Africa Leadership Initiative (ALI)/East Africa Leaders in Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya. www.aspeninstitute.org/ali

The Africa Leadership Initiative (ALI)/Mozambique www.aspeninstitute.org/ali

The Africa Leadership Initiative (ALI)/South Africa www.aspeninstitute.org/ali

contact Abigail Golden-Vazquez at (202) 736-2919 or [email protected].

SUMMER 2010 THE ASPEN IDEA 13 from the president

The Institute Goes Green

his April marked the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, a global inflection point. It is only fitting then that the Institute is poised to have its greenest year yet Tin 2010. We started off in January with a remarkable trip to the Galapagos Islands led by the Institute’s Energy and Environment Program. Friends and supporters of the Institute boarded the National Geographic Endeavor to recreate the journey Charles Darwin took some 150 years ago. We immersed ourselves in the beauty and complex- ity of this unique archipelago with copies of The Origin of Species in our hands and knowledgeable guides at our sides. We read the work of contemporary evolutionary biologists, participated in moderated dialogues, and saw up close the Islands’ extraordinary creatures. You can read more about this incredible experience and see Donna Horney photos from the trip on page 70. Isaacson and Institute Executive Vice President The Institute is also presenting its third annual Aspen Environment Forum this Elliot Gerson July in Aspen. Based on the successful Aspen Ideas Festival, our hope is that the Forum will further your understanding of the critical environmental challenges we face with a rich exchange of ideas. The second class of Catto Fellows will be Friends and in the audience at the Forum participating in the discussions. These young environmental leaders, part of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, are doing the supporters of the footwork necessary for a healthy environment. In fact, there are Fellows in all 13 of the Aspen Global Leadership Network’s programs around the world who are Institute boarded making an impact on the planet—from green jobs to socially responsible businesses (see page 58 for more). the National Finally, this June, we will unveil the renovation of the Paepcke Memorial Geographic Building. The original Herbert Bayer design was carefully preserved while the building was being updated for the 21st century (see page 54). Now, in addition Endeavor to to upgrades to the sound and theater system, the Paepcke building will be heated and cooled through a geothermal pond, insulated with sustainable materials, and recreate the filled with natural light. We expect our carbon footprint to go down by as much as 55 percent as a result. Inside the Paepcke building, visitors will be treated to a journey Charles modern, open, and inviting space—perfect for music, films, great dialogue, and Darwin took some timeless ideas. I hope to see you there this summer. 150 years ago. All best,

Walter Isaacson President and CEO

14 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 insights&ideas WHAT’S NEW AND WHAT’S NEWS AT THE INSTITUTE

Institute O’Connor Commission Inspires FCC Initiative In the fall of 2009, the Institute’s Communications and Society Program unveiled the work of its Knight Com-

mission on the Information Needs of Genon Laurence Communities in a Democracy. Its report, Genachowski with Communications and Society Executive Director Charlie Firestone Informing Communities, sparked a nearly immediate action by the Federal Com- creating an information and communica- munications Commission, which is tions renaissance. But it is not serving all

launching an “Examination of the Future Americans and their local communities Bill Petros of Media and Information Needs of equally.” The FCC initiative aims to help Communities in a Digital Age.” “We are communities receive the information LAW SERIES at a critical juncture in the evolution of they need to become healthy, knowledge- American media,” said FCC Chairman able citizens. To read the full Institute Tackles Judges Julius Genachowski. “The digital age is report, visit www.knightcomm.org. and CEOs

Friedman and Otellini “The founders of our nation saw fit to make judges inde- pendent of the other two political branches,” said retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, a new lifetime trustee of the Institute, at a symposium in January co- hosted by Georgetown Law and the Institute’s Justice and Society Program. The event addressed how the Citizens United decision could transform the way states choose judges. “Being right is more Laurence Genon Laurence important than being popular,” OTELLINI DOUBLES DOWN ON INNOVATION O’Connor said, noting the problems inherent in elect- “A lot of the best engineers in China are from MIT,” said Intel President and CEO ing judges. The Georgetown- Paul Otellini as he emphasized the need to retain the best math and science minds Institute series kicked off last in the world. Speaking at a February Innovation Economy Roundtable, a partnership fall with a discussion with Ken- between the Institute and Intel, Otellini stressed the connection between high-level neth Feinberg, the president’s math and science innovators and the nation’s GDP. “The US is badly lagging in TARP pay czar, who described developing the next generation of scientific talent,” wrote Tom Friedman in his New his work setting the pay for York Times column after attending the Roundtable. Also participating in the discussion executives at seven of the were FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and “PBS NewsHour”’s Judy Woodruff. nation’s largest companies. To The lunch followed Otellini’s announcement that Intel would head up a $200 million watch video of the events, visit investment fund aimed at spurring promising start-ups in biotech, clean technology, www.aspeninstitute.org/justice. and green technology. To learn more, visit www.theinnovationeconomy.org.

16 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 insights&ideas

Inderfurth and Albright Institute Names New Trustees In April, Institute Chairman Robert Steel announced the newest members of the Board of Trustees: s¬Richard S. Braddock, chairman and CEO of Fresh Direct Braddock Brooke s¬Beth A. Brooke, global vice chair Chan Chao of public policy, sustainability, and Former Ministers stakeholder engagement at Ernst & Push for Afghan Young s¬Brooks Entwistle, managing “Civilian Surge” director and CEO of Goldman Sachs In December, former Secretary of (India) Securities Private Ltd. State and Institute trustee Madeleine s¬David McCormick, Management Albright convened the Aspen Atlantic Committee member at Bridgewater McCormick O’Connor Group in Washington to examine Associates and former undersecretary US-NATO policy in Afghanistan and of the treasury for international affairs Pakistan. Over three days, 20 former s¬Condoleezza Rice, professor of foreign ministers—the largest number political science at Stanford University, of ex-ministers ever assembled by the senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Group—held talks to discuss interna- and the 66th US secretary of state tional strategy and to promote a “civilian s¬Michelle Smith, president of the surge” to accompany the military effort Robert H. Smith Family Foundation in Afghanistan. In partnership with the Entwistle Gardner Bertelsmann Foundation, a ministers’ In addition, Steel announced two new consensus editorial was published in The lifetime trustees of the Institute: Daily Beast. The meeting also inspired s¬Richard N. Gardner,¬ senior editorials by former Canadian Foreign counsel at the Morgan Lewis law firm, Minister Lloyd Axworthy in The Globe professor at Columbia University Law and Mail and by former Assistant US School, and former US ambassador to Secretary of State for South Asian Italy and Spain Affairs Karl Inderfurth in The New York s¬Sandra Day O’Connor, retired Times. To learn more, visit www.aspen US Supreme Court justice institute.org/asg. Rice Smith In Health Care, Global is Local In January, the new Institute policy program on Global Health and Development launched the Global Health Roundtable Series with a discussion featuring Tom Daschle, former senator and current White House health policy advisor, and Nigel Crisp, member of the House of Lords in England and author of Turning the World Upside Down. Crisp reminded the audience that global health is not simply a moral duty. “It is self-interest,” he said, noting that global pandemics have no borders. Daschle concurred: “There’s an idea that the Third World is irrelevant and dependent,” when in fact developing nations are “relevant and co-dependent.” Daschle, Institute Executive Vice President Elliot Gerson, and Crisp

To learn more, visit www.aspeninstitute.org/ghd. Steve Johnson

SUMMER 2010 THE ASPEN IDEA 17 insights&ideas

Summer Celebration to JOIN US Honor Lehrer and Hosseini Public Forum Takes On August 7, the Institute will host its 17th Annual On Terrorism Summer Celebration Benefit, honoring Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner and A Thou- The 2009 Christmas Day airline sand Splendid Suns, and bomb plot reminded us that Al Qaeda Jim Lehrer, anchor of “PBS Lehrer remains determined to strike the

NewsHour.” Institute CEO Dan Bayer United States. What are the other Walter Isaacson will moderate a public conversation between the two honorees in the Greenwald Pavilion; key threats we face, and how safe are a dinner to benefit the Institute’s programs, chaired we today? June 28–30, the Institute, by Institute trustee Bob Hurst and his wife, Soledad, The New York Times, and Govern- will follow at the Doerr-Hosier Center on the Aspen ment Security News are launching Meadows campus. Tickets for the conversation and the Aspen Security Forum in Aspen. the dinner are available at www.aspeninstitute.org/ The Forum will feature Chairman of summercelebration. Hosseini the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike John Dolan Mullen, former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, former Getting White House Homeland Security Security Right Advisor Fran Townsend, chief UN terrorism expert Richard Barrett, US “If the terrorists get through once, we have failed,” said Timothy Ambassador-at-Large for Counterter- Healy, director of the US Terror- rorism Daniel Benjamin, and other ist Screening Center, at a March leading experts in discussions of event convened by the Institute’s aviation, border, and infrastructure Homeland Security Program. “We security, as well as intelligence and have to be right every time.” Healy counterterrorism-preparedness. For discussed the importance of gathering information while preserving more information and to register, visit civil liberties. To learn more, visit www.aspensecurityforum.org or call Healy

www.aspeninstitute.org/security. Steve Johnson (202) 736-2904.

INSTITUTE HELPS HOST THE DALAI LAMA IN DC This winter, His Holiness the Dalai Lama made a historic visit to Washington and to the White House—marking his first visit with President Barack Obama. Afterward, the Institute, along with Insti- tute trustee Margot Pritzker and her husband, Thomas Pritzker, hosted His Holiness at a private reception at the Park Hyatt attended by White House advisor Valerie Jarrett and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel among others. His Holiness called his visit with President Obama “extremely good” and extolled the United States as a “champion of liberty, democracy, and justice.” Margot Pritzker, Jarrett, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama ICT/Sonam Zoksang

18 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 insights&ideas

Catto Fellows Take On the Planet Sanjayan This past year, the inaugural class of the Institute’s Catto Fellowship Program—leaders devoted to environmental change—took on the challenge of global governance. After meeting with experts in Glion, Switzerland, and Michael Brands holding roundtables state- The Human Element side, the Fellows hosted This February, the Institute’s Energy an International Forum and Environment Program, in on Global Environmental partnership with the Nature Con-

Governance and Climate (2) JBV Production servancy, launched a dialogue with Change in Washington, Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata, Italian ambassador to the US, and both conservation and human- DC, at the Italian Embassy. Viviani development leaders to explore new Top experts, led by former Senator Gary ways to create higher standards of Hart and former UN Environment living while protecting the natural Program Executive Director Elizabeth world. As M.A. Sanjayan, Nature Dowdeswell, discussed how states across Conservancy’s lead scientist, put it: the globe will manage greenhouse-gas “The conservation movement has to emissions reductions. The second class of start putting humans back into biodi- Catto Fellows meets this summer to take versity.” Other participants included on a new project. Participants include Mark Tercek, Nature Conservancy Kellee James, economist at the Chicago CEO; ABC News’ Bill Blakemore; Climate Exchange; Miquela Craytor, Stanford’s Gretchen Daily, direc- executive director of Sustainable South tor of the Center for Conservation Bronx; and Carlo Viviani, director of EU Biology; Dean Hirsch, international Policies in the Office of the Prime Minis- president of World Vision; and Paul

Hart ter of the Italian Republic. To learn more, O’Brien, vice president of policy at visit www.aspeninstitute.org/catto. Oxfam. To learn more, visit www. aspeninstitute.org/ee. NEW LEADERS FOR A NEW INDIA The Institute’s Aspen Global Leadership Network, together with Aspen India India Leadership Initiative Fellows and the Goldman Sachs Global Markets Institute, graduated the second class of India Leadership Initiative Fellows in February. These entrepreneurial Fellows from business, civil society, and government are addressing the challenges they see around them in modern India through their work and leadership projects. Fellows include RK Misra, who is creating a “model” village in India to help rural farmers improve their livelihoods; Vivek Pandit, who has created a care center in Mumbai to support poor families with children undergoing treatment for childhood Leukemia; and Yashashree Gurjar, who is working to address malnourishment among children. To learn more about the leadership projects and people of the Network, see page 58 or visit www.aspeninstitute.org/agln. Martha Lange

20 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 Litle

The Furious Force of Film

A renaissance of documentary filmmaking is underway in the United States, but too few of the films reach a broad audience. This summer in Aspen, you can catch the best of recent documentary films and talk to the people who made them with the launch of “NEW VIEWS Premier Documentaries” sponsored by the Institute and Aspen Film. The summer film fest will kick off on July 5 with an advanced screening of Joshua Atesh Litle’s new work-in-progress: The Furious Force of Rhymes, a film about the worldwide afro-urban musical experience. Litle, the director, will be taking questions from the audience. Come see the movies that will win next year’s major awards now. Tickets go on sale June 28 at the Wheeler Opera House, at www.aspenshowtickets.com, or by calling (970) 920-5770. National Hearing Grades Education “We’ll lose lots of kids if we don’t pick up the pace of change in our schools,” said Delia Pompa, vice president for education at the National Council of La Raza, at a national public hearing held by the Institute’s Commission on No Child Pompa Left Behind. “Strong accountability for results is the key to improving the education of all of our children.” Pompa acted as hearing chair for the April event, which was held in New Orleans, Louisiana—a city and state that have earned a reputation for reform, innovation, and commitment to accountability in education. Com- missioners heard testimony and posed questions to expert witnesses from around the country about the impact of No Child Left Behind. To learn more, visit www.nclbcommission.org. Guillermo Cabrera-Rojo

SUMMER 2010 THE ASPEN IDEA 21 insights&ideas

2010 Artists-in-Residence: Tobias Wolff Wolff and Guy Dill “I am delighted to have one of America’s leading writers and one of its finest sculptors together,” said Harman-Eisner Program in the Arts Director Dana Gioia, announcing the 2010 Harman-Eisner artists-in-residence. “Tobias Wolff Dan Bayer creates truly compelling stories that unlock the Dill complicated secrets of the human heart.” And anyone who visits major museums and galleries has seen Guy Dill’s extraordinary pieces. “There is an irresistible sense of joy in Dill’s work that Bush is rare in contemporary public sculpture,” said Dan Bayer Gioia. Both artists will be featured presenters at the Aspen Ideas Festival. To learn more, go to Fireside www.aspeninstitute.org/artsprogram. Chats Breakthrough Art: Exhibition Focus on of East German Art Solutions This July, the Institute will host the Breakthrough Art organization’s inaugural tour “It really costs so little to feed on the Aspen Meadows campus from July 16–August 27. The exhibition features the one child for a whole year,” work of ten artists who survived East German said Lauren Bush, co-founder Brandenburg Gate by Communist censorship and oppression (includ- Reinhard Stangl (2006) of FEED Projects, a nonprofit ing imprisonment) to prosper in the new unified Germany. The tour will spotlight the work and dedicated to eradicating child life experiences of these artists, who include hunger, at a new Après Ski Fire- Peter Herrmann, Wolfgang Petrick, Reinhard side Chat series at the Institute’s Stangl, and Robert Weber. Several of the artists Aspen Meadows Restaurant will be in Aspen July 16–24 to discuss their work in Aspen this winter. Fireside and the challenges of creating art during a time Chat speakers also included of historical change. There will also be a special Society of Fellows Luncheon in conjunction Nobel Prize Laureate Stanley with the artists’ visit. To learn more, visit www. B. Prusiner, director of the breakthroughart.org. Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, who discussed new NEVER MISS AN ASPEN EVENT advances in life sciences that could have a huge impact on dis- From the Aspen Ideas Festival to our DC book talks and roundtables, our new Mul- eases like Alzheimer’s in the near timedia channel at www.aspeninstitute.org/video features a complete library of Aspen events. Hundreds of hours of full-length and edited videos of conversations future. To learn more, contact from Institute forums, festivals, policy programs, and special events are yours to Beth Slater at beth.slater@aspen access any time, on demand. institute.org or (970) 544-7914.

22 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 FIND A GOOD IDEA GO |

ideas all the time. www.aifestival.org insights&ideas

Leadership on the Big Screen

Two recent major films have drawn attention to the work of Aspen Global Leadership Network fellows: the award-winning Journey to Mecca: In the Footsteps of Ibn Battuta, co-produced by Middle East Leadership Initiative Fellow Al Zain Al Sabah, and Extraordinary Measures (starring Harrison Ford and Brendan Fraser), the true story of Henry Crown Fellow John Crowley’s fight to cure his kids of Pompe disease. “Each of us has the potential to be a leader,” said Crowley. Today, Crowley is presi- Bao Nguyen Branzei congratulates Northwestern dent and CEO of Amicus University’s Jose Ochoa. Therapeutics. And Jour- ney to Mecca’s Kuwait- based Al Sabah provides MBA a creative and financial haven for filmmakers Competition in the region as chairperson and managing Spotlights director of Eagle Vision Values Media Group. To learn In April, the Institute’s Busi- more, visit www.aspen ness and Society Program held institute.org/agln. the final round of its inaugural International MBA Case Competition in New York City. Students were asked to develop Teen Scholars Replicate Ideas Festival a ten-year growth strategy for The 2009 Bezos Scholars—12 exceptional public high school juniors selected to the Tata Group—a multina- attend the Aspen Ideas Festival—experienced a lot of firsts at the Fest: breakfast tional business network based in with Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and columnist Thomas Friedman, lunch India—to determine the added with oceanographer Sylvia Earle, and a private meeting with US Secretary of value of social responsibility Education Arne Duncan. Some scholars have in turn created events at their own and to decide what, if any, focus schools inspired by their experiences in Aspen. Blake O’Connor from Tampa’s should be placed on social val- Freedom High created the “I Feel the Need to Read” Family Literacy Festival. ues going forward. The competi- And Lanna Giauque brought an “EthnicFest” to Colorado’s Greeley West High tion launched with 25 business School to celebrate the food, dress, arts, and politics of more than 20 nations. To schools worldwide participating. learn more, visit www.bezosfamilyfoundation.org/scholars. The judging panel included Beth Collecton, NBC’s director of sustainability; Rob Kaplan, former vice-chairman of Gold- man Sachs; and case writer Oana Branzei, assistant professor and faculty fellow at Canada’s Ivey School of Busi- ness. The featured speaker of the April event was Anant Nadkarni, vice president of the Tata Council for Community Initiatives. To learn more, visit Greeley West students perform a traditional Mexican dance during EthnicFest. www.aspencbe.org. Jason Hackett

24 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 insights&ideas

Seminars Spark Conversation at NEW Home and Abroad WEBSITE Three recent custom-designed Institute seminars brought together diverse leaders to explore specific issues with the Institute’s signature approach—moderated Socratic OFFERS dialogue based on classic FINANCIAL and contemporary readings. “The Enlightenment and HELP FOR ALL the Transatlantic Link,” held The Institute’s Economic in Rome in November and Opportunities Program, the organized by Aspen Institute Center for the Study of Social Italia, explored the relevance Policy, and several other groups of Enlightenment thought launched the new website to contemporary challenges. AssetPlatform.org to provide “Kosovo and the Concept organizations across the coun- of Organizational Integrity,” try with the financial tools, held in Durrës, Albania, in training, and products needed October and organized by to help low-income clients Aspen Institute Germany, “learn how to save money, build gathered officials from Balkan a nest egg, improve their credit countries, the United Nations, scores, get out of debt, and the European Union, and apply for a home mortgage,” nongovernmental organiza- said Kirsten Moy, director of tions to explore common values. And “Leadership, Greene Democracy, and the Ameri- can Experiment,” held in St. Petersburg, Florida, joined senior military officials with

prominent business leaders Breyfogle Todd at the US Central Command Seminar participants at a Renaissance palace in Rome. for a discussion of the changing face of war. For more information about customized seminars or the classic Aspen Seminar, contact Todd Breyfogle at (202) 341-7803 or [email protected]. Steve Johnson the Economic Opportunities Program. The website officially launched at an event in April at the Kaiser Family Founda- tion where Michelle Greene, deputy assistant secretary for financial education and financial access at the US Treasury, served as keynote speaker. To learn more, visit www.aspen institute.org/eop.

26 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 insights&ideas

Thurman ANDE participants in Nairobi Jenny Everett Dan Bayer

New York Jenny Everett Public Event Helping Investors Change to Probe the (Developing) World “We often hear that our members’ real challenge is training their staffs in the art Meaning of and science of investing in small businesses in the developing world,” said Randall Success Kempner, executive director of the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs. “This course is the first of its kind to do just that.” In March, Kempner’s program held “How do you measure success?” its inaugural Investment Manager Training course in Nairobi, where 35 participants is the theme for Aspen in New from 12 countries attended weeklong sessions that covered the entire investment pro- York 2010, which will be hosted cess—from deal-sourcing to exit strategies. According to Ghana-based Network mem- by Bloomberg TV and the ber Reuben Coffie: “I think we will go very far very fast if we keep up the atmosphere Institute’s Business and Society that characterized the training.” To learn more, visit www.aspeninstitute.org/ande. Annual Forum on October 26 and 27 in New York City. These public conversations will feature interviews with business, SMARTUMONEY government, and social leaders, including Daniel Kahneman, The Institute’s Initiative on Financial Security hosted a series of discussions on finan- psychologist and economics cial reform, investing, and saving. In November, Edward Yingling, president and Nobel laureate; David Korten, CEO of the American Bankers Association, and Damon Silvers, director of policy activist and best-selling author of and special counsel for the AFL-CIO, had a heated debate on consumer protection, When Corporations Rule; Roger home foreclosure, and risk mitigation. In Decem- Martin, dean of the University ber, thought-leaders like Treasury’s Mark Iwry, of Toronto’s Rotman School of AARP’s Cristina Martin Firvida, and Prudential Management; and Robert Thur- Financial’s John Kalamarides, gathered to discuss man, professor of Indo-Tibetan the Obama administration’s retirement-policy Buddhist Studies at Columbia proposals. And, in January, the Initiative hosted University and co-founder of a congressional briefing, “Your Nest Egg on Auto Tibet House. To register or Pilot,” in conjunction with the Senate Special revisit the dialogues from the Committee on Aging to discuss expanding retire- 2009 conference, go to www. ment savings and the Initiative’s innovative invest- aspeninstitute.org/bsp. ment option: Real Savings+. To learn more, visit Silvers and Yingling

Steve Johnson www.aspeninstitute.org/ifs.

SUMMER 2010 THE ASPEN IDEA 27 insights&ideas

Aspen and the State Department Join Forces On April 27, the Institute announced the launch of Partners for a New Begin- ning, a new partnership between the Institute’s Middle East Programs and the US State Department. Partners will lay the foundation for a new beginning between the United States and Muslims by bringing together prominent Ameri- cans from the private sector and matching them with similar groups from the

Muslim world. “This is Nayna Sasidharan a high priority for both Foreign Minister Al Nahyan with Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE ambassador to the US the president and myself,” said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Institute Partners at the launch. “Person- to-person diplomacy With UAE in today’s world is as “Having cooperation between the important as what we Aspen Institute and the United do in official meetings Arab Emirates is very vital for us,” in national capitals said UAE Minister of Foreign across the globe.” For- Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayid mer Secretary of State Al Nahyan at a February dinner Madeleine Albright in Washington sponsored by the will chair the effort— Institute’s Middle East Programs. along with vice-chairs The dinner marked the beginning Muhtar Kent, CEO of a new partnership between the and chairman of the UAE and the Institute, an initiative Coca-Cola Company, Al Nahyan called “a program of and Institute CEO seriousness and transparency.” The Walter Isaacson. To partnership will start in earnest with learn more, visit www. a forum on innovation and creativ- aspeninstitute.org/ ity in Abu Dhabi in September. Albright, Isaacson, Kent, and Clinton

mideast. Courtesy of the US State Department To learn more, visit www.aspen institute.org/mideast. ASPEN IN THE WEST BANK The Institute’s Middle East Investment Initiative, a loan- guarantee program dedicated to improving the lives of the Palestinian people, held its board meeting in the West Bank in November 2009. Right, board members gather

at a restaurant in Nablus. Korologos Tom

28 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 insights&ideas

BACK TO SCHOOL Yellen As the recession persists, many Americans find themselves struggling to acquire the skills they need to find and keep good jobs. Community colleges are facing soaring enrollment while states are confronted with deficits that threaten education funding. In February, the Institute’s Workforce Strategies Initiative—with funding from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation—convened leaders from community colleges, the public sector, nonprofit organizations, and

philanthropy to discuss how academic and Billy Reinschmiedt social-services organizations can collaborate to help adults prepare for today’s labor market. To learn more, visit www.aspenwsi.org. Putting Poverty in Participants on an Institute Workforce Strategies Initiative outing visit a community college program in its Place Allison Gerber automotive repair. “Strategies that focus both on Awuah people and the environments in Philanthropists Join which they live are essential if we hope to increase opportunity Forces for Change for low-income families and communities,” said Janet Yellen, In April, the Institute’s Program on Philan- who was recently nominated to thropy and Social Innovation co-hosted the be vice chair of the US Federal Global Philanthropy Forum in Redwood Reserve from her post as CEO of City, California, bringing together more the Federal Reserve Bank of San than 500 philanthropists and innovators Francisco. The Bank partnered to discuss global health, food security, and with the Institute’s Round- climate change. Speakers included Neal table on Community Change

Keny-Guyer, CEO of Mercy Corps; Louise Dan Bayer for a two-day dialogue in San Arbour, CEO of the International Crisis Group; and Patrick Awuah, Africa Lead- Francisco. The February event ership Initiative Fellow, founder of Ashesi University, and the 2010 winner of the convened more than 100 experts John P. McNulty Prize. To learn more, visit www.philanthropyforum.org. to discuss anti-poverty strategies and new federal initiatives, such as Promise Neighborhoods. Panelists included Housing and Urban Development Assistant :,/'/,)(&216(59$7,21 Secretary Raphael Bostic and +80$1:(//%(,1*,1$)5,&$ Professor of Geography and Join us for a compelling discussion of conservation and models of American Studies and Ethnicity sustainable economic development in Africa. at the University of Southern California Manuel Pastor. The Roundtable also partnered with the Fetzer Institute in Decem- ber for a two-day retreat on racial equity and community trans- February 12-17, 2011 — Singita Lodges in South Africa’s Kruger National Park. formation. To learn more, visit To register, contact Donna Horney at [email protected]. www.aspenroundtable.org.

30 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 AN ASPEN LANDMARK Rhee and Reed to Speak in Aspen REBORN “We have to be willing to innovate— Rhee to think outside the box—to think about how we’re going to tackle some of the most intractable issues that we’re facing right now in education,” said DC Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee at the Institute-Intel Innovation Economy Conference last winter. This summer, Rhee returns to the Institute to continue the conversation on leadership and social innovation, this time with Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. David Gergen, CNN commentator and Harvard Kennedy School professor, will moderate the discussion at the Socrates Society Forum for Young

Leaders benefit dinner on Saturday, Michael Brands July 3, in Aspen. To learn more, contact Becky Ward at becky.ward@aspeninstitute. org or (970) 544-7925, or visit www.aspeninstitute.org/socratesdinner. ARTASDIPLOMACY How can the United States use culture to Nafisi converse with the rest of the world? How can it be more open to foreign culture and art? On October 4, 2010, the Institute will The new Limelight Lodge re-opened it’s doors in November 2008. endeavor to answer those questions and more Our 126-room Hotel offers with its third annual Cultural Diplomacy accommodations ranging from deluxe Forum, this year at the Phillips Collection rooms with kitchenettes to luxurious in Washington. Speakers include Madeleine one & two bedroom suites with full kitchens, ﬁ replaces and balconies. Albright, former Secretary of State and Insti- tute trustee; Azar Nafisi, author of Reading A complimentary expanded breakfast Lolita in Tehran; Arturo Sarukhán, Mexican and aprés ski, outdoor pool and two ambassador to the United States; Ann Stock, large hot tubs makes us the perfect place to stay. Our spacious lobby & US assistant secretary of state for cultural living room with full bar service and a

SJ Staniski affairs; and painter Eric Fischl. large meeting space accommodates the individual traveler and group alike.

In the center of town, steps from VALUES-BASED GIVING skiing, shopping and dining. The Institute’s Program on Philanthropy and Social Innovation recently concluded its yearlong Aspen Philanthropy Seminar, which convenes Washington- LOCATED IN THE HEART area donors and foundations to reflect on the values underlying giving. The OF DOWNTOWN ASPEN next Philanthropy Seminar will begin in October; participants will share stories www.limelightlodge.com and exchange best practices as well as develop a local, peer network. Registra- For reservations call tion is open through July. To learn more, contact Cinthia Schuman Ottinger at 800-247-2069 [email protected].

SUMMER 2010 THE ASPEN IDEA 31 insights&ideas

The Aspen-Cleveland Connection

Things are looking up in Cleveland’s job market—thanks at least in part to an Institute project. In 2005, the Institute’s Nonprofit Sector Research Fund published “Building Wealth: The New Asset-Based Approach to Solving Social and Economic Problems” and then, along with The Democracy Collabora- tive, launched a forum on “Enterprising Organizations.” Over the next year, the Institute helped to organize local wealth- building roundtables in several cities— including Cleveland, Ohio. As a result, Cleveland is now becoming home to one of the most innovative job-creation strategies in the nation. Thanks to the Institute, said Ted Howard, executive director of The Democracy Collabora- tive, the Cleveland Model “leverages the financial power of existing assets of urban Bunyan

places to create economic activity that Steve Johnson benefits surrounding neighborhoods.” To learn more, visit at www.community Politics, Pantsuits, wealth.org. and the Press Green jobs in Cleveland As part of the Madeleine K. Albright Women’s Voices series, the Insti- tute’s Council on Women World Leaders hosted Washington, DC, Healthy Women, Healthy World TV news anchor Maureen Bunyan; In order for any health reform to be successful, it must ensure that the needs of media experts Erika Falk and Elisa- women and girls are central, explained Dr. Julio Frenk, dean of Harvard’s School beth Gidengil; and Anne Kornblut, of Public Health, at a dialogue in March sponsored by the Institute’s Council of author of Notes from the Cracked Women World Leaders Ceiling: Hillary Clinton, Sarah and its partner, the Min- Palin, and What it Will Take for a Brems and Frenk isterial Leadership Initia- Woman to Win, in a discussion of tive for Global Health. the media’s role in shaping public The discussion focused perception of female political can- on the Initiative’s World didates. Kornblut observed that the Health Organization media treated Clinton and Palin report about the impor- similarly, describing them in sexual- tance of women to the ized ways. And Falk presented the health of the entire fam- results of her research, which dem- ily. Participants included onstrated that, for every one mention Dr. Susan K. Brems, dep- of a male candidate’s physical traits, uty assistant administra- there were four similar mentions for Steve Johnson tor for USAID’s Global women candidates. Nevertheless, Health Bureau, and Dr. Michele Moloney-Kitts, assistant US global AIDS coor- when women run, they win just as dinator. To learn more, visit www.ministerial-leadership.org. often as men do. To learn more, visit www.aspeninstitute.org/cwwl.

32 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 insights&ideas

Mullen LISTEN UP Poetry and The 2010 Global Affairs Get a New McCloskey Platform in DC Speaker Series This spring, the Institute This summer, the weekly McCloskey launched a new Washington Speaker Series will feature Admiral Mike Ideas Roundtable Series: monthly Mullen, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs Washington-based lunchtime dis- of Staff; Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive: cussions focusing on world affairs, The Surprising Truth About What Moti- arts, and culture. The Series, vates Us; Vartan Gregorian, president of which is made possible with the the Carnegie Corporation of New York; Chan Chao generous support of Institute and Peter W. Galbraith, former UN deputy special representative for Afghanistan trustee Michelle Smith and the and author of Unintended Consequences: How War in Iraq Strengthened America’s Robert H. Smith Family Founda- Enemies—to name just a few. The series is made possible by the McCloskey Family tion, kicked off with an off-the- Charitable Foundation and is open to the public. Tickets ($15) are available at www. record lunch with Deputy Sec- aspenshowtickets.com, (970) 920-5770, or through the Wheeler Opera House. Soci- retary of State James Steinberg. ety of Fellows’ reservations may be made by calling (970) 544-7980. In March, Jim Leach, chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, discussed how CORPORATE CHANGE-MAKERS the humanities “teach us how to The Institute’s Business and Society Program has announced Badhwar think imaginatively.” Then, in its second class of First Mover Fellows, a dynamic group of May, US National Poet Laureate corporate change-makers who are helping their companies Kay Ryan led a conversation on develop products, services, and busi- becoming a writer. Other Round- ness models that lead to financial suc- table speakers included Deputy cess and positive social and environ- National Security Advisor Tom mental impacts. Fellows in the 2010 Donilon and State Department First Movers class include Marika Director of Policy Planning McCauley Sine from Coca-Cola, Britta Rendlen from Swiss Anne-Marie Slaughter. To learn Re, and Ajay Badhwar from Dow Chemical. To meet the rest more about the series, contact Rendlen of the Fellows, visit www.aspeninstitute.org/firstmovers. Jeffrey Harris at jeffrey.harris@ aspeninstitute.org. ADVERTISEMENT Steinberg Steve Johnson

34 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 Woetzel and Smith insights&ideas

Bob Tisch Maggie Peters Tisch Series Explores Leadership From Diverse Angles In March, the Institute hosted the third installment of its new discussion series based in New York City, “The Aspen Leadership Series: Conversations with Great Leaders, in memory of Preston Robert Tisch.” Neda Ulaby, arts reporter for National Public Radio, moderated a lively discussion on “The Arts and Tough Times: Challenges and Opportunities.” Speakers were SAVE THE DATE: playwright, actor, and educator Anna Deavere Smith and arts activist and former New York City The Tisch Ballet Principal Dancer Damian Woetzel. Smith Leadership Award recently ended a successful New York run of her newest play, Let Me Down Easy. Woetzel has The inaugural Preston Robert recently begun working with Yo-Yo Ma and his Tisch Award in Civic Leader- Silk Road Connect Program in the New York City Laurie Tisch at the Jamie Dimon event. ship—the annual cornerstone of public schools. Both Woetzel and Deavere Smith this new series—will be given at are former Harman-Eisner artists-in-residence at an early evening event in New the Institute. York City on September 22, 2010. The event was the first Institute program to be It will recognize an individual who held at the newly opened Roosevelt House on the has, through his or her leadership, Upper East Side. Now owned by Hunter College, had a significant positive impact the elegant double brownstone was once occupied on his or her community, espe- by Sara Roosevelt and her son and daughter-in- cially in the areas most important law, Franklin and Eleanor. to the late New York business Earlier installments of the series, held in late leader and philanthropist Pres- 2009, featured Cory Booker, a Henry Crown Fel- ton Robert Tisch: fostering the low of the Institute and mayor of Newark, New development of opportunities for Jersey, and Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan. Jonathan Tisch talks with a guest at and increased access to educa- “The Arts and Tough Times” event. On June 15, the series will feature a conversation, employment, health care, tion with former New York Governor Mario arts and culture, sports, and parks Cuomo and former New Jersey Governor and recreation, primarily in urban Christine Todd Whitman. Programming will American settings. The Award continue in the fall of 2010, starting with the comes with a $25,000 prize, which presentation of the first annual Preston Robert must be donated to a nonprofit Tisch Award in Civic Leadership (see box). The organization of the awardee’s discussion series and Award are made possible choosing. The event will feature by generous support from the children of Bob a conversation with the awardee Tisch—Laurie, Steven, and Jonathan Tisch—in about his or her work. honor of their father and his legacy of service. For more information, visit To learn more, contact Lidia Barabash at lidia. www.lmtilluminationfund.org. Maggie Peters [email protected]. Booker

SUMMER 2010 THE ASPEN IDEA 35 insights&ideas

River House on the Wye campus Take Your Gang to Wye EXPLORE THE FUTURE OF The Wye River Conference Center is available year-round for groups, and its revenues help to fund Insti- EDUCATION AT WYE RIVER tute programming. With 1,100 The Institute’s campus along the Wye River near the Chesapeake Bay is a picturesque acres on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, spot for intellectual exploration, as many supporters know. And, this fall, the Institute Wye is the perfect place for a busi- will launch its new Wye Weekends, where participants can escape the daily grind and ness meeting, corporate retreat, family reunion, wedding, or other take time to focus on a single issue in depth over a few days in a seminar setting. The event. Hike the dense woodlands inaugural weekend—set for October 22–24, 2010—will explore the topic “Rising to and sprawling meadows, explore the Challenge of the 21st Century: New Ideas, Issues and Opportunities in American the river by kayak, take the certified Education.” The weekend will feature expert-moderated dialogue in the morning, Outward Bound course, or have a outdoor recreation in the afternoon, and high-profile guest speakers at night—plus sumptuous meal in one of the cen- great meals, a cocktail cruise, and ample time for casual conversation in this sublime ter’s dining facilities. To learn more about planning your event at Wye, pastoral setting. To learn more, contact Lidia Barabash at (202) 736-2913 or lidia. go to www.aspenwyeriver.com. [email protected].

Chertoff Speakers Bring the World to Wye This spring, the Wye Fellows—a group of Chesapeake Bay-area residents who share the Institute’s interest in global dialogue—hosted a variety of distinguished speakers at the Institute’s Wye River campus. In March, public radio host of “Mary- land Morning” Sheilah Kast and her husband, former US Ambassador to Romania and current Maryland State Senator Jim Rosapepe, discussed their recent book on Romania after the Cold War, Dracula Is Dead. In April, President of US-China Education Trust and former Ambassador to Nepal Julia Chang Bloch discussed US- China relations and educational exchange. In May, a dialogue on national security was led by former Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff. To learn more about Wye Fellows, visit www.aspeninstitute.org/support/aspen-wye-fellows. Dan Bayer

36 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 insights&ideas

Journey to Africa With the Experts

“Africa is humanity’s last place to get it right,” says Patrick Bergin, CEO of the Africa Wildlife Foundation, which teamed up with the Institute’s Energy and Environment Program in 2008 for an extraordinary seminar experience, “Wildlife Conservation & Human Well-Being in Africa.” Institute Execu- tive Vice President Elliot Gerson and Aspen seminarians read classic texts in the bush. Energy and Environment Executive Donna Horney Director David Monsma will moderate The Aspen Idea: Who should take this to Aspen. And we were attracted to the a second Africa seminar—“Fifty Years of seminar? seminar process; thoughtful people need Africa Conservation”—February 12–17, Patrick Bergin: People who love new to be constantly thinking and assessing. 2011, at the Singita Lodges in South experiences. People who love beauty. Africa’s breathtaking Kruger National People who will appreciate absolute AI: What do text-based seminars and dia- Park, widely considered the best safari stillness, the clash of ideas, intellectual logues add to the bush experience? lodges in Africa and boasting some of the stimulation, and discussions. And Sin- Bergin: It’s wonderfully complimentary. continent’s most dramatic landscapes gita is very, very beautiful, with excellent In the early morning, it’s still cool, the ani- and unsurpassed animal-viewing. standards of service. One of the real mals are active, it’s a good time to enjoy Participants will arrive in Johannes- privileges of going to Singita is it’s a the wildlife. We have the seminar during burg for a day of presentations by Africa place where really great photography is the heat of the day, then an evening game experts and for a guided tour of the city possible—particularly of big cats! drive. It’s stimulation for all the senses. and Soweto before flying to the Singita The readings exercise the mind. Plus, Lodges. This remote, idyllic, and luxuri- AI: Why partner with the Institute? they provide a context to Africa. ous location will provide the backdrop Bergin: We’ve been working with the for a compelling discussion of wildlife Institute for two years. We think of AI: Why should Americans be con- conservation and models of sustainable ourselves as innovators. Traditional cerned about conservation in Africa? economic development in Africa. And, conservation—with a complete focus Bergin: Because Africa is humanity’s of course, highly experienced guides will on protection, law enforcement, park last place to get it right. Entire animal lead participants on twice-daily safari management, tourism management— populations are disappearing all over drives. is not going to work in the future. We the world. In Africa, there are still The Aspen Idea spoke with Bergin need community development, business animals on a scale unlike anywhere in during a stateside visit at our Washing- entrepreneurialism, and applications the world—you can see one million ton offices this winter. of technology. So it was natural to turn wildebeests! People value just knowing that still exists even if they don’t get the chance to go themselves. We need mod- ernization with the foresight to plan for animals and ecosystems to save wildlife at scale, including predator-prey interac- tions. We need to create the space and let wildlife look after itself.

To learn more about the Aspen in Africa Seminar—February 12–17, 2011—contact Donna Horney at donna.

Craig Sholley [email protected].

38 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 reading room Stories from the Inside Authors go everywhere, from behind enemy lines to deep inside the Googleplex.

very year at the Institute, the written word and great dialogue come together through the Alma and Joseph Gildenhorn Book Series. This season, the DC headquarters hosted a number of authors on books about everything from urban architecture to Ethe polarization of politics, from women as economic drivers to the fall of communism. Watch these and other events at www.aspeninstitute.org/ video. Below are some highlights. KATTY KAY and CLAIRE SHIPMAN BBC World News America Washington Correspondent (Kay) and Senior National Correspondent for ABC’s “Good Morning America” (Shipman)

Womenomics: Write Your Own Rules for Success “We have moved beyond a stage where companies are saying, We want senior women just for diversity reasons or just for PC reasons. … [Women] influence 83 percent of consumer spending in America. Companies are realizing they need to keep women or face a professional brain drain.”—Kay

“The more senior-level women

you have at a company, the Kay more money it makes. And so, many companies really are moving ahead with the idea of full flexibility in the workplace, starting to measure Marton results instead of time in an office chair, which really works well for women, because women are very results- oriented and we are quite efficient.”—Shipman KATI MARTON Journalist and Chair, International Shipman This event was co-hosted with the Institute’s Council on Women Women’s Health Coalition World Leaders’ Madeleine K. Albright Women’s Voices series. Enemies of the People: My Family’s Journey to America “I always knew that my parents KEN AULETTA spent a portion of my childhood in prison—two years in my father’s Columnist, The New Yorker case, one year in my mother’s—but Googled: The End of the World as We Know It in fact what emerged was that they “I asked [Google Co-Founder] Sergey Brin at one point: were in a larger prison for 20 years. ‘You decide you’re going to digitize all the books in the Their every step was followed, every world; but you don’t consult with the publishing industry or letter opened, every conversation the author’s guild. You decide you’re going to put Jon Stew- recorded, and they had no private art’s show on YouTube, but you don’t consult with Viacom. lives. … In the last gasp of Stalin- You guys seem to lack emotional intelligence.’ And Brin ist Hungary, pretty much everyone in my family’s inner-circle was an said, ‘Well, it’s not one of our strengths.’” Auletta informer.”

40 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 reading room

MICHAEL MEYER and PAUL ROMESH RATNESAR GOLDBERGER Communications Director for UN Secretary-General Architecture Critic, The New Yorker Ban Ki-Moon (Meyer) and Deputy Managing Editor, TIME (Ratnesar) Why Architecture Matters “There were predictions in the ’90s The Year that Changed the World: The Untold that the city was finished. … We are Story Behind the Fall of the Berlin Wall (Meyer) and not giving it up so quickly. Its nature Tear Down This Wall: A City, a President, and the continues to transform as it always Speech that Ended the Cold War (Ratnesar) has and always will. But there is “Because Reagan was the ultimate Cold Warrior, something about real human con- Gorbachev was able to convince the others in the Ratnesar tact we instinctively crave, and cities politburo that the United States was serious. If the are made to serve that. If there is ultimate Cold Warrior was offering to end the arms race, then the Soviets actu- anything the city provides that you ally could say that this was real. There is are unable to achieve anywhere nothing inevitable about the emergence of else, it is not order, not things that Gorbachev, and there is nothing inevitable we plan, but about this partnership that these two leaders serendipity; it’s forged.”—Ratnesar the accidents that happen in “1989 was one of the great romantic, dramatic, a city, the unex- powerful years in modern history. And, in an pected encoun- odd way, its beauty was that it was a triumph ters that exist of romance. And Ronald Reagan to some because of pro- degree was a romantic; he was an idealist. And pinquity. In that his idealism coincided with Gorbachev’s in sense, the city is Goldberger talking nuclear disarmament. And that’s really Meyer not unlike the Reagan’s greatest contribution.”—Meyer Internet, where hyperlinks create all kinds of connections.”

HALEH EFSANDIARI Director of the Middle East Program, Woodrow Wilson PETER G. PETERSON International Center for Scholars Chairman of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation

My Prison, My Home: One Woman’s Story of Captivity in Iran The Education of an American Dreamer “The Iranians had studied very carefully what had happened in the “I have spoken to the top leaders of both parties, Ukraine and what had happened in Georgia, so they were quite and they are totally aware of familiar with the concept of the velvet revolution. And they truly the fact that [the nation’s] believed that institutions like ours [the long-term [fiscal] problems Woodrow Wilson International Center are undeniable; they under- for Scholars], yours [the Aspen Institute], stand they’re unsustainable. and other institutions are part of the US They’ll tell you quite honestly, government, trying to enable the over- the politics are just too toxic. throw of the regime through soft means, And that’s why I think we need Peterson by inviting specialists, academics, and to do two things: We need to civil-society activists. And there was no awaken the American people, and we have got to way you could have a counter-argument get some kind of movement going. … When was with them; it just did not penetrate. I the last time we were asked to make a shared sacri- spent eight months with these people try- fice? Unless we get our act together, the future of ing to explain that this is not the case.” Efsandiari the American dream is indeed in peril.” Photos by Steve Johnson

SUMMER 2010 THE ASPEN IDEA 41 ideasinaction

James Calaway on the Orocobre lithium brine in Argentina.

being in 1910 and trying to decide which automaker to back.” But what James soon Electric Man realized was that, while there was plenty of disagreement about which battery James Calaway left the Aspen Ideas Festival company was best, everyone agreed that it took lithium—and a lot of it—to make with a multi-million-dollar idea. them work. “It was an ‘Aha’ moment,” says James. “If I can be a material player hairman of the Institute’s and an idea began to take shape. “Until in producing lithium, I’ve got a cus- Lifetime Trustees Jim Cal- then, I hadn’t really thought through tomer.” His next question: “Where the away and his son James how the electrification of transportation hell does lithium come from?” go to every Aspen Ideas might help us deal with both of these James hired geoscientists to help Festival. Long-time attend- issues at the same time,” says James. With him identify the world’s top sources of Cees at Society of Fellows and Socrates the majority of foreign oil being used for lithium. “We knew the Saudi Arabia Society events, the Calaways are devoted transportation, James thought, if he could of lithium was already in Chile,” says supporters of the Institute’s mission— reduce that amount substantially (“take a James. “So we went looking for Kuwait.” and devoted believers in big ideas. But it piece of that out”), he’d be on to some- He found it—deep in Argentina. Today, wasn’t until the 2008 Aspen Ideas Festival thing. He wondered: “Is there something James is the chairman of Orocobre, one that a big idea dovetailed neatly with a guy like me could do? Can I leave the of the four largest lithium-mining com- the family’s expertise and, as Jim puts it, Aspen Ideas Festival with a big idea, make panies in the world. In just over a year “moved from an idea to a reality.” money, and move this issue along?” and a half, Orocobre has gone from a $25 By 2008 the Calaways had long been You bet. “I guess most people would million company to a $200 million com- involved in the gas and oil business and go home after the Ideas Festival and get pany, with a $100 million facility in the were now starting to turn their focus to on with their lives,” says James, “but I Andes. “It turned out to be a pretty good wind energy. Oil prices were sky-rocketing, couldn’t get the idea out of my mind.” thing for us,” says James. Soon Orocobre and discussions about America’s depen- After immersing himself in the literature, will start selling lithium to their partners dence on oil kept popping up throughout conferences, and minutiae of batteries— at Toyota and to plenty of other end users: the Festival. “A lot of conversations in the lifeblood of electric conveyance— After all, lithium powers electric cars, but different [Ideas Festival] sessions were on James was lost. “My head was spinning,” it also powers cell phones, computers, national security and oil,” says James. “Ses- he says. Industry, government, and and cameras. “Every person reading this sions focused on our dependence on the universities were all investing in differ- article uses lithium,” says James. Middle East and the flow of funds out of ent kinds of batteries; it was impossible “It has been a fun odyssey: A big the United States to the Middle East. And to “figure out where to put a bet on the idea about electricity and transportation then you had people like [White House battery business,” says James. “It was like evolved into a real player in the future of science czar] John Holdren, who were the raw material that will make that big really getting deep into the environment Drilling for lithium. idea possible.” And a lot of people are and the need to move away from hydrocar- noticing: Orocobre has been featured bons for emissions reasons.” in articles in The New Yorker and The As an entrepreneur, James was fasci- New York Times. “If I hadn’t been at the nated by the nexus of problems—from Aspen Ideas Festival, I would not have environment to security—that were thought about this,” says James. “And, caused by oil. He went to a few more dis- I certainly would not have been able to cussions, including one on running the move quickly enough to convert it into nation’s transportation system via electric- a tremendous business opportunity for ity and one on the future of automobiles, my family.”

42 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 society of fellows

A Winter of Cuban

Emanuel Politics and Jennifer Hall US Health Care The Social Calendar This summer in Aspen, the Society This winter’s symposia, created especially for the Institute’s key donor group, took on of Fellows is presenting several Eve- two pressing and often contentious issues: the future of Cuba and the ethics of health ning Discussion Receptions, hosted care policy. In February, journalist and author Ann Louise Bardach and DePaul Uni- by local donors in their homes, and luncheons in the Doerr-Hosier Cen- versity of Law Professor Alberto Coll came to Aspen to lead an insider’s exploration ter. Each event will feature a distin- of “Cuba After Castro: Who Will Lead?” Participants examined the delicate relation- guished guest speaker, who will take ship between the United States and Cuba, and discussed the power vacuum Castro questions and lead a discussion with will leave behind. Then, in March, Special White House Advisor for Health Policy participating Fellows. Institute CEO Ezekiel Emanuel tackled a discussion on “Medical Ethics: The Roots of the Health Walter Isaacson will host the open- Care Debate.” Fellows were introduced to the ethics of scarce resources, the quest for ing reception on June 25. immortality, and the behind-the-scenes nature of health care in the United States. DIVE INTO SUMMER: Humor, Revolution, and the Good Life Society of Fellows donors will have a full summer ahead. The New Yorker Cartoon Editor Bob Mankoff and Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Mike Peters will join us June 21–23 in Aspen to explore the importance of humor, satire, and a good laugh. Then, July 25–26, Institute trustee and Aspen Music Festival and School President Alan Fletcher along with Stanford University’s Jim Sheehan will explore the revolutionary decade of 1900 to 1910 through music and history. August 2–5, former UN Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan Peter Galbraith will examine the troubling politics and passions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. And, finally, August 16–19, Aspen Seminar moderator Peter Thigpen will take a look at the good life.

JOIN US! Individuals and couples who wish to participate more directly with the Institute’s programs and networks are invited to join the Society of Fellows. The Society is a crucial source of support, advancing the overall mission of the Institute. Because Fellows are an integral part of the Institute community, they frequently receive advance notice of events and have a direct line to call for information about many Institute programs, seminars, and festivals offered throughout the year in Aspen, Washington, and New York. For more information about becom- Fletcher ing a Fellow, please contact Steven Wickes at (970) 544-7912. Nora Feller

44 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 >L0U]P[L@V\[V 1605<:

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The Economy, Climate, and Web 3.0 NEXT UP Ferguson More than 60 young leaders and thinkers from around July 2–5 the world—Buenos Aires, Shanghai, Germany—met Socrates Summer Seminars in Aspen: in February for Socrates’ sold-out winter program “Soft Power: US Leadership in a Hard- over Presidents’ Day weekend. Three dynamic semi- ball World,” moderated by Harvard’s Joe nars were moderated by Niall Ferguson of Harvard Nye, will examine non-military power University, who examined how the recent financial and US power amid globalization and the crisis affected emerging economies; Sue Sheridan information age. of Columbia University, who explored options for “Between Islam and Politics,” hosted solving the global-energy problem and addressing the by the American Enterprise Institute’s climate-change challenge; and Elizabeth Stark of the Ayaan Hirsi Ali, will focus on democracy

Michael Brands Yale Information Society Project, who led a discussion and Islam. on how the Web 3.0 phenomenon and citizen journalism are shaping culture and “The Great Conversation in a Global communication. The weekend ended on the mountaintop as Ferguson led an Society,” led by MIT’s Leigh Hafrey, engaging dinner discussion on the growth of the developing world and America’s will examine human nature, the burden future role on the economic world stage at the Aspen Mountain Club. of power, and leadership strategies. “The Impact of Technology on Democ- racy Around the World,” moderated Rhee and Reed to Headline by George Washington University Law School’s Jeff Rosen, will explore the Socrates Benefit effects of technological advancements on This summer, the Socrates Society democracy and privacy. Forum for Young Leaders will hold its “China and America: The Case for annual benefit dinner on Saturday, July Partnership and Competition,” led by 3, in Aspen. The dinner will feature a Harvard University’s Niall Ferguson, will conversation about leadership and look at “Chimerica.” social innovation with Michelle Rhee, “What Next? The Teenager’s Guide to chancellor of DC public schools, and Repairing the Economy,” presented by Kasim Reed, mayor of Atlanta and an “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal. Institute Rodel Fellow, to be moderated by Institute trustee David Gergen, October 22–24 a CNN commentator and former “Are Demographics Destiny? Popula- White House advisor. For more infor- tion Shifts and Their Impact on Foreign mation or to register, contact Becky Policy, National Identity, and Com- Ward at [email protected] petitiveness,” Senate Socrates at Wye, Maryland. or (970) 544-7925, or visit www.aspen Reed

institute.org/socratesdinner. Rick Diamond/Getty Images November 12–13 “Energy, Agriculture, and Transpor- tation Opportunities in Sustainable Health of the Nation Communities,” Socrates Salon in San After a tumultuous year of health care reform debates, Francisco, California. town-hall meetings, and political infighting, Congress ultimately passed a comprehensive health care bill. But does the new bill mean better access, affordability, and Join the Socrates Society! quality? In May, Socrates addressed those questions To participate in a Socrates seminar, con- and more at a Washington reception for alumni and tact Melissa Ingber at melissa.ingber@aspen new participants at the Potomac Boat Club. And, at institute.org, or Azalea Millan at azalea.millan @aspeninstitute.org or (202) 736-1495. For Susan Dentzer a one-day seminar, , editor-in-chief of more information visit: www.aspeninstitute. Health Affairs, asked, “Can the US Survive the Health org/socrates. Dentzer

Albert Millan Care System?”

46 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 dialogue

Warner, Collins, Greene, and Jacobs

Laurence Genon istry has been significant and needs to be regained. The president’s recent promise Scientists Wanted to see research and development support in this country rise to 3 percent of GDP would be a wonderful goal. ADVOCATES ASK WHERE WE’LL FIND THE NEXT GENERATION OF INNOVATORS Warner: Where has the fall-off oc- curred most? I mean, is it government funding? Is it what private industry is At the Innovation Economy Conference—presented in the late fall of 2009 by Intel doing? Is it major educational research Corporation, the Institute, “PBS NewsHour,” and Democracy: A Journal of Ideas— institutions? Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health; Brian Greene, Columbia University physicist and founder of the World Science Festival; and Madeleine Madeleine Jacobs: It’s really all Jacobs, executive director and CEO of the American Chemistry Society, spoke with of those. We’re seeing that funding just “PBS NewsHour” Senior Correspondent Margaret Warner about funding research, inspiring students, and why we need to change the way Americans view science hasn’t kept pace in the physical sciences. and math. It’s no coincidence that we reached our peak of federal R&D funding around 1964. The 1960s were really an era for Margaret Warner: Is it an absolute given that scientific inquiry—R&D— the US of great economic expansion. is at the foundation of a so-called innovation economy and economic growth? We grew up in this post-Sputnik era in which we benefited from federal Francis Collins: Certainly if you look at the evidence, it is clear that more than funding for better curricula, for better half of the economic growth of the United States since World War II stems from teachers, for graduate education. And, innovations in science and technology. So the data is very much in hand to say, if as a result, many of us became scien- you’re looking for economic impact and where you should put your investments, tists. And it was a very noble calling to science and technology is a very compelling game. And most people would say it’s become a scientist. And I think we need even more compelling now than ever. … The fall in support for physics and chem- to regain our sense of urgency. And we

48 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 dialogue

need to regain that sense of science as a

noble mission and vision. Summers with “PBS NewsHour”’s Judy Woodruff

Warner: But funding is still an important part of this. How much responsibility do you think rests with private industry?

Collins: Just knowing there’s money out there and a job is not going to be enough. You have to have this vision for the ability to go on a grand adventure, which is what science is all about. But, if you want to go on the grand adventure and there’s no support for it, well, you’ll do something else. And we’ve seen that happen increas- ingly in this country: Now 15 percent of college graduates major in science and engineering. In China, that’s 50 percent. In Singapore, that’s 67 percent. Is it any wonder we’re in trouble here?

Warner: So Brian, for your World Genon Laurence Science Festival, have you been suc- Innovation Nation cessful in penetrating the broader community of people who want to “I think this country has an enormous, staggering capacity for resilience and understand the world around them? transformation,” said Larry Summers, director of the National Economic Council and assistant to the president for economic policy, at the Innovation Economy Brian Greene: We had Bobby Conference. “I think our future will be greater than our past as long as we stay McFerrin in a program talking to neuro- nervous.” Throughout 2009, the Institute hosted a series of Washington dinners scientists; one could watch in real time that brought together thought leaders from government, academia, business, as scientists explain what’s going on as and media to discuss the state of innovation in America and its importance to you experience music. Alan Alda wrote a the nation’s economic recovery. These discussions concluded with a major Inno- play using the correspondence of Albert vation Economy Conference at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington. Einstein; you watch him struggle to In addition to Summers, the conference featured Arne Duncan, US secretary come to grips with the universe and rela- of education; Carol Browner, assistant to the president for energy and climate tivity. We had a showing of The Bourne change; Paul Otellini, CEO of Intel; Jeffrey Immelt, CEO of GE; Michelle Identity and a conversation between the Rhee, chancellor of DC public schools; Joel Klein, chancellor of New York City’s director and neuroscientists on the issues Department of Education; Sir Harold Evans, author and editor-at-large of The of memory loss. But a footnote I’d also Week; US Senators Amy Klobuchar and Mark Warner; US Representative Bart give is: We talk about the need for the Gordon; and global innovation expert John Kao. A major theme of the confer- educational system to be more potent in ence was a call for better education. “We have to fundamentally improve the the way we deliver ideas of science and quality of math and science in this country,” said Duncan. “We have to pay mathematics. I’ve always found it weird math and science teachers more money.” that, when you’re a college professor, Going forward, event partners will identify ways in which Americans across you haven’t gone through any training in every field and discipline can foster the spirit of innovation and drive economic teaching whatsoever. Just because I can recovery. The dialogue will also still focus on the central role of math and sci- manipulate the mathematics of Calabi ence in ensuring that America remains the world’s innovation leader—what Yau spaces, which got me tenure at Cor- Otellini calls the “need to double-down on our intellectual infrastructure.” To nell and then Columbia, does it mean learn more about the Innovation Economy project and plans for 2010, visit that I can teach anything? Does it mean www.theinnovationeconomy.org. that I can inspire?

SUMMER 2010 THE ASPEN IDEA 49 dialogue

“Justice isn’t only about individual rights and choice; it’s also about civic duty and the common good.”

Toobin and Sandel Maggie Peters

if he or she doesn’t want to. It’s coercion if the government requires by law that Legal Eagles you and I pay for somebody else’s health care when they are sick. So there is a theory—a libertarian approach to justice JOURNALIST JEFFREY TOOBIN TALKS WITH that offers a principled objection to the PROFESSOR MICHAEL SANDEL ABOUT whole idea—on the one hand. HEALTH CARE, JUDGE JUDY, KHALID SHEIKH On the other hand, there is a reply to MOHAMMED, AND LANGUAGE. that argument: We’re all in this together. There are certain mutual responsibilities we have as democratic citizens sharing a common public life—and one of them On November 19, 2009, the Institute celebrated 30 years of the Justice and Society is to see to it that people who, through Program under the leadership of Program Director and international human rights advocate Alice H. Henkin with a benefit lunch for nearly 300 at the New York no fault of their own, fall ill should not Metropolitan Club. The Institute also recognized the law firm Morvillo, Abramowitz, have their access to health care governed Grand, Iason, Anello & Bohrer, P.C., for their continued support of Justice and by their ability to pay. That second argu- Society Seminar scholarships. Jeffrey Toobin, staff writer for The New Yorker and ment draws on a theory of justice that senior analyst for CNN, hosted a conversation about philosophy and law with says, justice isn’t only about individual Michael Sandel, Harvard professor and author of the new book, Justice: What’s the rights and choice; it’s also about civic Right Thing to Do?. duty and the common good.

Toobin: Do these theories change Jeffrey Toobin: The great thrill of reading your book is that you give a over time? variety of philosophical approaches: utilitarianism, libertarianism, Aristotle, Kant. I wonder if you could use some of the tools in the book to analyze how Sandel: I think the background to one would look at health care? the whole health care debate is a background of the last three decades when Michael Sandel: I think there are two rival ways of thinking about justice the libertarian idea—free individual that are rumbling around beneath the surface of the health care debate. There is a choice, it’s my money, I earned it, I principled ground for objecting to universal health care. It’s something like the lib- deserve to keep it, to decide what shall ertarian idea that people should be free to choose for themselves, and it’s coercion be done with it—gained a lot of trac- for the government to mandate that a healthy young person have health insurance tion in the public imagination. It goes

SUMMER 2010 THE ASPEN IDEA 51 dialogue

back to 1980 and the Reagan years, a Henkin good thing that he is being tried in US decade of market-triumphalism. Even Federal Court rather than in a military the Clinton years accepted much of tribunal. Not only for public relations, the premise of market-triumphalism. but because I think that the United So now, when it comes to a health care States Federal Courts can do justice in debate, it’s going against the current of this case. I think it’s a second question the time to try and make the case in the whether the US Federal Court trial name of the common good. We haven’t should be in New York City or not, and laid the groundwork in the political I think that’s a prudential question. You culture for that way of understanding could answer the question of whether politics. … it should be in a US Federal Court one The underlying idea that needs to way, and you might come out differently be challenged and debated publicly on the question of which court and is whether the results that markets where. produce—the distribution of wealth and opportunity—are just. There is a Toobin: How important are ideas powerful intuition out there that says versus messengers? In thinking about Maggie Peters philosophical ideas, how much do you think about the packaging, and “Would anyone think that … the contribution to how much do you think about the substance? the common good that Judge Judy makes is 100 times that of Justice Roberts?” Sandel: I think packaging and substance have to go together in politics, because politics is about persuasion. Rhetoric is a pejorative for the most part yes. Here would be a way of challeng- these questions fiercely, people have these days, as when we say, Oh, that’s ing it: What does the chief justice of convictions. And lying behind those mere rhetoric, that’s just talk. But we give the United States make on his annual opinions and convictions are big moral something up if we disparage rhetoric salary? Around $210,000 a year. There principles, big ideas about what justice too completely. Aristotle valorized rheto- is another judge who makes more than is and what freedom means and why ric. He thought that the art of rhetoric that in the United States. A good bit equality matters and what counts as was at the heart of politics and of justice. more: Judge Judy. Judge Judy makes equality, and what is the claim of the If you think that a just society is also $25 million a year. Now, the market common good. a democratic society, then it seems to has dispensed that. But would anyone me you have to take rhetoric seriously, think that, because the market gives Toobin: One issue that has excited morally seriously, not just as a matter of Judge Judy $25 million and because we a lot of passions here in New York packaging and PR and spin. as a society give Chief Justice Roberts and elsewhere is the upcoming trial I think one of the great strengths as $210,000, the contribution to the com- of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. One of a candidate of Barack Obama is that he mon good that Judge Judy makes is 100 the reasons why this trial is coming understood this. I think he was eloquent times that of Justice Roberts? That’s a to New York is that we want to show not just in the sense that he was good debate we should have. the world that our justice system with words; he tapped into a hunger for works and can handle a case of this politics to include moral and spiritual Toobin: Do people out there in the magnitude. Is that a legitimate goal things. Rhetoric in its larger sense is a world use philosophy without know- or should the legal system be about willingness to engage with the deep- ing it? providing justice in the individual case est moral sources, including spiritual and letting perceptions take care of sources of political argument and argu- Sandel: Yes. I think every time we themselves? ments about justice. argue—whether it’s about health care or bonuses and bailouts or affirma- Sandel: There are two issues here. To learn more about the Justice and Society tive action or same-sex marriage or One is a matter of justice and the other Program, visit www.aspeninstitute.org/ income distribution—and we debate is a matter of prudence. I think it’s a justice.

52 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 A HISTORIC UPGRADE

Dan Bayer

The Paepcke WHEN WALTER PAEPCKE first arrived in Aspen, Colorado, in the mid-1940s, he had a vision of a “place where the human spirit Memorial can flourish.” To make this dream a reality, Paepcke assembled a Building is cadre of scholars, writers, artists, intellectuals, and business leaders for a bicentennial celebration of poet and humanist Johann reinvented Wolfgang von Goethe. The event was such a success that Paepcke for the 21st founded the Aspen Institute the following year. Unsurprisingly, Paepcke conceived of the entire enterprise as a work of art. “In century all that he touched, Paepcke preached the gospel of elegance in without design,” wrote Sidney Hyman in his history of the Institute, The Aspen Idea. So Paepcke commissioned his friend Herbert Bayer, losing its the Bauhaus-trained architect, along with Frank Lloyd Wright historic roots. protégé Fritz Benedict, to design the Institute’s original Aspen Meadows campus.

BY SACHA Z. SCOBLIC

54 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 Michael Brands

The auditorium is a place that everyone in Aspen has a memory of. It has a place in everybody’s mind—much like the Paepckes Dan Bayer Paepcke Reborn: Construction crews struck a balance between preservation and renovation. themselves. —Aspen Mayor The clean lines of classic Bauhaus design made the contributed greatly to the renovation— Mick Ireland campus modern and distinct in a town comprised mainly found compelling: “Sustainability is of original Victorian homes and miners’ cabins. And so, the most important issue of our lives,” when Walter Paepcke died in 1960, his friends and fam- she says, “and we were thrilled to sup- ily decided to erect a building in his honor. Naturally, port the community and the Institute they once again called upon Bayer and Benedict. Dedi- that we love.” Institute trustee Melva cated in 1963, the Paepcke Memorial Building quickly Bucksbaum chaired the Fundraising Committee, creat- became the centerpiece of the campus, providing offices ing a fund to both preserve the spirit of the original Bayer to the Institute staff for 45 years and featuring a library of design and to modernize the building with the most seminal texts and an auditorium that has been graced by up-to-date technologies. And these dual priorities were statesmen, CEOs, Supreme Court justices, technology not only the Institute’s, but the community’s as well. pioneers, scientists, scholars, Nobel laureates, artists, and “The auditorium is a place that everyone in Aspen has musicians. a memory of,” says Aspen Mayor Mick Ireland. “It has Yet, after nearly five decades as the setting for inspired a place in everybody’s mind—much like the Paepckes dialogue and the work of the Institute, the building themselves.” Along with other Aspen landmarks, like the needed some upgrades. “The building hadn’t been Wheeler Opera House and the Jerome Hotel, the Paep- touched for close to 50 years—everything needed a cke building is nothing short of a town treasure, a place facelift,” says Amy Margerum, Institute executive vice where locals and visitors alike watch weekly films or hear president for operations. The building was also con- speakers from around the world. suming a lot of energy, an issue Institute trustee Lynda “We had three goals going into this project,” says Jim Resnick—who along with her husband, Stewart Resnick, Curtis, project manager and Institute representative on

SUMMER 2010 THE ASPEN IDEA 55 A GREEN VISION

One of the primary goals of the Paepcke renovation was to make the building greener and more environmentally responsible. To that end, architect Michael Schnoering created a plan that would drastically reduce the building’s energy consumption and carbon footprint. Indeed, just about half of the budget for the renovation was dedicated to energy-efficient upgrades. And Schnoering estimates that the Paepcke building will consume a whopping 55 percent less energy than it did before. The new and improved building includes extensive improve- ments to the structure’s shell—new insulation, a new roof, double- paned windows—that will reduce the amount of heating and cooling needed. And the heating and cooling process itself will be far more efficient with a geothermal pond—funded in part by a gift from John and Ann Doerr—that uses the temperature of the earth and a Renderings of the new Paepcke Auditorium feature light and color. ground-source heat pump to drive energy to the building. “The most wonderful feature of the geothermal pond is that it’s fed by Aspen the site. “Respect for the exterior of the build- run-off,” says Schnoering. And, since ground-source heat pumps rely ing and the Herbert Bayer design philosophy; on electricity instead of gas, there are more options for a low-carbon freshening the inside to make it more inviting, footprint: The Institute has already contracted with Holy Cross Energy lighter, and colorful; and bringing the mechani- to buy wind power to offset its electric usage. Schnoering hopes to cal and audio-visual backbone of the building into the 21st century.” power the Koch Building with the geothermal pond soon as well. To meet these sometimes contradictory aims, The greener Paepcke building is all about control. Every area in the Institute enlisted Michael Schnoering and the structure now has a discrete control panel, so that the offices his team at Farewell Mills Gatsch Architects out can be heated or cooled, for example, while the unoccupied audito- of Princeton, New Jersey. “We definitely tried to rium is set back to a more efficient temperature. And, in one of the preserve that spirit of Bayer and Benedict,” says Schnoering. “And we definitely felt them look- more innovative features of the new building, the auditorium is now ing over our shoulders—especially Bayer, who equipped with CO2 sensors that can actually detect the number of was so iconic. He was really prevalent in all of people in the room and adjust the ventilation as needed. our decisions.” Add to that low-flow plumbing, compact fluorescent bulbs, and One of those decisions was to preserve the motion lights, and it’s easy to see how the remarkable polygonal roof and the unique shape of the ceiling in the auditorium. “We had new Paepcke Memorial Building will not only to take off the entire roof to update the struc- reduce the Institute’s energy consumption, tural system,” says Schnoering. “It would have but reduce its overhead as well. Of course, been easy to change the look, but we had guid- as Schnoering notes, “The fact that we ing principles we had to stay true to.” While the exterior of the Paepcke building saved the building is the most sustainable will be familiar to most Institute visitors, there feature we have.” are a number of surprises inside: Light plays a dramatic role in the design, with new, wide glass doors and an overhead skylight in the foyer. “It’s a huge perception change,” says Curtis, who The Paepcke building will consume a whopping noted that the entryway is now a truly great place to showcase art. The lobby also now opens 55% less energy than it did before. up the visual connection to the library and the gallery, with more glass doors to create continu- ity between the rooms. “It’s going to be a really

56 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 THE DREAM TEAM Reinventing a building for the 21st century while preserving its historic roots is a delicate operation, one the Institute could not have undertaken It’s going to be a really great change for the without the generosity users of the building and for the people who of the Paepcke Memorial Building have been coming here for years enjoying the Donors.* programs and the grounds. —Michael Schnoering In gratitude: Evelyn and Leonard Lauder great change for the users of the building and losophy was to do no harm,” says Schnoering. for the people who have been coming here for “We wanted the new features to be threaded Gail Neeson and years enjoying the programs and the grounds,” through the building in innovative ways that Stefan Edlis says Schnoering. “It’s wonderful to see the preserve the space and spirit of the building— Lynda and Stewart building come back to life,” adds Bucksbaum. but also accommodate the future.” Resnick The biggest architectural changes are in the auditorium, which has been expanded Other Major Donors: by 600 square feet to make room for 60 new Mercedes and Sid Bass seats—made with warm light wood and bright JOIN US! Karen and Berl blue fabrics. Glass doors now flank the exterior Bernhard aisles, leading to outside terraces—including A Paepcke Memorial Building Melva Bucksbaum and the Mayer Courtyard—that are equipped Re-Opening Celebration will be Raymond Learsy with 57-inch monitors so that overflow crowds held on Sunday, June 27. William D. Budinger can watch the action on stage while enjoy- There will be tours of the facility and ing the sun. And, of course, the stage itself Connie and Jim is dramatic—befitting its namesake, Ann presentations throughout the day, includ- Calaway Richards, longtime Institute trustee and the ing a talk with Institute CEO Walter Ann and John Doerr inimitable former governor of Texas. The Ann Isaacson, a presentation on the roots Gail and Alfred W. Richards Stage features light wood veneers Engelberg of the Institute, and a lecture on the and the best theatrical lighting, sound system, Ann and Tom and cinematic electronics available—includ- genius of Herbert Bayer. To learn more Korologos ing 3-D capability. These technical upgrades about the Paepcke Memorial Building Marlene and Fred also mean the entire campus can interface. Malek “We have simultaneous-viewing systems,” Re-Opening Celebration, contact Cristal says Curtis. “Any activity taking place in the Logan at cristal.logan@aspeninstitute. Shirley and Albert Small Doerr-Hosier Center [on the other side of the org. Additionally, on the evening of June campus] can now be viewed in Paepcke,” says Mary Margaret and Curtis. “Anything in Paepcke can be viewed in 27, there will be a special cocktail recep- Jack Valenti the Koch Building.” tion just for renovation donors. For more The Boettcher With this renovation, Walter Paepcke’s on the donor reception, contact Becky Foundation dream of a place where mind and spirit can flourish is more robust than ever in the build- Ward at [email protected]. *As of May 14, 2010. ing that carries his name. “Our overarching phi-

SUMMER 2010 THE ASPEN IDEA 57 B6M>BJBASPEN GLOBAL LEADERSHIP FELLOWS ARE CHANGING LIVES, >BE68ICHANGING On January 12, the earth shook in Haiti. A violent COMMUNITIES, quake left 1.2 million people homeless and hungry. AND CHANGING And Fellows from across the Aspen Global Leadership THE WORLD. Network sprang into action.

Partners in Health

Network Fellows Garg and Tighe helped coordinate the delivery of much-needed medical supplies to Haiti.

58 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 Henry Crown Fellow Thomas Tighe, president and CEO of Direct Relief International, mobilized his team to Job: Senior Vice President, Human Resources, coordinate delivery of crucial basic medi- Exelon Corporation cal supplies to Haiti. Central America Leadership Initiative Fellow Enrique de Childhood ambition: To make a difference Obarrio has been raising awareness and My role model: Professor Harold Richman, my coordinating relief assistance through mentor since college the Private Sector of the Americas, an organization devoted to joining business First job: Scooping ice cream at Baskin Robbins leaders with much-needed develop- Proudest moment: My parents attending the ment projects. Henry Crown Fellow 35th White House Fellows Celebration, where Melissa Mowbray-d’Arbela, CEO of the they met the Cabinet secretaries in the Clinton global biotech business Filligent Ltd., Administration developed Project Backbone to assess post-quake Haiti, to identify effective Favorite local restaurant: Mon Ami Gabi, in “backbone” organizations, and to amplify Chicago their impact. And Henry Crown Fellow I am currently reading: Dci]Z7g^c` by Henry Jonathan Greenblatt, founder of All for Garg Paulson and BVc¼hHZVgX][dgBZVc^c\ by Viktor Good, an open-source website that allows Frankl people to find and share volunteer activities, immediately created a searchable My name: Sunil “Sonny” Garg AGLN project/goal: Expanding the local production of ready-to-use therapeutic foods, index of volunteer opportunities related Fellowship: Henry Crown Fellow to Haiti. Nourimamba, within Haiti to fight severe child . “That’s who they are,” says Peter Reil- Where I live: Chicago, Illinois malnourishment ing, the Institute’s executive vice president in charge of leadership programs and seminars. “Every person in the Aspen Garg’s leadership project is devoted to feeding malnourished Haitians through his work with Partners in Health. Global Leadership Network is a doer, not a talker. We’re looking for the most innovative and enlightened leaders out there to tackle the greatest problems we face. We’re looking for people who, when they read the paper and see the challenges around them in the world, say to themselves, I’m not just going to turn the page; I’m going to do something about it.” There are more than 1,000 members of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, a worldwide community committed to values-based leadership. The Fellows have all participated in the same intensive leadership seminars; read and debated ancient and contemporary texts exploring philosophy, values, and modern issues; argued about the definition of leadership and what makes a good society; and trans- lated what they’ve learned into action through leadership projects aimed at improving their communities. When Henry Crown Fellow Sunil Garg, senior vice president of human resources at Exelon Corporation (one of the nation’s largest electric and nuclear companies, based in Chicago), heard

about the earthquake, he knew he had to Partners in Health

SUMMER 2010 THE ASPEN IDEA 59 act. “It was a no-brainer,” says Garg. He relationships to underfunded areas along immediately set up a matching-donation with resources—money, ideas, skill sets— program for employees at Exelon. But that ÆI]Z^bedgiVci things that are often invisible in countries was just the start. Garg was no stranger to like Haiti.” the poverty and health problems in Haiti; ldgY^c6heZc Armed with exceptional talent and since 2008, through a partnership with the

AGLN project/goal: I launched Srishti Annam, a comprehensive feeding and skill-building program for the poor. I’d like to have centers across Iyer India feeding 100,000 destitute people across India every day. My name: Sudha Parasuram Iyer Impact: We have served more than Fellowship: India Leadership Initiative 3.6 million meals to the poorest of the poor (old or handicapped adults Where I live: Hyderabad, India and children) in the last three and a Job: Chairperson and Managing Director, Srijana half years. To learn more, go to www. srishtiannam.org.

Group of Companies Sudha Iyer

60 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 =:6AI=

Orris’s Dream Devices creates medical devices for sick children

Orris Dream Devices Dream Dan Bayer

My name: Christy Bieber Orris Orris’s Dream Devices creates medical devices for sick children Fellowship: Henry Crown Fellow Where I live: Boulder, Colorado Job: CEO, ATEK Companies Childhood ambition: To run my family’s businesses My role model: My father First job: Assembling 3M speakers in a manufacturing plant. Proudest moment: Hearing my oldest son express how lucky we are in America during an overnight stay in a rural village in Ghana. Favorite local restaurant: Frasca, in Boulder, Colorado I am currently reading: I]Z:beZgdg¼h =VcYWdd` by Marcus Aurelius and BVg`Zi 7jhiZgh by Rita McGrath AGLN project/goal: I launched Dream Devices to make a measurable and lasting difference in the lives of children who suffer from conditions for which there are no medical devices to treat them. Impact: We have created three new products to be developed over the upcoming 18 months. Dream Devices Dream

SUMMER 2010 THE ASPEN IDEA 61 7JH>C:HH9:K:ADEB:CI Agora Partnerships

VegyFrut, a pack- aged fruit and vegetable company, and Tacos Lory, a taco chain, are part of Agora Partnerships’ entrepreneurship and consulting programs.

Proudest moment: Signing a grant agreement in Nicaragua with USAID. Favorite local restaurant: Los Ranchos, in Managua, Nicaragua AGLN project/goal: I launched Agora Partnerships to combat poverty and create social impact by supporting socially responsible developing-world entrepreneurs with strategy consulting, networks, Teran

Dan Bayer and the long-term financing needed to create and grow busi- My name: Ricardo Teran nesses in Nicaragua and beyond. Fellowship: Central America Lead- Impact: In less than five years, ership Initiative Agora has supported more than Where I live: Managua, Nicaragua 4,000 businesses through consulting and business education; these Job: Director of Corporate Strategy businesses have grown, on average, at Corporación Roberto Teran and more than 60 percent after engag- CEO of LOLITA de Nicaragua ing with Agora. More than 1,000 Childhood ambition: To become a new jobs have been created; over pediatrician, like my grandfather US$2 million in private-investment capital has been secured for Nica- My role model: My dad—and Dan ragua (expansion to other Central Marino American countries is in process). First job: Microfilm processor, age To learn more, go to www. 11, $1 per hour agorapartnerships.org. Agora Partnerships

62 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 7JH>C:HH9:K:ADEB:CI My name: Eve Blossom Fellowship: Liberty Fellow Where I live: Charles- ton, South Carolina Job: President and Founder, Lulan Artisans Childhood ambition: To be a designer/ architect Blossom Dan Bayer My role model: The many artisans who inspire me and show me what is possible every day

First job: intern in an architectural office VisionSpring VisionSpring employees give eye exams in Ghana (above) and Bangladesh (below). Proudest moment: When I saw my company’s business model take shape in the world. Favorite local restaurant: Fig, in Charleston, South Carolina I am currently reading: =Va[i]ZH`n by Nicholas Kristof (I’m reading it again for the third time!) AGLN project/goal: To bring green-collar job-creation to South Carolina and around the world.

A Lulan artisan in India.

Kassalow Dan Bayer VisionSpring My name: Jordan Kassalow I am currently reading: Hl^iX]/=dl Fellowship: Henry Crown Fellow id8]Vc\ZI]^c\hL]Zc8]Vc\Z>h =VgY by Chip Heath and Dan Heath Where I live: New York, New York AGLN project/goal: To expand Job: Chairman and Co-Founder, VisionSpring’s reach to help people VisionSpring create and sustain livelihoods through better vision. Childhood ambition: To be an explorer Impact: VisionSpring has helped more than 5,000 women to start My role model: John Muir businesses selling eyeglasses in the First job: Started a business selling developing world. They have sold over golf balls that I found, cleaned, and 300,000 pairs of eyeglasses to date. categorized by condition and brand. To learn more, visit www.vision spring.org. Proudest moment: The birth of my first child. Favorite local restaurant: Rosa Mexicana, in New York

SUMMER 2010 THE ASPEN IDEA 63 I:8=CDAD

Michel on a Black Hawk helicopter during a USO tour. The USO

My name: Christopher P. Michel Fellowship: Henry Crown Fellow Where I live: San Francisco, California Job: Managing Director, Nautilus Ventures Childhood ambition: To be a physicist My role model: Dr. Carl Sagan First job: Naval Flight Officer, US Navy Proudest moment: Returning to Harvard Business School to participate in a case written about my first company, Military.com. Loper Photo illustration by Tom Favorite local restaurant: Flour + Water, in San Francisco There’s an App I am currently reading: ;gdb:iZg" for That c^inid=ZgZ/I]ZFjZhi[dgi]ZJai^" Christopher Michel by Sean Carroll bViZI]Zdgnd[I^bZ isn’t the only one AGLN project/goal: I started Recon- leveraging technology nect America, a nonprofit designed to help bridge the gap between those to connect leaders. who serve in the military and the India Leadership Initia- millions of Americans who want to tive Fellow Anand Shah support them. Reconnect America has created an Aspen links America to her men and women in uniform. Global Leadership Network iPhone appli- Impact: Discovery Communications and cation to keep Fellows Military.com gave connected wherever Reconnect America they are. Fellows can millions of dollars in download the Network free media. They also each produced great directory by search- TV and digital adver- ing “AGLN” on their tising spots for us. iPhone’s app store. Reconnect America’s featured charities include the USO, TAPS, The American Legion, and Flight 93 Memorial. To learn more, visit www. reconnectamerica. org.

64 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 LDB:C

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks with Pacheco about her Vital Voices chapter in Guatemala Vital Voices

My name: Maria Pacheco First job: Trainer in organic vegetable produc- AGLN project/goal: I started a Guatemalan tion at the Guatemalan Peace Corp Training Vital Voices chapter (Vital Voices is an organi- Fellowship: Central America Leadership Center zation founded by Hillary Clinton that empowers Initiative women leaders). Together with other Central Proudest moment: When I received the Vital Where I live: Guatemala City, Guatemala American Fellows, the idea grew and we also Voices Global Leadership Award for Economic started a Central American Network. Job: Founder and General Manager, Kiej de los Empowerment of Guatemalan Women. Another Bosques one: When I gave birth to my children. Impact: In Guatemala, we created an economic mentorship program for 20 young rural Childhood ambition: To be an explorer, doing Favorite local restaurant: La Pista, in women. This year, we organized a Central something outside that allowed me to wear Guatemala City American Women’s Summit, with 400 women boots, ride horses, and be around nature. That I am currently reading: by Kabir and 100 young girls in Guatemala to address is why I became a biologist. >cY^\d6Yjaih Jaffe the nation’s greatest challenges. In Central My role model: Martin Luther King. I heard America, this is important—because no region his “I Have a Dream” speech, and it has always can prosper if only 50 percent of its people remained with me. are making the decisions! To learn more, visit www.vitalvoices.org.

SUMMER 2010 THE ASPEN IDEA 65 LDB:C Iyanda My name: Funmi Iyanda Fellowship: Africa Leadership Initiative—West Africa Where I live: Lagos, Nigeria Job: Managing Director and Owner, Funmi Iyanda Productions Childhood ambition: To be a writer My role model: Bosede Afolabi—doctor, academic, consul- tant, volunteer, mother, cheerleader, social and emotional thermometer, best friend a girl can have First job: Teenage home-lesson teacher to five families Proudest moment: When I watched 30 of my Change A Life children walk onto the stage at the launch event in 2009. Favorite local restaurant: Wakkis, in Abuja I am currently reading: DcZ=jcYgZYNZVghd[Hda^ijYZ by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Dc7aVX`H^hiZgh¼HigZZi by Chika Unigwe AGLN project/goal: I founded a chapter of the Change A Life Foundation in Lagos, Nigeria, with an office and staff of its own. Impact: We help people in their most desperate hour (with little or no resources) to help themselves. The Foundation in Lagos is currently providing scholarships for 98 bright students who have survived trauma, loss, or abuse. It has also spurred the rehabilitation of a school of 200 children in a forgotten lagoon community. And the Foundation in Lagos has supported 3,000 women through its Family Support arm and, in the last six months, provided medical treatment for six young cancer patients in desperately poor circumstances. To learn more, visit www.changealife.org. Dan Bayer

Iyanda’s chapter of Change A Life brought education and opportunity to a rural community. Change A Life Change A Life

66 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 :9J86I>DC My name: Salim Amin Fellowship: Africa Leadership Initiative—East Africa Where I live: Nairobi, Kenya Job: CEO, Camerapix Ltd.; Chairman, A24 Media Childhood ambition: To be a journalist My role model: My father First job: Carrying a tripod at CBC TV Proudest moment: The premiere of my documentary, BdBZ, at the Olojede

Cannes Film Festival. Dan Bayer Amin Favorite local restaurant: The Global Exchange Carnivore Restaurant, in Nairobi, Kenya As any Aspen Global Leadership Network Fellow knows, one of the I am currently reading: I]ZAdhi greatest strengths of the program HnbWda by Dan Brown is the intense moderated seminar AGLN project/goal: I am currently experience. Using classic texts—from developing an African history cur- Socrates to Vaclav Havel—senior riculum for schools all around Africa to moderators guide discussions on teach African children about their local leadership, values, and the good heroes. society. Many of the Network’s senior moderators—like Institute Execu- tive Vice President Peter Reiling and entrepreneur Stace Lindsay—come from the Henry Crown Fellowship, the Network’s original leadership program. But, as the Network has Portraits of African heroes from Amin’s spread across countries throughout educational DVDs. Mohamed Amin/Camerapix/A24 Media the world, its ranks of senior moderators have become more and more diverse, reflecting a more global web of leaders. Fellows like Watanan Petersik of Singapore, Ferial Haffajee of South Africa, Dele Olejede of Nigeria, and Margarita Herdocia of Costa Rica are becoming crucial members of the Institute’s moderator corps, leading seminars both in their home countries and in Aspen. “We are building a global corps of Fellows, and we want the moderators to represent a global perspective, too,” says Reiling. “Now, a Fellow traveling to South Africa to take a seminar on globalization is just as likely to see a moderator from Thailand or Costa Rica as they are from South Africa.” Mohamed Amin/Camerapix/A24 Media

SUMMER 2010 THE ASPEN IDEA 67 CLASS OF I=:C:MI LEADERS THE 5TH CLASS OF RODEL FELLOWS The Institute’s Rodel Fellowships in Public Leadership were established to enhance American democracy by convening the nation’s most promising young political leaders in a bipartisan setting. Rodel’s newest class is evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats, and represents Fellows from 21 states, serving at local and state levels of government. To learn more about the Rodel Fellowships, visit www.aspeninstitute.org/rodel.

Kirk Adams, Speaker, House of Josh Penry, Minority Leader, State Senate, Representatives, Arizona Colorado Kelly Ayotte, former Attorney General, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Mayor, Baltimore, New Hampshire Maryland Kate Brown, Secretary of State, Oregon Steve Simon, Assistant Majority Leader, Jennifer Carroll, State Representative, Florida House of Representatives, Minnesota Janet Cowell, State Treasurer, North Carolina Rachel Storch, Minority Whip, House of Kevin de Leon, State Assemblyman, California Representatives, Missouri Adams Reagan Dunn, King County Council, Joe Straus, Speaker, House of de Leon Washington Representatives, Texas Kevin Elsenheimer, Minority Leader, House David Tandy, City Council President, of Representatives, Michigan Louisville, Kentucky Mike Flood, Speaker of the Legislature, Natalie Tennant, Secretary of State, West Nebraska Virginia Chris Koster, Attorney General, Missouri Jim Tucker, Speaker, House of Fiona Ma, Speaker Pro-Tem, State Assembly, Representatives, Louisiana California JB Van Hollen, Attorney General, Wisconsin Ross Miller, Secretary of State, Nevada Jamie Woodson, Speaker Pro-Tem, State Carroll Ma Sue Minter, Representative, Vermont Senate, Tennessee

THE 14TH CLASS OF HENRY CROWN FELLOWS The Henry Crown fellowship is designed to engage the next gen- Stephen Gillett, CIO and General Manager of Digital Ventures, eration of leaders in the challenge of community-spirited leader- Starbucks Coffee Company, Seattle, Washington ship. It brings together entrepreneurial young executives and Love Goel, Chairman and CEO, GVG Capital Group, Minnetonka, professionals who have already achieved conspicuous success in Minnesota Sheila Gulati, General Manager, Application Platform and Developer their chosen fields. The two-year program includes a structured Marketing Group, Microsoft Corp., Redmond, Washington series of four seminars, and each fellow will undertake an indi- Reid Hoffman, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, LinkedIn; vidual leadership project. To learn more about the Henry Crown Partner, Greylock Partners, Mountain View, California Fellowship Program, visit www.aspeninstitute.org/crown. Ben Lilienthal, General Manager, Citrix Online-Audio, LLC, Hoboken, New Jersey Fabricio Altamirano, CEO, Altamirano Meaghan Lloyd, Chief of Staff and Project Designer, Gehry Partners, Publishing, San Salvador, El Salvador LLP, Los Angeles, California Jeffrey Aronin, Chairman and CEO, Trish Lukasik, Region Vice President, Frito-Lay, Inc., Winter Park, Paragon Pharmaceuticals, Florida Deerfield, Illinois Melissa Mowbray-d’Arbela, Co-Founder and CEO, Filligent Ltd., Joseph Daniels, President and CEO, Hong Kong National September 11 Memorial Seth Seaberg, Founder and CEO, TREXA, Los Angeles, California Etuk Wong & Museum at the World Trade Tanya Shaw, Founder, President, and CEO, Unique Solutions Design Center, New York, New York Ltd., Nova Scotia, Canada Anne Dwane, President and CEO, Brian Trelstad, CIO, Acumen Fund, New York, New York Zinch, San Francisco, California Tim Westergren, Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Pandora, San Ntiedo Etuk, Co-Founder and CEO, Francisco, California Tabula Digita, Inc., Long Island Andrea Wong, former President and CEO, Lifetime Networks, Los City, New York Angeles, California Daniel Frank, President, Wheels Portia Yarborough, DuPont Performance Polymers Business Services, Wheels, Inc., Winnetka, Integration Leader, DuPont Company, Wilmington, Delaware Westergren Yarborough Illinois Marci Zaroff, Founder and CEO, FASE, Boca Raton, Florida

68 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF DA RW I N The Institute journeys to the Galapagos

Mark Plotkin, Tyler Horney, a Lindblad naturalist, Simon Levin, Alex Gerson, Betsy Isaacson, and Jim Barksdale examine the bones of a whale.

70 THE ASPEN IDEA Alex Gerson

harles Darwin had no idea the impact his trip to the Galapagos would have on the world, but Institute seminarians saw it first- hand. This January, friends of the Institute and members of the Society of Fellows Cboarded the National Geographic Endeavor to retrace Darwin’s epic journey to the Galapagos Islands. “As with all Aspen trips, it was an incredible combination of intelligence, engagement, and fun,” says Insti- tute trustee Anne Welsh McNulty, who took the trip with her 21-year-old daughter, Brynne, and 19-year-old son, Kevin. “But, this time, we went to a unique spot on Earth—and doing things like swimming with sea lions was one of the most joyful, most magical experiences of our lives.”

Donna Horney BY ELLIOT GERSON

SUMMER 2010 THE ASPEN IDEA 71 Participants found extraordinary photo opportunities.

Lindblad Expeditions Alex Gerson Professor Coyne and a group of seminarians look on as a sea lion naps in the sun. Following a highly successful 2009 voy- tion by contemporary scientists, including age to the Arctic with the Institute’s ongo- Jerry Coyne of the University of Chicago ing Dialogue and Commission on Arctic and Olivia Judson of Imperial College Climate Change, the Institute joined London, both guests of the Institute on forces again with Lindblad Explorations the voyage. Institute trustee and explorer for an expedition and seminar series: “Evo- Sylvia Earle also lent her vast knowledge lution, Conservation, and the Galapagos.” of oceanic life to the discussions. But this was not a typical Galapagos tour. “Going to the Galapagos is extra- In addition to splendid opportunities for ordinary on its own,” says Monsma, “but guided walks and snorkeling adventures the Institute offered another layer of with Lindblad naturalists, there were depth by having evolutionary biologists on-board seminars about Darwin and and experts with us to explore the tenets the significance of the Galapagos to our of evolution.” McNulty agrees: “Having understanding of evolution and to the Sylvia Earle on the trip was wonderful current environmental crisis. Led by me because she knows so much about the and Institute Energy and Environment sea, but she also loves to snorkel and Program Director David Monsma, par- hike; she was often as entranced as us ticipants read and discussed, in classic newcomers. And Coyne and Judson Aspen style, original texts by Darwin and were phenomenal speakers—they made Alfred Russel Wallace as well as a selec- the theories come alive.” Donna Horney

“The United States is alone among developed countries as a nation where a large number of the population do not believe in evolution.”

Carey Stanton and her daughter, Caroline Rogers, kayak around the islands. Lindblad Expeditions

72 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 Darwin originally visited the Galapa- gos for five weeks in 1835. Young Darwin had no special training as a biologist. Yet he possessed extraordinary and patient powers of observation as he chronicled the unique flora and fauna of the islands. While his experience in the Galapagos proved revelatory, his earth-shaking theory of natural selection is only hinted at in The Voyage of The Beagle (1839). Essen- tially a travelogue, Voyage was written while Darwin still essentially believed the prevalent and biblically-rooted paradigm of simultaneous creation. He collected specimens not with any intent to prove a new theory, but rather in pairs—as for Noah’s Ark. But the combined force of Darwin’s observations and his inductive genius led him inexorably to evolution by natural selection in The Origin of Species (1869). Donna Horney Seminarians read excerpts from both Voyage and Origin, and together Above: Participants explore the they explored the growth in Darwin’s Galapagos. thinking between the two masterpieces. Right: McNulty with a sea lion. Then, with the aid of contemporary texts, they learned how virtually everything Darwin posited proved true. Dar- win himself couldn’t have known how true; he died before modern genetics developed and before much of the fossil record was filled in. What makes the Galapagos such a rich and fascinating setting for research—or simply a venue to enjoy its remarkable species—is its geological origin. Accordingly, participants also explored some basic principles of bioge- ography. These young volcanic islands David Monsma were never connected to a continent, denying most South American plants and animals access to them. Those plants and animals that did take root in the Galapagos (or attain a perch with a mating companion) had millennia to adapt in the islands’ unusual niches— and with little competition. More- over, the variation among the islands themselves—young, dry, and barren lava fields on some to moist high-altitude tropical forests on others—allows for remarkable examples of adaptation; this is perhaps most famously illustrated by the giant tortoises, whose magnificent

shells vary island to island. Alex Gerson

SUMMER 2010 THE ASPEN IDEA 73 Finally, participants discussed public reactions to Darwin—both in his lifetime (surprisingly mild) and now. As Professor Coyne noted, the attitudes to Darwin vary among countries almost entirely by religion. The United States is alone among developed countries as a nation where a large number of the population—perhaps a majority according to some polls—do not believe in evolution. Though Darwin might be upset, if not surprised, that so many people refuse to accept the power and elegance

Donna Horney of evolution by natural selection, he

Above: Betsy Isaacson, Jim surely would be pleased that his theory Barksdale, and Walter Isaacson. has become the unifying principle of all Right: Sue Pendleton photo- biology, validated not just by genetics, graphs the wildlife. Below left: Institute trustees Henry Catto biochemistry, and microbiology, but by and explorer Sylvia Earle raise the careful study of the descendants of a toast aboard the Endeavor. the very birds, reptiles, and plants that Bottom: Will Hunckler and Kelly Rosen raft through the captivated him in 1835. archipelago. Of course, today, the Islands are also a rare natural laboratory—with meaningful lessons for humanity as we face a global environmental crisis. “The Gala- pagos have a very important evolutionary history that is connected to how species and marine life react to climate changes and human actions,” says Monsma. The Donna Horney Donna Horney Galapagos Islands are also an Ecuador- ian national parkland and “serve as a model for stewardship and park management—balancing eco-tourism with the preservation of an untouched and pristine environment.” It’s rare that you can learn from experts while in the field, but that is what makes an Institute trip meaningful. “Seeing is believing, seeing is understanding,” says McNulty. “A slide in a classroom

Alex Gerson isn’t the same; being there makes you much more conscious of the health of species on land and in water.” It’s a feel- ing shared by Monsma: “In addition to studying, there’s an important need to have an emotional experience and connection to the material—and that’s what these trips do.”

To learn more about the Institute’s Energy and Environment Program and future explorations, visit www.aspeninstitute. org/ee. And to learn about the annual Aspen Environment Forum, visit www. aspenenvironment.org.

74 THE ASPEN IDEA Donna Horney SUMMER 2010 7KH$VSHQ,QVWLWXWH(QHUJ\DQG(QYLURQPHQW3URJUDPSURYLGHVQRQSDUWLVDQOHDGHUVKLSDQGD QHXWUDOIRUXPIRULPSURYLQJHQHUJ\DQGHQYLURQPHQWDOSROLF\PDNLQJWKURXJKLQWHQWLRQDOYDOXHVEDVHGGLDORJXH 7KURXJKLWVSROLF\ZRUNSXEOLFSURJUDPVVXFKDVWKH$VSHQ(QYLURQPHQW)RUXPDQGWKH&DWWR)HOORZVKLSDQ HQYLURQPHQWDOOHDGHUVKLSLQLWLDWLYHWKH(QHUJ\DQG(QYLURQPHQW3URJUDPFUHDWHVLPSDUWLDOYHQXHVIRUJOREDO OHDGHUVWRHQJDJHLQLQIRUPHGGLVFXVVLRQDURXQGVRPHRIWKHPRVWLPSRUWDQWDQGFRPSOH[LVVXHVRIRXUWLPH

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AST YEAR, THE ASPEN WRITERS’ FOUNDATION took great leap forward by officially voting to become a program of the Institute, a decision that has vaulted the Foundation to a higher level—a world stage, even. The collaboration with the L Institute has already brought in new audience members, heightened the Foundation’s stature, and secured a stronger foothold in the literary world.

BY BRUCE BERGER, JULIE COMINS PICKRELL,LISA CONSIGLIO, AND NICOLE HERNANDEZ

The Aspen Writers’ Foundation and the Institute join forces.

Sir Salman Rushdie gives the Keynote Address at Paepcke Auditorium during the 2008 Aspen

Ross Kribbs Summer Words “Passage to India” Literary Festival.

76 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 Dan Bayer Today’s Foundation writers no longer work under the aspen trees.

Founded in 1976 by Kurt Brown, the Foundation originally served to organize the town’s local writers—who had previously held poetry classes in abandoned mine shafts, done read-and- critique forums beneath aspen trees, had readings on the edge of Hallam Lake, and compiled the local literary review, Aspen Leaves, in the living rooms of town locals. For the first Aspen Writers’ Conference, Brown lined up inexpensive rooms at a local inn for students, talked restaurateurs into donating dinners for writing staff, and persuaded locals to host visiting literati in their homes. Today, the Foundation is a thriving literary community and home to the famed Aspen Summer Words Writing Retreat and Literary Festival and the Winter Words series of author readings and talks. And, every year, the Foundation draws world-renowned authors to Aspen, like Amy Tan, Spalding Gray, Peter Matthiessen, John Irving, Frank McCourt, Colum McCann, Ishmael Beah, and Salman Rushdie. (Often a Foundation event can attain the frenzied status of a rock concert!) Under the leadership of current Executive Director Lisa Consiglio, the Foundation has expanded to even greater heights with Lyrically Speaking, a songwriter inter- view/concert series; Story Swap, a cross-cultural creative exchange; Ross Kribbs and The Big Read, a reading initiative of the National Endowment The late Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt at a sold-out Wheeler Opera House during the Foundation’s 2006 debut at the for the Arts that was originally the brainchild of the Institute’s own venerable stage.

SUMMER 2010 THE ASPEN IDEA 77 Music legend David Crosby performs at the Belly Up nightclub as part of Winter Tales Lyrically Speaking in 2008.

Since 1998, the Aspen Writers Foundation has presented Winter Words, a seasonal series of unforgettable evenings with remarkable writers— an après ski for the mind. This year’s writers explored themes of identity, revolution, love, ethnicity, and beauty. Below are highlights from this year’s series.

Ross Kribbs “The main function of the novel is to be a story that has Harman-Eisner Program in the Arts Director Dana Gioia, former to be woven into a chair of the Endowment. reader’s life over days or weeks. This is what The next chapter in the Foundation’s book includes an interna- makes the novel such tional Story Swap program—a vision that would not have been pos- a unique art form. There is nothing else sible before joining the Institute. Students from Haiti are exchang- like it. Nothing else ing stories with students from New Orleans. So far, the kids are is designed to be writing about their shared stores of survival—from post-quake Haiti an experience for that length of time.” to post-Katrina New Orleans. A video of the swap, sponsored by the —David Wroblewski

Bezos Family Foundation, will premier during both Aspen Sum- Dan Bayer mer Words and the Aspen Ideas Festival. Under the umbrella of the Institute, the Foundation’s important work—provoking thought, “When I first started broadening perspectives, fostering connections, and inspiring writing, I struggled creativity—will continue to flourish. with impatience, wanting to sit down and do something perfectly on the first try.” —Tobias Wolff Students in Haiti write stories to exchange with peers in New Orleans. Dan Bayer Dan Bayer “The one thing that I wanted my children to know is that our commonalities far outweigh our differences. And I wanted my children to never be afraid of someone who

Andrea Booher Andrea is different from them.” —Firoozeh Dumas

78 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 EFFICIENT EXPERT PROFESSIONAL SKILLED ACCESS

Writers gather at Hallam Lake in 1976 EXPERIENCED for the first Aspen Writers’ Conference. RESOURCEFUL CHANGE CAPABLE GOALS JOIN US! KNOWLEDGEABLE ADVANCE This summer, the 34th GROWTH “Journalism taught me that writing is not annual Aspen Summer precious. It taught me to go to the desk and SPECIALIZED Dan Bayer do the work. There is no sitting around waiting Words Literary Festival for the muse to come.” —Anita Shreve returns to the Doerr- Efficient, professional, Hosier Center from June skilled, specialized. 20 through June 25 as the Those are the words that could Foundation celebrates describe your volunteer pool. the literary heritage of the Join WomenOnCall.org and American South. Under find talented volunteers who the banner “Crossroads: can help meet your goals. A Literary Intersection of WomenOnCall.org’s network the American South,” this is ready to help non-profits year’s Festival will explore in-person or virtually. stories from the Gulf Coast Visit WomenOnCall.org

Dan Bayer to the Atlantic with some to learn more. “All of the problems facing the world of the legendary writers are human problems. Since we made the problems, we can solve the problems.” who crafted them: Dorothy —Jared Diamond Allison, Richard Bausch, CREATIVE INVENTIVE Nikky Finney, Ernest COST-EFFECTIVE Gaines, Randall Kenan, ACCESS COMPETENT Ron Rash, and Kathryn Stockett. The Festival will ECONOMICAL also include the annual PROFICIENT Aspen Prize for Literature, SUCCESSFUL PROGRESS a $10,000 cash prize, which this year will be bestowed NETWORKING on a published author

Dan Bayer from the American South. “Poetry is kind of the stepchild of American literature. People don’t read it, seldom buy To learn more, visit www. it. But, when somebody is born, or when aspenwriters.org. somebody dies, we look to poetry, because poetry is really the most energetic container of human feelings.” —Erica Jong

SUMMER 2010 THE ASPEN IDEA 79 international Aspen INSTITUT ASPEN FRANCE

Institut Aspen France was founded in 1983 as a nonpar- under recent laws granting tisan, nonprofit, international center for discussion and them autonomy from the state. dialogue. Based in Lyon since 1994, Aspen France has The other club, “Dandizan” two goals: to help leaders identify the challenges they (“In ten years’ time”) is a network of creative, high-potential face and seek solutions to contemporary problems, and individuals focused on the to facilitate informal meetings of leaders from different future. Its upcoming sessions geographical, cultural, and professional worlds. will focus on health care, Aspen France organizes policy programs and leader- labor relations, and the illegal ship seminars to address the major economic, social, economy. Juppé and political issues of the day. Recently, Aspen France set up two discussion clubs—in Paris and in Lyon. These of ideas between different UPCOMING clubs of roughly 20 young leaders spend time discussing scientific disciplines—rang- EVENTS what the future will look like in ten years’ time with leading from biology to astrophys- ing experts on a variety of topics. ics, from mathematics to August 29–31 physics, from chemistry to Annecy computer science. 9th Annual Europe-Africa RECENT setting as many young leaders Conference. European HIGHLIGHTS have entered French politics. France and the Economy and African leaders Among the 80 alumni of the Aspen France continued its gather every other year to Young Political Leaders seminar over the past four series of public events in exchange views on eco- The past few months at years, four are ministers (in Lyon, including a talk in Janu- nomic, political, and social Aspen France have seen new France and Belgium), one ary by former Prime Minister issues in Africa. editions of its flagship leader- is president of the French- Alain Juppé, who shared the ship seminars. Former Prime speaking Parliament (in Bel- conclusions of an economic Monthly Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin gium), 14 have been elected commission he chaired by Lyon was the keynote speaker at or re-elected in the recent appointment of the presi- The Lyon Public Speaker the closing ceremony of the regional elections that took dent. Juppé discussed national Series will feature: Elie fourth edition of the Young place in March in France, investment priorities and Barnavi, former Israeli Political Leaders seminar. and one seminarian has even boosting the growth potential ambassador in Paris, who The ceremony was held in been elected president of the of the French economy. will speak about prospects the French Senate, a fitting regional government in La for peace in the Middle Reunion. Clubs for Young Fellows East; Jacques Ferrier, one “Qu’est-ce qu’on fait main- of the most renowned Raffarin The Science of Leadership tenant?” (“What do we do architects in France The Young Scientific Leaders now?”) is a network of young involved in sustainable seminar, targeted to young executives in business, govern- urban design; and Charles scientists, held its second edi- ment, and academia. The Rivkin, US ambassador tion this year. The seminar club’s agenda over the next few in Paris. provides a unique venue to months includes debates on: hone the leadership skills of Greece and the consequences promising young scientists, of the Greek economic crisis; Institut Aspen France with a focus on creativity, the euro and the European 119, rue Pierre Corneille team and project manage- Union; inner cities and the 69003 Lyon ment, and ethics. The semi- challenges of integration, pros- France nar is also a prime network- perity, and democracy; and Tel. + 33 4 72 41 93 12

Jean-Marc Benzaquen Jean-Marc ing platform for the exchange the governance of universities www.aspenfrance.org

80 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 international Aspen ASPEN INSTITUTE ITALIA

Aspen Institute Italia remains a leader in promoting enlightened dialogue in Europe and across the Atlan- tic, organizing a number of conferences, seminars, and roundtables each year on economics, business, politics, and security. Its quarterly, Aspenia, is read in Italy and abroad, and has been judged one of the best foreign affairs journals in the world. Aspen Italia conferences gather prominent figures in every field thanks to its more than 300 international board members.

RECENT a successful adaptation of HIGHLIGHTS the Aspen Institute execu- The annual Transatlantic tive seminars with American Dialogue (November 2009 in moderators and readings. Rome) and Aspen European Just before Christmas, Dialogue (March 2010 in Aspen Italia celebrated its Venice) were extremely suc- 25th anniversary. A gala event cessful events. While the first was organized in Palazzo focused on politics, science, della Cancelleria, a beauti- Christine Lagarde, French minister for the economy, finance, and employ- and innovation across the ful building off Campo de ment, and Giulio Tremonti, Italian minister of economy and finance, at the Atlantic, the second focused Fiori in the center of Rome. Aspen European Dialogue in March. on Europe and the United Many important figures in States in relation to the Mid- European, Italian, and Aspen history gathered to listen to Roundtable subjects will dle East. A third international a speech by former French include identity, interna- conference was organized President Valéry Giscard tional solidarity, Italian busi- in late April, in Berlin, on d’Estaing on the future of ness, EU policy, and intercul- “Europe in the G20 World.” Europe and to watch a video tural dialogue. The Institute Roundtables over the past about the Institute’s past. The also intends to launch The six months have focused on film can be viewed at the Aspen Forum on Latin Amer- Italy’s banking system after multimedia archive at www. ica, dealing with relations the financial crisis; the quan- aspeninstitute.it. between Central America tity and quality of growth and Europe. Finally, before (in a search for alternative the end of 2010, Aspen Italia indicators to the GDP); rela- UPCOMING will hold a conference in Bei- tions between Europe and EVENTS jing to discuss issues relevant the Obama administration; This coming summer and to Asia and Europe. Italy’s cultural roots and its fall, Aspen Italia will orga- export market; competitive- nize its annual Aspen Junior ness, efficiency, and quality Fellows conference (on Aspen Institute Italia Issues 46, 47, and 48 of the in Italian transport; and the Institute’s quarterly, Aspenia, are sustainable-development Piazza dei Santi economics of crime. now available. Please visit the issues this year), Friends Apostoli, 49 In March, two more semi- Aspenia page on the Aspen Italia of Aspen conference, and 00187 Roma website to read a selection of nars were organized for the articles or request copies of the two more editions of the Tel. + 39.06.9784511 Values and Society series, journals. Aspen Seminars for Leaders. www.aspeninstitute.it

82 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 international Aspen ASPEN INSTITUTE JAPAN

Aspen Institute Japan is a nonprofit organization committed to enhancing values-based leadership in contemporary society. Evolved from the Tokyo liaison office of the Aspen Institute and Aspen Institute Japan Council, Imamichi receiving flowers after his final lecture at Aspen Japan. AIJ was formally established in 1998. Its flagship program has been the Nippon Aspen Executive Seminar. attended by 24 students cho- June 18–20 The Institute offers three seminars annually, providing sen from several selective Young Executive Seminar, the leaders and future leaders of Japan with reflective high schools in Tokyo. The Tokyo experiences through moderator-led dialogue based readings included the Old on extensive readings of texts from both classic and Testament, Rousseau, and July 9–ll Antigone. Young Executive Seminar, contemporary authors and from the Western and non- The dialogue was pro- Tokyo Western world. In addition to the seminars, the Institute found—and quite lively!—as offers other executive seminars tailored to the needs participants grew in confi- July 16–21 of national and local government officials and young dence after the first year. “I Nippon Aspen Executive business executives. It also organizes periodic lecture started to think more about Seminar, Chiba programs for the alumni of the seminars. the richness of mind,” said one student. “The readings August 4–7 were very difficult, but, by Aspen Japan Seminar RECENT house of Aspen Japan Fellows reading them with the mod- for National Government HIGHLIGHTS and friends. He discussed erators or dialoguing with Officials, Tokyo In April, “Challenges of the world’s most pressing other members, I understood the 21st Century,” a spe- problems and the need for the texts more deeply.” The September 10–12 cial lecture series, was orga- our leaders to tackle them program’s growing reputa- Young Executive Seminar, nized in honor of Profes- effectively. tion for intelligent discussion Tokyo sor Tomonobu Imamichi, has created interest among founding moderator of Aspen Junior Aspen Seminar more and more schools, so September 29–31 Japan, as a tribute to his This relatively new initiative Aspen Japan is exploring the Aspen Japan Seminar, outstanding contributions to launched in 2008 in celebra- possibility of expanding the Ishikawa Aspen Japan. Imamichi, who tion of the tenth anniversary program in order to promote is retiring this year, delivered of Aspen Japan. The Junior values-based leadership at October 22–24 a three-hour lecture to a full- Seminar provides an oppor- every educational level. Young Executive Seminar, tunity for high Tokyo school students to familiar- UPCOMING November 11–16 ize themselves EVENTS Nippon Aspen Executive with the world May 22 Seminar, Osaka of classic texts Weekend seminar through inten- Aspen Institute Japan sive readings May 25 and October 19 Harks Roppongi Bldg. and discussions. Board Meeting 2nd Floor The second 15-21, Roppongi 6-chome seminar—six June 10 Minato City sessions over Joint Meeting of Board Tokyo, Japan 106-0032 Teens at the second Junior Aspen Seminar. three days—was and Council Tel. + 81-3-6438-9208

84 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 international Aspen ASPEN INSTITUTE INDIA

Aspen Institute India promotes values-based leadership, open dialogue, and cross-sector outreach by engaging business, governments, nonprofits, and other stakeholders on issues related to India’s development. Focusing on India’s challenges, Aspen Institute India invites industrial, economic, financial, political, social,

and cultural leaders to discuss these issues in settings Panelists at Ideas India 2009: Prahalad, Tharoor, and Aspen India Chairman that encourage frank and open dialogue. Gautam Thapar.

RECENT were organized by Aspen Fund on “India and the West: challenges ahead for Indian HIGHLIGHTS Institute India: the 13th the Future Geopolitical land- democracy with Christophe session of the US-India Stra- scape.” Aspen Institute India Jaffrelot and the need for Ideas India 2009 tegic Dialogue, the seventh and the Center for a New community-based policing Last December, Aspen Insti- session of the US-India- American Security organized with members of the Toronto tute India held Ideas India Japan Trilateral, the third a session on “The US and Police Board. 2009 in New Delhi. With India-Singapore dialogue, India: Charting the Future In addition, Aspen India 90 speakers and 400 partici- and the first India-China Course.” India’s Foreign Sec- organized two book discus- pants, Ideas India explored Strategic dialogue. These dia- retary Nirupama Rao and sions. Gurcharan Das on The issues ranging from health logues covered issues ranging former US Undersecretary Difficulty of being Good: The care to climate change. The from bilateral cooperation of State Nicholas Burns Subtle Art of Dharma and conclave allowed partici- in nuclear energy to inter- discussed the future of India- Timothy Knatchbull on From pants and speakers to international security challenges, US relations. In addition, a Clear Blue Sky: Surviving act, creating awareness on from economics to the future Kenneth Lieberthal, direc- the Mountbatten Bomb. a wide array of issues on relations between the three tor of the John L. Thornton India’s development. Speak- countries. Centre at the Brookings Insti- UPCOMING ers included Nobel Laureate tution, discussed China. EVENTS Dr. Amartya Sen, Shashi Outreach Sessions On the domestic front, Tharoor, and Professor C K Aspen Institute India has Jairam Ramesh, minister of June 2010: Prahalad among others. organized numerous sessions state for environment and Aspen India Seminar on the broad theme of India’s forests, spoke on “India’s Role Policy Dialogues development and leader- in the Copenhagen Sum- December 15–17, 2010 Aspen India and the Aspen ship. Aspen India invited mit.” The session detailed Ideas India 2010 Institute organized the Teach- Former US Secretary of how India—along with the ing Innovation Program in Defense William Cohen to BASIC countries—was able Aspen Institute India December in Goa, India. discuss the changing “Art to steer the Copenhagen Kiran Pasricha The Fifth Annual Aspen of Leadership.” Continu- summit on climate change. Executive Director and Institute Joint Roundtable ing the series on leadership, The second session exam- CEO on Communications Policy Aspen India hosted Jacque- ined the presence of invisible The Aspen Institute India was held in Jaipur in March; line Novogratz, president pollution—like toxic waste— 2P Sector 31 the Roundtable examined and founder of the Acumen and its effects. Ramesh was Gurgaon, 122 001 “eHealth in India: The Issues Fund, to discuss “Patient joined by Richard Fuller, Ph.: +91-124-421 8620-22 Ahead.” Capitalism in India.” president of the Blacksmith Fax: +91-124-421 8624 Aspen India also orga- Institute, and Ravi Singh, kiran.pasricha@aspen Strategic Dialogues nized sessions with members CEO of WWF India. Aspen india.org Three Strategic dialogues of the German Marshall India also addressed the www.aspenindia.org

86 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 international Aspen INSTITUTUL ASPEN ROMANIA

The Institutul Aspen Romania is a politically neutral organization. Its membership represents a broad range of opinion, from the corporate, academic, and political sectors of society among others. The Insitutul focuses on the development of leadership networks and the promotion of democratic values, the rule of law, and economic efficiency. It hosts Regional Young Leaders 2009 Executive Seminars, Policy Programs, and a Young Leaders Program. LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS: UPCOMING In March, Aspen Romania EVENTS 2010 brought together decision- June 3 RECENT both sectors in a dialogue makers and stakeholders in Roundtable: “Cyber HIGHLIGHTS that explored ways to tackle a Socratic Seminar in order Defense within the POLICY PROGRAMS: In Decem- the crisis faster and with to look at the ethical and Context of the New NATO ber 2009, the Institutul orga- fewer economic and social financial role of governments Strategic Concept,” nized a Working Lunch high- costs. Speakers included the in time of crisis. Bucharest, Romania lighting the tragic events president of Romania’s Com- YOUNG LEADERS PRO- across Europe in 1989 and petition Council, the direc- GRAM: The project presen- June 7–13 the 20 years of change that tor of EBRD Romania, and tation phase of the fourth Young Leaders Program have since followed. The the head economist of the module of the Young Leaders Danube Delta, Romania meeting turned into an inter- National Bank of Romania. Program 2009 was held in generational debate between In April, the Institutul December. The module is a June 17 Institutul President Mircea organized a roundtable debate leadership exercise in which Roundtable: “Media in Geoana, 21 of the Aspen on the impact of information- participants identify, design, Crisis? Challenges and Fellows, communist dissident gathering and management and implement a commu- Opportunities” and founder of the Social Dia- systems in social affairs. Using nity-service project that will logue Group Radu Filipescu, the case of employment poli- illustrate the participant’s Date TBD and Senior Editor at Adevarul cies—locally, nationally, and creativity, persuasion, plan- Roundtable: “EU-NATO: newspaper Ovidiu Nahoi. continent-wide—roundtable ning, delivery, teamwork, and Shared Responsibilities in In January, just days after participants proposed a re- overall leadership. Contiguous and Frontier the state budget for 2010 view of practical information- The first module of the Areas” was adopted, the Institutul management options for poli- YLP 2010, the Aspen Semi- hosted a Working Lunch with cymaking. Guests included nar for Young Leaders, was Finance Minister Sebastian members of the Romanian held in April. Participants Institutul Aspen Romania Vladescu that focused on Social Observatory, relevant debated classical ideas in the 1, Herastrau Street policy coordination between EU institutions, and several context of present-day society Floor 3, Ap. 7, District 1 the public and private sec- experts from academic insti- and explored the challenges 011981 Bucharest, Romania tors. Participants included tutions in Spain and other EU posed by the region’s social Tel. + 40 311 024 128 high-level representatives of members. and historical legacy. www.aspeninstitute.ro

88 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 international Aspen

ASPEN Amato INSTITUTE GERMANY

Aspen Institute Germany is devoted to promoting dialogue between key stakeholders on important strategic issues and to building lasting ties and constructive exchanges between leaders in North America, Europe, and the Near East. The Institute achieves this by bringing Western Balkan countries, E.ON Ruhrgas, who gave a together groups of decision-makers and experts from the United States, and Ger- speech on the opportunities business, academia, politics, and the arts who might many discussed challenges and challenges of securing otherwise never meet. We convene in small-scale confer- and prospects for Bosnia and gas supplies for Europe. And, ences, seminars, and discussion groups in order to con- Herzegovina. also in April, the Institute PUBLIC PROGRAMS: Aspen hosted John L. Esposito, sider complex issues with the spirit of open-mindedness Germany hosted a num- founding director of the needed for a genuine search for common ground and ber of remarkable speakers Prince Alwaleed bin Talal viable solutions. this year. In November, Center for Muslim-Christian Aspen Institute Germany’s small staff organizes three Lieutenant General Roland Understanding at the Walsh different types of activities: public programs, open to Kather—of the NATO Allied School of Foreign Service at the Friends of Aspen Germany and to select invited Land Component Com- Georgetown University. mand Heidelberg—gave guests; a closed, invitation-only series of policy pro- an overview of the current grams; and a leadership program. situation in Afghanistan. In UPCOMING December, the Institute wel- EVENTS LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS: In comed Minister-President May 10–11 RECENT December 2009, Aspen Ger- Roland Koch of the German Public Program Event: HIGHLIGHTS many convened five minis- state of Hesse, who discussed “Capitalism and Freedom POLICY PROGRAMS: Last ters of foreign affairs from the the economic crisis and the at the Abyss” with Kevin November, Aspen Institute Western Balkans as well as need for closer transatlantic Hassett Germany hosted a European high-ranking American and cooperation. In February, Strategy Forum on how to German officials and parlia- Elliott Abrams, senior fellow June 7–9 restart a constructive relation- mentarians for a closed-door for Middle Eastern studies at Public Program Event with ship between Russia and the conference at the Institute’s the Council on Foreign Rela- Irvin Stelzer West. The Forum concluded headquarters in Berlin. Dur- tions, participated in a discus- a series of meetings between ing this conference, Aspen sion on the Israeli-Palestinian September 9–12 top Russian, European, and Germany held a public panel conflict. In April, Aspen Ger- Leadership Program Con- American decision-makers. discussion on the topic of many welcomed Dr. Bern- ference: “Companies in a At the conference, Profes- “Security and Prosperity hard Reutersberg, chairman Competitive World” sor Giuliano Amato, former in the Western Balkans” in of the board of executives of prime minister of Italy, pre- which several conference October 11–13 sented a final report about attendees, including the for- Public Program Event with the development of the rela- eign ministers from South Bruce Hoffman tionship between Russia and East Europe, participated. the West. The report, which In April 2010, the discus- Aspen Institute Germany recommends several politi- sion resumed when Aspen Inselstr. 10 cal approaches to reset the Germany held a leader- 14129 Berlin Russia-West relationship, ship conference in Sarajevo, Germany can be found at www.aspen Bosnia and Herzegovina. Abrams Tel. + 49 (0) 30 80 48 90-0 institute.de/aesf.html. Several representatives from www.aspeninstitute.de

90 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 A Nonstop Season The Aspen Strategy Group met in Washington for dinner with Admiral Mike Mullen and lunch with General David Petraeus, while the Socrates Society Fellows headed to Aspen. faces

Photography by Dan Davis (top three)

bSocrates Fellows Jonathan Kelly bSocrates moderator Niall Ferguson with author bSocrates Fellows Brad Farkas and and Florian Weidinger and human-rights advocate Ayaan Hirsi Ali David Hernand head for the slopes.

Photography by Chan Chao (bottom four)

`Jozias van Aartsen, mayor of the Hague, and General David Petreaus

_Admiral Mike Mullen and former Secretary of State and Institute trustee Madeleine Albright

`Director of the Aspen Strategy Group Nicholas Burns, former New Zealand Foreign Minister Don McKinnon, and former Iceland Foreign Minister Halldór Ásgrímsson

_Special UN Envoy to Darfur Jan Eliasson and the Bertelsmann Foundation’s Laurie Dundon

SUMMER 2010 THE ASPEN IDEA 93 26th Annual Awards Dinner Friends of the Institute gathered at the Plaza Hotel in faces New York for a celebration of leadership.

Photography by Max Rapp/Patrick McMullen Photography

_Thomas Pritzker, chairman of Global Hyatt, and Institute trustee Margot Pritzker

cBrynne McNulty and Kevin McNulty with John P. McNulty Prize-winner Patrick Awuah, founder of Ghana’s Ashesi University

cDinner Co-Chair and Institute trustee Mercedes Bass

bDinner Co-Chair and Institute trustee Michael Eisner

`Institute trustee Alma Gildenhorn and David Rubenstein, managing director of the Carlyle Group

cInstitute trustee Henrietta Holsman Fore

bJudith Rodin, winner of the Institute’s Public Service Award, and Amazon.com’s Jeff Bezos, `Dinner Co-Chair winner of the Henry Crown Leadership Award, and Institute trustee with PBS’s Charlie Rose Jerry Murdock

94 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 TK Tk faces

bInstitute trustee Lynda Resnick and CBS’s bAlexis Gelber and NBC’s Washington bInstitute trustee Sidney Harman and Bob Schieffer Bureau Chief Mark Whitaker former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger

bHenry Crown Fellows Janet Echelman and Michael Powell, also an Institute trustee cBrynne McNulty, Dinner Co-Chair and Institute trustee Anne Welsh McNulty, and Henry Crown Fellow Jim Whitaker, a finalist for the John P. McNulty Prize for his Project Rebirth 9/11 film bInstitute trustee Leonard Lauder

bInstitute trustee Her Majesty Queen Noor

`Judith Rodin, president of the Rockefeller Foundation

SUMMER 2010 THE ASPEN IDEA 95 A Nonstop Season This winter, the Society of Fellows gathered in Aspen and, this spring, in Washington at the faces home of Melvyn Estrin for an evening of humor and politics.

bFormer Secretary of Homeland Ralph Alswang Security Michael Chertoff and Chairman of Atlantic Media `

Institute Dan Bayer David Bradley bInstitute trustee Henry Catto Nora Feller trustee Ann Hudson in c Aspen Lifetime trustee Albert cHungarian Ambassador to the Small and Society of Fellows Ralph Alswang United States Béla Szombati Ralph Alswang member Melvyn Estrin Nora Feller

bInstitute Arts & Ideas Director Ken Adelman, The New York Times’ Thomas Friedman, and Institute trustee Ann Friedman

cAuthor Christopher Buckley and The New York Times’ David Brooks

Nora Feller bInstitute trustee Sidney Harman, US Representative Jane Harman, and Institute Chairman Robert Steel

96 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 next YOU’RE INVITED! Aspen Environment Forum: N JUNE N JULY July 25–July 28, 2010 4–8 2 Liberty Fellowship Program Society of Fellows Luncheon Join the Institute along with National Geographic Class of 2010 Aspen, CO for “Bridges to Sustainability: People, Planet, South Carolina 2–5 Possibility,” the 2010 Aspen Environment Forum. 7–8 Socrates Summer Seminars “There’s not a moment to lose in confronting Aspen Network of Aspen, CO climate change,” declared Environmental Development Entrepreneurs 3 Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson at Metrics and Evolution Socrates Society Benefit last year’s Aspen Environment Forum. Jackson will Conference Dinner with Kasim Reed be back this July—along with leading scientists, Washington, DC and Michelle Rhee artists, politicians, educators, and activists—to 8 Aspen, CO discuss climate change, renewable-energy policy, DC Workforce Leaders 5–11 innovation, technology, efficiency, conservation, Academy 2010 Aspen Ideas Festival and how we can all protect the planet. To register, Washington, DC Aspen, CO visit www.aspenenvironment.org.

9 8–9 Jackson Alma and Joseph Gildenhorn The Aspen Forum on Latin Book Series: Jonathan Alter America: “After the Crisis: on The Promise: President Europe and Latin America” Obama, Year One Madrid, Spain Washington, DC 12–16 11–13 Central America Leadership Seminar: “International Initiative Class 4 Human Rights and Costa Rica Humanitarian Laws: Their 13 Application in National McCloskey Speaker Series: Jurisprudence” Dambisa Moyo, Dead Aid New York, NY Aspen, CO 20–25 13–19 Aspen Summer Words Justice and Society Seminar Literary Festival and Writing Aspen, CO Michael Brands Retreat 16 Aspen, CO Society of Fellows Luncheon 24 N AUGUST 21–27 Aspen, CO Society of Fellows 3 Henry Crown Fellowship 16–22 Discussion Reception McCloskey Speaker Series: Class of 2009 Aspen Seminar Aspen, CO Peter Galbraith Wye, MD Aspen, CO 25–26 Aspen, CO 25 17–23 Society of Fellows 3–5 Society of Fellows Reception Wye Faculty Seminar: Symposium: “The Society of Fellows Aspen, CO “Citizenship in the Revolutionary Decade of Symposium: “Afghanistan 27 American and Global Polity” 1900–1910” and Pakistan” Paepcke Memorial Building Wye, MD Aspen, CO Aspen, CO Re-Opening Celebration 19–22 25–28 5 Aspen, CO 2010 First Movers 2010 Aspen Environment Summer Board of Trustees 28 Fellowship Seminar Forum Meeting McCloskey Speaker Series: Aspen, CO Aspen, CO Aspen, CO Mike Mullen 20 28 7 Aspen, CO McCloskey Speaker Series: McCloskey Speaker Series: 17th Annual Summer 28–30 Daniel Pink Vartan Gregorian Celebration, honoring 2010 Aspen Security Forum Aspen, CO Aspen, CO Khaled Hosseini and Jim Aspen, CO Lehrer Aspen CO

98 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 next

SAVE THE DATE!

BOARD OF TRUSTEES FALL MEETING: CAROL DOPKIN NOVEMBER 5 REAL ESTATE, INC. This year, the Institute’s annual fall dinner at the Plaza Hotel in New York will honor Vartan Gregorian, president of Carnegie Corporation, Carol & Tommy and Institute trustee Leonard Lauder, chairman of The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. For more information, contact Erin Phillips at erin. [email protected]. Lauder Nora Feller

7–13 18–24 Aspen Seminar Aspen Seminar Aspen, CO Aspen, CO 10 27–10/2 McCloskey Speaker Series: Aspen-New Schools Fellowship Sandra Day O’Connor Aspen, CO Aspen, CO 28–10/3 11–15 Liberty Fellowship Class of 2011 Henry Crown Class of 2008 Pawley’s Island, SC Real Estate with Aspen, CO 30 11–16 Aspen European Strategy Forum Horse Sense Justice and Society Program: “The Berlin, Germany Overlawyering of America” Aspen, CO N OCTOBER An Aspen broker for over 31 14 20–24 years. You can expect discreet, Society of Fellows Summer Liberty Fellowship Class of 2012 impeccable and professional Reception South Carolina service with an all-encom- Aspen, CO 25–30 passing knowledge of the As- 16–21 Aspen-New Schools Fellowship pen market and lifestyle. Carol Henry Crown Class of 2010 Aspen, CO is always one of Aspen’s top Aspen, CO producing brokers and serves 26–27 N NOVEMBER on several non-proﬁ t boards Aspen Lebanon Civil Society Program: 5 expressing her appreciation “After the Municipal Elections in Board of Trustees Fall Meeting for the privleage of living in this Lebanon” New York, NY magical environment. Beirut, Lebanon 9–14 Aspen Global Leadership Network N SEPTEMBER Seminar: “Leading an Era of You’ll Love the Attention! 16–17 Globalization” Aspen Institute Germany’s ERP II Aspen, CO 122 WEST MAIN STREET Conference 16–19 ASPEN, CO 81611 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina 2010 First Movers Fellowship Seminar OFFICE: 970.920.1186 Wye, MD MOBILE: 970.618.0187 [email protected] STAY CURRENT For updates and additions to the Institute’s ever-growing schedule of events, visit WWW.CAROLDOPKIN.COM www.aspeninstitute.org/events.

100 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 contact us

A QUICK GUIDE TO THE ASPEN INSTITUTE

SEMINARS HENRY CROWN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM To sign up, please call Charlene Costello, (410) 820- Henry Crown Fellowship Program Managing 5374 or [email protected] Director and Vice President Eric Motley, www.aspeninstitute.org/seminars (202) 736-2900 or [email protected] www.aspeninstitute.org/crown

DONATIONS SOCRATES SOCIETY FORUM Please contact Leah Bitounis at (202) 736-2289 or To learn more, contact Azalea Millan, [email protected] [email protected] or www.aspeninstitute.org/socrates

ASPEN GLOBAL LEADERSHIP NETWORK THE SOCIETY OF FELLOWS Deputy Director of Leadership Initiatives and Vice Society of Fellows Programming Director Patrick President Abigail Golden-Vazquez, (202) 736-2537 Kelly, (970) 544-7924 or patrick.kelly@aspeninstitute. or [email protected] org; or www.aspeninstitute.org/sof

ROARING FORK VALLEY EVENTS AND MEDIA INQUIRIES COMMUNITY PROGRAMS Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs Jim Spiegelman, (202) 736-3849 or Community Outreach Director Cristal Logan, [email protected] (970) 544-7929 or [email protected]

HERITAGE SOCIETY SPECIAL EVENTS AND BENEFITS To learn more about the Heritage Society, Development Associate Erin Phillips, (202) 736-3850 please call Steven Wickes, (970) 544-7912, or visit or [email protected] www.aspeninstitute.org/heritagesociety

OFFICES Headquarters, The Aspen Institute POLICY PROGRAMS Suite 700, One Dupont Circle, NW Program Director, Policy Programs Peggy Clark, Washington, DC 20036-1133 (202) 736-1081 or [email protected] (202) 736-5800

Aspen Campus, The Aspen Institute 1000 North Third Street, Aspen, CO 81611 ASPEN IDEAS FESTIVAL (970) 925-7010 Director of Public Programs and Vice President Kitty Boone, (970) 544-7926 or Wye River Campus, The Aspen Institute [email protected]; or 2010 Carmichael Road www.aspeninstitute.org/ideasfest P.O. Box 222, Queenstown, MD 21658 (410) 827-7168

102 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010 last words

“The far left and the far right are “Japan was just the delusional, and they also would “Preschoolers who sleep less warm-up for the real get an ‘F’ in math. There’s no than ten hours a night are 300 game: China. There are party of fiscal responsibility.” percent more likely to become more English speakers —David Walker, president and CEO of the obese. And ‘A’ students get 15 in China than there are Peter G. Peterson Foundation and author more minutes of sleep a night Americans.” of Comeback America, Alma and Joseph than ‘B’ students.” Gildenhorn Book Series, January 2010, —Paul Otellini, president and Washington, DC —Ashley Merryman, author of NurtureShock, CEO of Intel Corporation, Institute Diversity Committee event, March Intel Innovation Economy 2010, Washington, DC Roundtable lunch, March 2010, Washington, DC

“Art has stimulated the imaginations of Americans. Can you imagine the Civil Rights Movement without ‘We Shall Overcome’? Can you imagine it without the poets and the playwrights?” —Anna Deavere Smith, Institute trustee and playwright, the Aspen Leadership Series: Conversations with Great Leaders in Memory of Preston Robert Tisch, March 2010, New York City

“We evaluate our universities by what our students become. But there’s also a recognition “Elections are intended to make that, if a student’s going to spend $50,000 a courts responsive to electoral year, he better be employable when he leaves.” politics. And that’s the flaw in the system. It’s like trying —John DeGioia, president of Georgetown University, Washington Leadership Series, February 2010, Washington, DC to ignore the alligator in the bathtub.” —Sandra Day O’Connor, lifetime Institute trustee and retired Supreme Court “The greatest frustration is not having justice, Georgetown Law-Aspen Institute Symposium, January 2010, Washington, DC to get the vote 200 years late, but going to places where they say, ‘You mean you don’t have voting rights?’” —Eleanor Holmes Norton, DC congressional delegate, Washington Leadership Series, December 2009, Washington, DC

104 THE ASPEN IDEA SUMMER 2010