A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival ofIdeas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas THURSDAY and FRIDAY SCHEDULES A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of
2018
Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work BestIdeas When Work Shared Best When Ideas SharedWork Best Ideas When Work Shared Best WhenIdeas WorkShared Best Ideas When Work Shared Best Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When EVENT TIME MATTISON AUDITORIUM SESSIONS RECITAL HALL SESSIONS
9:00-6:30 REGISTRATION
11:30-12:15 LUNCH
12:15-1:00 WELCOME & APERITIFS 10 Speakers
TRUMP VS. HIS OWN Preet Bharara, Jeh Johnson, 1:10-2:00 GREEK TO HIM: AN ODYSSEY Corby Kummer, Daniel Mendelsohn JUSTICE DEPARTMENT Trevor Morrison
WHERE IS THE SUPREME Kristen Clarke, Samuel Issacharoff, Carol Burris, John Donvan, 2:10-3:00 CHARTER VS. PUBLIC SCHOOLS COURT HEADED? Jim Zirin Douglas Harris
3:00-3:20 BREAK
THE TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTION John Donvan, Mark Reuss, Elizabeth Economy, Robert Hormats, 3:20-4:10 CHINA AND THE U.S. AT ODDS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY Ken Washington Jessica Mathews
THURSDAY “YOU NEVER KNOW”: Jeffrey Fraenkel, Wardell Milan, 4:20-5:10 THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY Michael Kramer, Bret Stephens THE WORK OF DIANE ARBUS Elisabeth Sussman
PSYCHEDELICS: Safwan Masri, Jessica Mathews, 5:20-6:10 Corby Kummer, Michael Pollan MIDDLE EAST IN TURMOIL HOW TO CHANGE YOUR MIND Frank Wisner
6:10-7:00 RECEPTION
800-6:30 REGISTRATION
CONTINENTAL 7:30-9:00 BREAKFAST
8:30-9:15 APERITIFS 15 Speakers
9:25-10:00 UNIVERSITIES AND FREE EXPRESSION John Donvan, Robert Zimmer THE WIZARD AND THE PROPHET Corby Kummer, Charles Mann
Julia Greer, Joseph DeSimone, Rana Foroohar, Roger McNamee, 10:10-11:00 3D PRINTING AND NANOMATERIALS THE SOCIAL MEDIA CRISIS Ken Washington Cal Newport
11:00-11:20 BREAK
THE BIG PICTURE ON LIFE, MEANING THE (FELICITOUS) FUTURE 11:20-11:55 Sean Carroll Harold Varmus, Joe Walston AND THE THE UNIVERSE OF CONSERVATION
Charles Blow, Jay Kriegel, THE WHITNEY WOMEN & THE 12:05-12:55 THE FUTURE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY Flora Biddle, Fiona Donovan Mitch Landrieu MUSEUM THEY MADE
12:55-2:15 LUNCH
HENRY KISSINGER IN CONVERSATION Charles Blow, Margot Hirsch, 2:15-3:05 Henry Kissinger and Lesley Stahl GUNS IN AMERICA WITH LESLEY STAHL Joe Nocera, Mike Weisser FRIDAY
3:15-3:05 PLANET 9: THE RACE IS ON TO FIND IT Konstantin Batygin, Julia Greer JASPER JOHNS: INFINITELY SHADED Fiona Donovan, Carter Foster
Jeh Johnson, Michael Kramer, Dan Doctoroff, Mitch Landrieu, 4:00-4:50 THE CYBER WAR CITIES OF THE FUTURE David Sanger Sarah Moser
4:50-5:10 BREAK
PILOBOLUS DANCE: ADVENTUROUS, 5:10-6:00 Itamar Kubovy ADAPTIVE, ATHLETIC, SURPRISING
6:00-7:00 RECEPTION
6:30-8:30 AWARD-WINNING CHEFS’ DINNER ON CAMPUS DINNER A FESTIVAL OF IDEAS AUGUST 16-18, 2018 | KENT, CONNECTICUT
Welcome to the fourth annual KentPresents Ideas Festival. For those of you who have been here before, you’ll notice that little has changed — brilliant speakers, challenging topics, intimate setting. And the charitable mission remains — contributing to local organizations that serve people in need. Yet much is new. Two-thirds of this year’s speakers are first-timers at KentPresents. And a large proportion of the 2018 topics haven’t previously been addressed in depth at KentPresents — Blockchain. Psychedelics. The Odyssey. Sexual Harassment. Cosmology. Origami. And many more. A final note: We would be derelict if we didn’t cover in depth, as we have since our founding, the extremely serious issues that confront our nation, our society and our globe. But lest KentPresents take on the depressing mien of today’s newpaper’s front page, there are other topics that are both worthy and uplifting. These, too, will be on display: a free-expression haven in the university world, a surprisingly buoyant outlook for world conservation, a most-promising development in cancer treatment, progress in the fight against wrongful convictions, the search for Planet 9, breakthroughs in 3D printing, and stunning performances in dance and music. Sit back, enjoy, and remember: Ideas work best when shared.
Ben and Donna, co-founders, KentPresents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Inside Front Cover Thursday and Friday Schedules Inside Back Cover Saturday Schedule 5 Topics and Sessions 5 Aperitifs 5 Economics 5 Education 6 Environment 6 Global Affairs 7 Health, Medicine and Food 8 Law and Politics 8 Liberal Arts and Performing Arts 10 Science and Technology 12 Social Issues 13 Visual Arts 15 Speaker Biographies 31 Charitable Grants 32 Donors and Acknowledgments 33 TheKentPresents Bookstore Meet the KentPresents Team Going Green 34 Useful Information
3 TOPICS AND SESSIONS
TOPICS AND SESSIONS
APERITIFS
KentPresents starts each day with a plenary session called Aperitifs. Speakers representing each of the day’s panels will deliver a brief (2:00- to 2:30-minute) preview of his/her panel to come later in the day. Since you’ll have choices to make – there are parallel tracks – these Aperitifs will help you choose your main course. THURSDAY APERITIFS MATTISON | Thursday, 12:15-1:00PM | 10 Speakers FRIDAY APERITIFS MATTISON | Friday, 8:30-9:15am | 15 Speakers SATURDAY APERITIFS MATTISON | Saturday, 8:30-9:15am | 15 Speakers
ECONOMICS EDUCATION
BITCOIN, BLOCKCHAIN, UNIVERSITIES AND FREE CYBERCURRENCIES EXPRESSION MATTISON, Saturday, 11:20am-12:10pm MATTISON, Friday, 9:25-10:00am
Breakthrough? Bonanza? Bubble? Our panelists On today’s campuses, free expression is a hotbed unpack the mysteries, debate the merits and issue. Robert Zimmer, President of the University discuss the possibilities, the incredibly promising of Chicago, makes the case for his university’s applications, the remarkable enabling technology leading the way as a model of free expression, and and the certainty that it’s tulip mania redux. why it doesn’t support “safe spaces” and “trigger Featuring Neha Narula, Kai Stinchcombe. warnings.” Robert Zimmer in conversation with John Donvan. CITIES OF THE FUTURE RECITAL HALL, Friday, 4:00-4:50pm CHARTER VS. PUBLIC SCHOOLS RECITAL HALL, Thursday, 2:10-3:00pm China is creating scores of ultramodern cities, many on artificial islands stretching from the Charter schools are trying to change the face Indian Ocean to the Pacific. The residents? of K-12 education in America. Tulane economist Only Chinese citizens. Is this a major effort by Douglas Harris provide objective, rigorous, China at neocolonialism? Meanwhile, Toronto and useful research about market-based is planning a futuristic metropolis in a derelict school reforms, including charter schools and part of its waterfront. What is going on with school vouchers. From the Network for Public the world’s cities? Featuring Dan Doctoroff, Education, Carol Burris argues strongly for John Donvan and Sarah Moser. public schools. John Donvan moderates.
4 5 TOPICS AND SESSIONS TOPICS AND SESSIONS
NORTH KOREA VS. THE US IMMUNOTHERAPY: NEW HOPE ENVIRONMENT GLOBAL AFFAIRS MATTISON, Saturday, 10:10-11:00am FOR CANCER MATTISON, Saturday, 3:15-3:50pm THE WIZARD AND THE PROPHET CHINA AND THE U.S. AT ODDS Will a robust nuclear deal with Kim Jong-un RECITAL HALL, Friday, 9:25-10:00am RECITAL HALL, Thursday, 3:20-4:10pm be fashioned — and stick if it is? Conversely, There has been an explosion in our knowledge if negotiations fail, what will it mean for Asia, about cancer. Our understanding of genetic From the best-selling, award-winning author As China angles to dominate Asia — both especially if other nations in the region seek their mutations has illuminated how cancer is born, of 1491 and 1493, an incisive portrait of the economically and militarily — what can the region own nuclear deterrent? Featuring Nicholas Burns, grows and metastasizes. In parallel, science has two little-known twentieth-century scientists, and the U.S. do to contain her reach? Is a new Christopher Hill and David Sanger. revealed the importance of the interplay between Norman Borlaug and William Vogt, whose trade deal even possible? How serious are Beijing’s the immune system and cancer. Therapies that RUSSIA ON TOP diametrically opposed views shaped our ideas moves in the South China Sea? What does Xi target cancer mutations and components of the about the environment, laying the groundwork Jinping’s presidency-for-life mean for the Chinese MATTISON, Saturday, 4:10-5:00pm immune system have changed how we treat and for how people in the twenty-first century themselves? Featuring Elizabeth Economy, The Putin-Trump relationship is conflicted and even prevent cancer. Recently, the convergence will choose to live in tomorrow’s world. Robert Hormats and Jessica Mathews. vexing. What do both men want, can they get of cancer genetics and the immune system has Charles C. Mann in conversation with brought about even more promising results that THE CYBER WAR it, and where do Europe and NATO fit in? Corby Kummer. Featuring Nicholas Burns, Michael Kramer have had a profound impact on cancer patients’ MATTISON, Friday, 4:00-4:50pm lives. Featuring Luis Diaz, Stephanie Joho and THE (FELICITOUS) FUTURE OF and William Taubman. Harold Varmus. CONSERVATION Increasingly sophisticated digital weapons are attacking vulnerable information at every turn. MOLECULAR FOOD RECITAL HALL, Friday, 11:20-11:55am David Sanger and Jeh Johnson explore America’s HEALTH, MEDICINE RECITAL HALL, Saturday, 3:15-3:50pm For the first time ever in the Anthropocene, ability to defend our national security as the and FOOD there is a possible renaissance of nature. A cyberwar heats up. Featuring Jeh Johnson, Mastered sous vide, grilling and air frying? hundred years from now, the Earth could be Michael Kramer and David Sanger. IN A DIFFERENT KEY: THE STORY Want to know the secrets behind each process? inhabited by fewer people, with little extreme OF AUTISM Harold McGee, who wrote the seminal book, HENRY KISSINGER AND poverty and most living in towns and cities. These On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of LESLEY STAHL RECITAL HALL, Saturday, 10:10-11:00am trends require a historical perspective that is the Kitchen, will be in conversation with difficult to adopt if one is focused on immediate MATTISON, Friday, 2:15-3:05pm Pulitzer Prize finalist for General Nonfiction Corby Kummer about the chemistry of cooking threats and captivated by apocalyptic futures. But in 2017, In a Different Key: The Story of Autism, — and more. Lesley Stahl takes Henry Kissinger on a tour there is hope. As in London during the Blitz, tells the story of the first child ever to receive of the planet’s hot spots as he explains America’s PSYCHEDELICS: HOW TO vigilance and exertion are required, but we need the diagnosis. That child is still alive. Two role in an increasingly complex multi-polar not panic or despair because the weight of history award-winning journalists, John Donvan and CHANGE YOUR MIND world. Henry Kissinger in conversation with is on our side. The Wildlife Conservation Caren Zucker, will tell his extraordinary story MATTISON, Thursday, 5:20-6:10pm Lesley Stahl. Society’s Joseph Walston in conversation with while they unpack the history of this often Psychedelics? Yes, they’ve come a long way from Harold Varmus. MIDDLE EAST IN TURMOIL misunderstood condition and the civil rights Timothy O’Leary’s day. When Michael Pollan RECITAL HALL, Thursday, 5:20-6:10pm battles waged by the families of those who have it. “Spellbinding“ (Washington Post), “remarkable” set out to research how LSD and psilocybin With the Iran nuclear deal dead — at least from (Wall Street Journal), “vivid” (New York Times). (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) are the Trump Administration’s perspective — being used to provide relief to people suffering what’s next as the U.S. aligns with the Saudis, from difficult-to-treat conditions such as the Emiratis and Israel to roll back Tehran’s depression, addiction and anxiety, he did not increasing intrusions in the Middle East? intend to write what is undoubtedly his most Featuring Safwan Masri, Jessica Mathews and personal book. But upon discovering how these Frank Wisner. remarkable substances are improving the lives not only of the mentally ill but also of healthy people coming to grips with the challenges of everyday life, he decided to explore the landscape of the mind in the first person as well as the third. Michael Pollan in conversation with Corby Kummer.
6 7 TOPICS AND SESSIONS
LAW and POLITICS LIBERAL ARTS and PERFORMING ARTS TRUMP VS. HIS OWN JUSTICE DEPARTMENT GREEK TO HIM: AN ODYSSEY MATTISON, Thursday, 1:10-2:00pm RECITAL HALL, Thursday, 1:10-2:00am
With the Department of Justice under increasing According to Dwight Garner in the New York attack from President Trump, how is justice in Times, Daniel Mendelsohn’s latest book is “a deeply American being changed? And how much legal moving tale of a father and son’s transformative jeopardy is the President in as Robert Mueller’s journey in reading—and reliving—the Odyssey. investigation heads toward its conclusion? Mr. Mendelsohn wears his learning lightly yet Featuring Preet Bharara, Jeh Johnson and superbly. What catches you off guard about this Trevor Morrison. memoir is how moving it is: It has many things to say not only about Homer’s epic poem, but about WHERE IS THE SUPREME COURT fathers and sons. Mendelsohn makes Homer’s HEADED? epic shine in your mind.” Daniel Mendelsohn MATTISON, Thursday, 2:10-3:00pm in conversation with Corby Kummer. With the conservative majority flexing its muscle, PILOBOLUS DANCE: how are the High Court’s recent decisions ADVENTUROUS, ADAPTIVE, affecting American life, and what can we expect ATHLETIC, SURPRISING in the year ahead? Featuring Kristen Clarke, MATTISON, Friday, 5:10-6:00pm Samuel Issacharoff and Jim Zirin. THE FUTURE OF THE For 45 years, Pilobolus has tested the limits of human physicality to explore the beauty and REPUBLICAN PARTY the power of connected bodies. Pilobolus brings MATTISON, Thursday, 4:20-5:10pm decades of expertise telling stories with the human The first question to be answered is, Which form to show diverse communities, brands, and Republican party? Then the second question, organizations how to maximize group creativity, What is the future?, can be answered. solve problems, create surprise, and generate joy Tough questions, but Bret Stephens and through the power of nonverbal communication. Michael Kramer are well qualified to tackle them. Pilobolus has created and toured over 120 pieces of repertory to more than 65 countries, THE FUTURE OF THE performing for over 300,000 people across the DEMOCRATIC PARTY U.S. and around the world each year. Featuring MATTISON, Friday, 12:05-12:55pm Itamar Kubovy.
The first question to be answered is, Which WORDS AND MUSIC WITH Democratic party? Then the second question, WYNTON MARSALIS AND What is the future?, can be answered. Tough DARREN WALKER question, but Charles Blow, Jay Kriegel and MATTISON, Saturday, 5:10-6:00pm Mitch Landrieu are well qualified to tackle it. Every great musical has a great, show-stopping “11 O’clock Number.” This is ours. Legendary jazz musician, composer, bandleader, educator and “Be less curious about people and advocate of American culture, Wynton Marsalis more curious about ideas.” is also a raconteur nonpareil. To provide a perfect ― Marie Curie ending to the three days of KentPresents, he will be in conversation with Darren Walker and also will play his trumpet for all of us. Pianist Sullivan Fortner will accompany. 8 9 TOPICS AND SESSIONS TOPICS AND SESSIONS
DESIGNER BABIES, FUTURE STORAGE: THE HOLY GRAIL FOR 3D PRINTING AND NANOMATERIALS: SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY FAMILIES, BIOLOGICAL TRUTHS SUSTAINABLE ENERGY THEIR TIME IS NOW AND LEGAL FICTIONS RECITAL HALL, Saturday, 2:15-3:05pm MATTISON, Friday, 10:10-11:00am PLANET 9: THE RACE IS ON MATTISON, Saturday, 9:25-10:00am TO FIND IT For the world to transition to a clean and For years, 3D printing and nanomaterials have MATTISON, Friday, 3:15-3:50pm Prof. Alta Charo takes on three biological sustainable energy system, storage of wind and been among the leading “technologies of the issues of our times. (1) Designer Babies: What’s solar power (that is reliable, long term and low- future.” The future may be now. Here today are We all know that there used to be 9 planets, that imagined, what’s real and what’s coming. cost storage) is an absolute must. Otherwise, the arguably the two leading (and most colorful) is, until our speaker and his Caltech colleague killed (2) Future Families: Redefining concepts like variability of the electricity from wind sources experts in these related fields, from academia Pluto a few years ago. But there may be hope for mother, father and personal identity due to the (the wind doesn’t always blow) and solar (the and industry. They will tell you why their a new Planet 9. There are trans-Neptunian objects use of new reproductive technologies, from 1970s sun doesn’t always shine) is a deal-killer. Oxford breakthroughs will help change the timescale displaying phenomena that cannot be explained artificial insemination to 1980s IVF to 1990s PhD and Quartz journalist Akshat Rathi gives of these technologies from “sometime” to “now.” by interactions with our eight-planet Solar System surrogate mothers to 2000s donor eggs to 2010s an overview of the energy storage industry and Why you can expect 3D printing as fast as alone. Indeed, this anomaly points to the existence mitochondrial replacement. (3) Biological Truths technology. Rob Piconi, CEO of Swiss-based conventional high-speed manufacturing. Why you of, yes, an additional planet! So our speaker and and Legal Fictions: Jahi McMath was legally dead start-up Energy Vault describes its innovative new can expect novel nanomaterials that are lighter, his colleague, guilt-ridden for their Plutocide, have in California, but at the same time legally alive storage technology. Joseph DeSimone moderates. stronger and less expensive, with a breadth of started a worldwide race to find the new Planet 9, in New Jersey. Does biology actually define such [Full disclosure: Ben Rosen has an investment applications extending from skyscrapers to aircraft and are determined to win it. Konstantin Batygin socially crucial categories as alive and dead, male in Energy Vault.] to dental bridges. Featuring Joseph DeSimone, in conversation with Julia Greer. Julia Greer and Ken Washington. and female, Caucasian and Asian, mother and THE TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTION father? And even where it does, must our social THE BIG PICTURE ON LIFE, IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY MEANING AND THE UNIVERSE categories be defined by biology? Sean Carroll in conversation with Alta Charo. MATTISON, Thursday, 3:20-4:10pm MATTISON, Friday, 11:20-11:55am WHY EVOLUTION IS TRUE, AND Start-ups have been getting a lot of the publicity Cosmologist Sean Carroll, one of the greatest WHY MOST AMERICANS REJECT IT about their autonomous vehicle efforts and humanist thinkers of his generation, ties together RECITAL HALL, Saturday, 4:10-5:00pm EVs. But impressions about who the future the fundamental laws of physics governing leaders are changing. Two of the contenders for the workings of the cosmos with the everyday Although the evidence for Darwinian evolution hegemony, Ford and GM, are coming on at warp human experience we all share. He’ll take us is not only massive, but drawn from many areas speed. Different approaches but similar huge on a breathtaking journey from the origin of of biology and geology, the theory (and fact) commitments – to be leaders of the totally new the universe, through the evolution of life and of evolution as a naturalistic, unguided process world of mobility. Ford: “Our plan is to be a leader consciousness, to the eternal question of what it is rejected by over 80% of Americans. This is in autonomy. The vehicle will operate without a all really means. Internationally acclaimed for his unique, for no other scientific theory, like the steering wheel, gas pedal or brake pedal.” GM: elegant, lucid writing on the most challenging germ theory of disease or the atomic theory, is so “Softbank will invest $2.25 billion in General notions in modern physics, Sean brings his thoroughly scorned. Jerry Coyne, Prof. Emeritus Motors’ autonomous vehicle efforts. The self- extraordinary intellect to bear on our deepest of Evolutionary Biology at the University of driving car division is a separate company known questions. Where are we? Who are we? What Chicago, will describe what the “theory” of as GM Cruise.” GM EVP Mark Reuss and does it all really mean? evolution is, present some of the colorful and Ford VP R&D Ken Washington are committed – intriguing facts that support its truth, and briefly and at KentPresents. John Donvan moderates. touch on the reasons why America, uniquely among First World nations, rejects Darwinism (hint: it’s not a lack of evidence). Fostering “New ideas pass through three acceptance of evolution is important not just periods: 1) It can’t be done. 2) It probably can be done, but it’s not because it’s the foundational theory of modern worth doing. 3) I knew it was a biology, but because it’s a paradigm of how to good idea all along!” adjudicate disputes using evidence rather than “Ideas come from everything.” wish-thinking or faith—a skill sorely needed ― Alfred Hitchcock – Arthur C. Clarke in today’s America.
10 11 TOPICS AND SESSIONS TOPICS AND SESSIONS
SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND ORIGAMI: THE ART AND THE SOCIAL ISSUES ASSAULT IN THE ERA OF THE VISUAL ARTS SCIENCE FROM A MASTER #METOO MOVEMENT RECITAL HALL, Saturday, 9:25-10:00am GUNS IN AMERICA MATTISON, Saturday, 2:15-3:05pm THE CONTEMPORARY ART RECITAL HALL, Friday, 2:15-3:05pm WORLD; THE GOOD, THE BAD, Robert Lang has been an avid student of origami For more than a year, the rising #MeToo AND THE VERY BAD; TIPS, for over fifty years and is now recognized as one What’s practicable in our polarized society. Like Movement has captured the daily news headlines. LESSONS AND WARNINGS of the world’s leading masters of the art. Included cars, we may not eliminate gun deaths, but there How has the dialogue changed public opinion RECITAL HALL, Saturday, 12:20-12:55pm in his repertoire are some of the most complex are (bipartisan) ways to mitigate them substantially. and attitudes towards victims’ claims and alleged origami designs ever created. His work combines Featuring Charles Blow, Margot Hirsch, perpetrators? How will the predictable backlash Jerry Saltz was awarded the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for aspects of the Western school of mathematical Joe Nocera and Frank Weisser. affect public and private conduct and the Criticism. In 2015, he won the National Magazine origami design with the Eastern emphasis on HOW WE GOT TO “POST-TRUTH” advancement of policies and initiatives in colleges, Award for Criticism. He has lectured widely, line and form to yield models that are at once AMERICA boardrooms, legislatures and courts? Three including at Harvard University, the Museum of distinctive, elegant, and challenging to fold. outstanding panelists will tackle these and related Modern Art, the Guggenheim Museum, and the Originally a physicist and engineer, he has authored MATTISON, Saturday, 12:20-12:55pm transformative issues, including the increasing Whitney Museum of American Art. He has taught over 80 technical publications and has 50 patents. Kurt Andersen’s new best-seller is Fantasyland: use of defamation as a defense against charges at Columbia University, Yale University, Rhode Featuring Robert Lang in conversation with How America Went Haywire – A 500-Year History. of sexual harassment and assault. Featuring Lisa Island School of Design, The School of the Art Harold Varmus. Bloom, Marjory Fisher and Faye Wattleton. Institute of Chicago, among many others. How did we get here? In this sweeping, eloquent THE WHITNEY WOMEN AND THE history of America, Kurt Andersen shows that THE CASE AGAINST SOCIAL MEDIA JASPER JOHNS: INFINITELY SHADED MUSEUM THEY MADE what’s happening in our country today—this RECITAL HALL, Friday, 10:10-11:00am RECITAL HALL, Saturday, 3:15-3:50pm RECITAL HALL, Friday, 12:05-12:55pm post-factual, “fake news” moment we’re all living through—is not something new, but rather the Almost everyone uses social media and can Jasper Johns is one of the most important artists From its founding by sculptor and patron Gertrude ultimate expression of our national character. provide good reasons why. And yet, in recent years, of our time. Johns’s continual penchant for Vanderbilt Whitney in 1930, the Whitney America was founded by wishful dreamers, magical dissatisfaction with these services has grown. In experimentation, long after his early breakthrough Museum of American Art has been fostered by thinkers, and true believers, by hucksters and their this session,we’ll argue that this unease has more moment in 1954 with his first flag painting, Whitney women. Gertrude’s commitment to suckers. Fantasy is deeply embedded in our DNA. to do with autonomy than benefits. Social media suggests that invention results from sustained artists and disregard for convention has inspired WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS IN companies have become increasingly effective creative thinking and logging long hours in the four generations of her descendants who have been at engineering addictiveness into their products, THE POST-DNA ERA studio rather than a single “ah ha” moment. At the part of the Museum’s leadership since its founding. leading people to use them far more than they start of the 21st century, Johns perseveres in making With the Museum in its striking new Renzo RECITAL HALL, Saturday, 11:20am-12:10pm originally intend or think is useful, and causing work that communicates surface and interior, the Piano-designed building, Flora Biddle and The Innocence Project’s mission is to free the serious damage to happiness, civility, social well inner spirit that guides external conditions, and Fiona Donovan will explore this visionary legacy. staggering number of innocent people who being, and productivity. The solution we propose the conditional, fugitive mutability of life that is a philosophy of “digital minimalism,” in which gives humanity its extraordinary poignancy. At the “YOU NEVER KNOW” — THE remain incarcerated, and to bring reform to the WORK OF DIANE ARBUS system responsible for their unjust imprisonment. technology like social media is used much same time, he continues to plunge into uncharted RECITAL HALL, Thursday, 4:20-5:10pm The Project exonerates the wrongly convicted more sparingly and much more intentionally. territory, taking risks and remaining open to new through DNA testing. Over the last 25 years, Addressing these issues are Rana Foroohar, approaches. Fiona Donovan and Carter Foster Roger McNamee and Cal Newport. explore Johns’s more recent paintings, works on Few twentieth century photographers have The Innocence Project’s team worked tirelessly shaped the way we see and understand our fellow nationwide to reform our legal system. Experts paper and sculpture—some of his most moving and challenging work—in which he investigates his humans as much as Diane Arbus. From the Nina Morrison and Ekow Yankah will elaborate 1950s through her death in 1971, Arbus bravely on their mission with the aid of Robert Jones, own earlier subject matter and personal history as well as a much broader humanist discourse. observed those around her. Her encounters one of the newly exonerated. produced an amazingly poignant and prescient view of America. Jeffrey Fraenkel, Wardell Milan “I can’t understand why people “That’s the great secret of and Elisabeth Sussman gather to discuss Arbus’ are frightened of new ideas. I’m creativity. You treat ideas like cats: iconic and lesser known works, and to address the frightened of the old ones.” you make them follow you.” continued relevance of this singular artist. “The thing that’s important to know is that you never ― John Cage ― Ray Bradbury know. You’re always sort of feeling your way.” —D.A.
12 13 2018 SPEAKERS SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
FLORA MILLER BIDDLE KURT ANDERSEN has written for television, film and is one of the treasures of the art the stage. His latest books are world. She was President of the Fantasyland: How America Went Whitney Museum of American Haywire: A 500-Year History and, Art from 1977 to 1995 and is with Alec Baldwin, You Can’t a lifetime trustee. She received Spell America Without Me. He’s also the author her BA from Manhattanville College in 1978. of several other novels, as well as nonfiction From 1980-1990, she dedicated her time to the books. He is host and co-creator of Studio 360, New York City Art Commission. Four books, the weekly cultural magazine. As an editor, he The Whitney Women and the Museum They Made, co-founded Spy magazine, served as editor- Embers, The Ads (co-authored with Fiona Donovan in-chief of New York and for Random House. and Mark Donovan), and Gertrude Vanderbilt Kurt has been a columnist for The New Yorker, Whitney, A Biography were published by Flora. New York, Time, and The New York Times. She is the granddaughter of the sculptor He serves on the boards of the Smithsonian’s Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, who founded the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum and Whitney Museum of American Art in 1931. She Pratt Institute. Kurt graduated cum laude from has four children, nine grandchildren and four Harvard, where he was an editor of the Lampoon. great-grandchildren. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and author, Anne Kreamer. VICTORIA BLAMEY was a student of history until she KONSTANTIN BATYGIN course-corrected into the and a colleague are responsible professional kitchen, leaving for killing Pluto. Perhaps feeling university to attend the guilty, they have started a International School of Culinary worldwide race to find the new Studies in Santiago, Chile. Though she came to Planet 9. You’ll learn about this cooking relatively late, Victoria immediately set astonishing competition — bigger than the World her sights on the rarefied air of fine-dining, and Cup — in his Friday afternoon session. Forbes was especially drawn to Michelin-lauded, named Dr. Batygin the “next physics rock star” in tasting-menu restaurants. She took a position at its 2015 list of “30 Under 30: Young Scientists Interlude in Melbourne, the first restaurant in the Who Are Changing the World.” He received his country to offer a degustation menu. Victoria’s bachelor’s degree in physics from University of sense of creative ambition brought her to WD-50 California, Santa Cruz in 2008, before pursuing in New York City, and ABaC in Barcelona, graduate studies at Caltech. To date, Konstantin devoting most of her time to the technically has authored over 50 scientific publications, and demanding and visually inspiring pastry. After has been featured on the pages of Nature and working with a series of inspiring chefs, she began Scientific American. Some might say he is actually creating pop-up restaurants and experiences with most famous for moonlighting as the lead singer popular chefs in both New York City and Chile. in the rock band, The Seventh Season. LISA BLOOM is founder and PREET BHARARA served owner of The Bloom Firm, a as U.S. Attorney for the civil rights law firm. In 2018 she Southern District of New York represents sexual harassment from 2009 to 2017. As U.S. and assault accusers of casino Attorney, Mr. Bharara oversaw magnate Steve Wynn, singer the investigation and litigation Trey Songz, Guess founder Paul Marciano, and of all criminal and civil cases brought on behalf Lynwood Mayor Pro Tem Edwin Hernandez. of the US in the Southern. He supervised an Host of her own national live daily talk show on office of more than 200 Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Court TV for eight years, Lisa is interviewed daily who handled a high volume of cases involving for major news outlets. Lisa was national college terrorism, narcotics and arms trafficking, financial debating champion, graduating from Yale Law and healthcare fraud, cybercrime, public corruption, School, and is the New York Times bestselling gang violence, organized crime, and civil rights author of three books. International travel and violations. In April, Mr. Bharara joined the NYU veganism are Lisa’s off-duty passions. School of Law faculty as a Distinguished Scholar in Residence. 14 15 SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
CHARLES M. BLOW is a SEAN CARROLL is a JOSEPH DESIMONE is the New York Times columnist physicist and consultant for CEO and co-founder of Carbon, and the author of Fire Shut Up the Marvel Studios blockbuster, Inc., a leading innovator in in My Bones. The memoir was Thor. In his free time Sean is a “An idea that is developed and 3D printing. Joseph was the called “honest and artful” by the research professor of Physics at put into action is more important Chancellor’s Eminent Professor Chicago Tribune. Charles joined Caltech, where his work focuses than an idea that exists only as of Chemistry at the University of The New York Times in 1994 as a graphics editor on fundamental physics and cosmology. He has an idea.” North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In June of 2016, he and quickly became the paper’s graphics director. worked on the foundations of quantum mechanics – Buddha was recognized by President Barack Obama with He graduated magna cum laude from Grambling and statistical mechanics, the emergence of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. State University, and lives in Brooklyn with his spacetime, and the evolution of complexity. He Joseph is one of fewer than twenty individuals who three children. Among Charles’s quotes are: has written several books, including The Big have been elected to all three branches of the U.S. “Our politics are overrun with characters acting Picture: On the Origins of Life, Meaning, and National Academies: the National Academy of at the behest of shadows,” “We don’t vote for the Universe Itself. His writing also extends to Medicine, the National Academy of Sciences and people because they are the exact embodiment graduate textbooks, such news publications as KRISTEN CLARKE the National Academy of Engineering. He is also a of our values, but because they are likely to be The New York Times and physics blogs. Sean is president and executive member of the American Academy of Arts and the most responsive to them,” “This is the reason has been featured on such television shows as director of the national Lawyers’ Sciences. Joseph received his B.S. in Chemistry I write, to remind people of honor and courage; Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman Committee for Civil Rights from Ursinus College and his Ph.D. in Chemistry to tell them that their cause isn’t lost, that their and has served as a science consultant for several Under Law, one of the from Virginia Tech. destiny is victory.” movies and TV shows, including Bones, Fringe, leading national civil rights and Big Hero Six. Sean Carroll received his Ph.D. organizations in the pursuit of equal justice for LUIS DIAZ is a leading NICHOLAS BURNS is from Harvard. all. Kristen served as the head of the Civil Rights authority in oncology who has professor at the Harvard Bureau for New York State where she led broad pioneered several genomic Kennedy School of Government ALTA CHARO is professor civil rights enforcement on matters including diagnostic and therapeutic and is Director of the Future of of Law and Bioethics at the criminal justice issues, education and housing approaches for cancer. He is Diplomacy Project. Prof. Burns University of Wisconsin at discrimination, voting rights, immigrants’ rights, head of the Division of Solid served in the US government for Madison. She served on gender inequality, reproductive access and LGBT Tumor Oncology at the Memorial Sloan Kettering 27 years. As a career foreign service officer, he President Obama’s transition issues. She spent several years at the NAACP Cancer Center where he specializes in the was Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, team, focusing on NIH, FDA, Legal Defense and Educational Fund and worked treatment of advanced pancreatic and colorectal US Ambassador to NATO and Ambassador to bioethics, stem cell policy, and women’s at the U.S. Department of Justice in the Civil cancers. More recently, his work has involved the Greece. At the White House he worked for five reproductive health. Alta is an elected member of Rights Division. Kristen has written numerous clinical development of tumor-derived DNA as years on the National Security Council staff where the National Academy of Medicine, where she articles and books including Barack Obama and a biomarker for cancer screening, early detection, he was Senior Director for Russia. He serves on co-chaired its Human Embryonic Stem Cell African American Empowerment: The Rise of Black monitoring and measurement of early residual the boards of several non-profit organizations, Research Advisory Committee and its Human America’s New Leadership. She received her disease. He has also harnessed the power of cancer including the Council on Foreign Relations, Genome Editing committees that drafted A.B. from Harvard University and her J.D. from mutations as potent antigens and championed the Special Olympics International, the Diplomacy national guidelines for these areas of research. Columbia Law School. use of checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of Center Foundation, the Center for the Study of She has also served on National Academy of patients with tumors with high mutational burden. JERRY COYNE is professor the Presidency and Congress, and The Trilateral Sciences and National Academy of Medicine DANIEL L. DOCTOROFF Commission. Nicholas is also a highly esteemed committees on preventing bioterrorism, ensuring emeritus in the Department of member of the Red Sox Nation. drug safety, and optimizing the childhood Ecology and Evolution at the is CEO of Sidewalk Labs, an vaccination schedule. Born in Brooklyn, New University of Chicago. Jerry’s urban innovation company he CAROL BURRIS is the York, Alta is a self-proclaimed lover of poker, scientific work has been largely launched with Google to Executive Director of the foreign language study, cats, home renovation, concerned with the genetics of improve cities for residents, Network for Public Education, a Harry Potter books, old movies, roller coasters, species differences, aimed at understanding the businesses and city governments. national organization dedicated salsa music, Jane Austen novels and Star Trek. evolutionary processes that produce new species. Prior to founding Sidewalk he was president and to supporting and improving His first trade book — Why Evolution is True CEO of Bloomberg L.P. Dan has also served public education. For 15 years, — presented the evidence for evolution and as deputy mayor for economic development and she served as principal of South Side High School “Often the difference between became a New York Times bestseller. Jerry writes rebuilding for the City of New York. With in Rockville Centre, New York. Her work in a successful person and a failure is a popular blog, Why Evolution is True. It deals not Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Dan led the city’s public education has led her to be recognized by not that one has better abilities or only with the latest research in evolutionary dramatic economic resurgence, spearheading New York School Administrators Association and ideas, but the courage that one biology, but also a panoply of unrelated issues, the effort to reverse New York’s fiscal crisis NASSP. Carol has co-authored two books on has to bet on one’s ideas, to take including philosophy, politics, food, and… cats. after 9/11 through a five-borough economic educational equity and written a third, On the a calculated risk – and to act.” Jerry received a B.S. in Biology from the College development strategy, including the creation of of William and Mary and a Ph.D. in evolutionary PlaNYC, a 127-point plan designed to create the Same Track: How Schools Can Join the 21st Century – Andre Malraux Struggle Against Re-Segregation. Her ideas on biology from Harvard University. first environmentally sustainable 21st-century city. public education appear in numerous journal articles and blogs on the Washington Post.
16 17 SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
MARJORY FISHER is JEFFREY FRAENKEL DOUGLAS HARRIS “An idea is salvation by imagination.” Columbia University’s Title IX is founder of the Fraenkel is Professor of Economics at – Frank Lloyd Wright Coordinator, responsible for Gallery in San Francisco. Tulane University. He founded monitoring the university’s Since founding Fraenkel Gallery the Education Research policies and procedures for in San Francisco in 1979, Jeffrey Alliance for New Orleans, which FIONA DONOVAN resolving sexual and gender- has presented more than 350 works with a variety of local serves on based misconduct, harassment, and other the board of the Whitney exhibitions about photography and its relation to community organizations to study and improve complaints under Title IX, the federal law that the other arts. He works with museums and the unprecedented post-Katrina school reforms. Museum of American Art and is prohibits sex discrimination in federally-funded a teacher and writer. Fiona is the private collectors around the world, and is the He is also Director of the newly formed National educational institutions. She was formerly Bureau primary representative for several key Center for Research on Education Access and author of Rubens and England Chief of the Special Victims Bureau in the and Jasper Johns: Pictures within photographers from the medium’s history, Choice. Both centers provide objective, rigorous, Queens District Attorney’s Office for 22 years. including Diane Arbus, Robert Adams, Lee and useful research about market-based school Pictures. She has worked at the Leo Castelli Fisher has been a St. John’s University Law Gallery, the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, the Friedlander, Ralph Eugene Meatyard and Garry reforms, including charter schools and school School Adjunct Professor, where she taught a Winogrand. Jeffrey has served on the Board of vouchers. In two decades of studying school reform, Minneapolis Institute of Art and the Whitney course on Sexual Assault and Family Violence. Museum of American Art. As the great- Directors of the Art Dealers Association of he has become known for taking on controversial She earned her Juris Doctor from George America and on the Board of the Association topics, highlighting uncomfortable realities and granddaughter of founder Gertrude Vanderbilt Washington University’s National Law Center. Whitney, Fiona grew up alongside the Whitney of International Photography Art Dealers. His studying novel solutions. He is currently working Museum of American Art. She received her Ph.D. writings about his experiences as an art dealer on a new book about the New Orleans school RANA FOROOHAR is in art history from Columbia University. and publisher appear in the anthology The Book reforms. Harris is also a non-resident Senior Fellow Global Business Columnist and of 101 Books: Seminal Photographic Books of the at the Brookings Institution. an Associate Editor at the JOHN DONVAN Twentieth Century. CHRISTOPHER HILL is a veteran Financial Times. She is also is JULIA GREER network correspondent for ABC, CNN’s global economic analyst. is professor of former US Ambassador to CNN and PBS, and moderator In 2016, she wrote the acclaimed Materials Science, Mechanics, Iraq, South Korea, Poland and of the Intelligence Squared U.S. book Makers and Takers: The Rise of Finance and and Medical Engineering at Macedonia. He also served as Debates. As a reporter, John has the Fall of American Business. Previously, Rana Caltech. Julia’s work operates on Assistant Secretary of State for served as chief White House worked at Time as an assistant managing editor the fact that for centuries, East Asian and Pacific Affairs correspondent for ABC, and held multiyear and economic columnist, and at Newsweek as a whenever we require materials during which time he was also headed the US postings in London, Moscow, Jerusalem and foreign correspondent covering Europe and the that are strong, they also end up being heavy. delegation to the Six Party Talks on the North Amman, Jordan. He is the winner of four Emmys Middle East. During that time, she was awarded Julia’s work seeks to find out how we can create Korean nuclear issue. In addition, Chris served and the Overseas Press Club Award, and was the German Marshall Fund’s Peter Weitz Prize stronger materials that are also lightweight. Her as a Special Assistant to the President and a named a 2017 Pulitzer Prize Finalist for his New for transatlantic reporting. She is also a life research combines architectural design, materials Senior Director on the National Security Council. York Times bestselling book, In a Different Key: member of the Council on Foreign Relations. science, and nanotechnology. Throughout her He is currently the Chief Advisor to the The Story of Autism. The New York Times Book Rana graduated from Barnard College. scientific career, Julia has also been pursuing her Chancellor for Global Engagement and Professor Review described it as “crafted like a tightly edited “secondary career” as a concert pianist. “For of the Practice in Diplomacy at the University of CARTER FOSTER news special: The prose is vivid, the tempo rapid is the example, I love music. I play the piano a lot. I also Denver, where he offers courses on the principles and the perspective intimate, as if each character Deputy Director for Curatorial love rollerblading and hiking and interacting with of and current trends in diplomacy and foreign has been filmed with a hand-held camera.” Affairs at the Blanton Museum people. So all of these experiences and aspects of policy. Ambassador Hill received the State of Art in Austin. In a museum my life form who I am. Whatever shapes you into Department’s Distinguished Service Award for his ELIZABETH ECONOMY is career spanning almost who you are makes you a more complete person, contributions as a member of the U.S. negotiating Senior Fellow and Director for twenty-five years, Carter has and from that comes a better scientist.” team in the Bosnia peace settlement. He speaks Asia Studies, Council on Foreign specialized in the history of drawing and the Polish, Serbo-Croatian, and Macedonian. Relations. She has published continuities of artistic practice in Europe and widely on both Chinese America from the Renaissance to the present, and domestic and foreign policy. Her has organized dozens of exhibitions covering this most recent book, with Michael Levi, is By All range. A specialist on the work of Edward Means Necessary: How China’s Resource Quest is Hopper, he organized the 2013 Paris’ Grand “An idea that is not dangerous Changing the World. Elizabeth has also published Palais exhibition Hopper Drawing. Carter also is unworthy of being called an idea articles in foreign policy and scholarly journals. writes extensively on post-war and contemporary at all.” She served as vice chair of WEF’s Global Agenda American art. He was part of a four-member Council on the Future of China. She is also on the curatorial team that created the inaugural – Oscar Wilde advisory council of Network 20/20 and the collection display for the Whitney Museum’s new science advisory council of the Stockholm building: America is Hard to See. He has held Environment Forum. Elizabeth received her BA curatorial positions at the Philadelphia Museum with honors from Swarthmore College, her AM of Art, the Cleveland Museum of Art, the from Stanford University, and her PhD from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the University of Michigan. Whitney Museum of American Art. 18 19 SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
SAMUEL ISSACHAROFF STEFANIE JOHO maintains is professor of Constitutional “A man may die, nations may rise an active practice as a consultant, “An invasion of armies can be Law at New York University advocate, motivational and and fall, but an idea lives on. Ideas School of Law. His research resisted, but not an idea whose have endurance without death.” educational speaker. She has time has come.” deals with issues in civil battled and survived metastatic – John F. Kennedy procedure, law and economics, cancer as a young adult, which – Victor Hugo employment law and constitutional law, set her on an entirely new life trajectory. Today, particularly with regard to voting rights and her work and advocacy encompass a variety of electoral systems. He is one of the pioneers in the areas, including aiding in the design/construction/ law of the political process and one of the delivery of clinical trial protocols, patient co-authors of the seminal Law of Democracy education and empowerment, improving the HENRY KISSINGER is casebook. His work on procedure includes serving delivery of care, and facilitating patients becoming the former Secretary of State. as the Reporter for the Project on Aggregate “partners of science.” She has appeared before MARGOT HIRSCH is At present, Dr. Kissinger is Litigation of the American Law Institute. He is government, legislative, and regulatory bodies President of Smart Tech Chairman of Kissinger the author of more than 100 books, articles and to underscore the importance of maintaining Challenges Foundation, a Associates, Inc., an international other academic works. Sam is also a Fellow of the funding necessary to advance knowledge from nonprofit organization formed in consulting firm. He is also a American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He basic science through the delivery of new 2013 to reduce gun violence member of the International Council of J.P. spent the early part of his career as a voting rights treatment modalities. Ms. Joho is a graduate of through innovations in gun Morgan Chase & Co. and a Counselor to and lawyer. Sam is a graduate of the Yale Law School. New York University and resides in Philadelphia. safety technologies. Margot mentors the CEOs of Trustee of the Center for Strategic and JEH JOHNSON the start-ups seeking to transform the firearms is the former ROBERT JONES is a International Studies. Previously, he served as market, as well as informs the public on emerging U.S. Secretary of Homeland 44-year-old African American Assistant to the President for National Security gun safety technologies. The leading national Security. He now practices law native of New Orleans, and an Affairs, chair of the National Bipartisan spokesperson on smart gun technologies, Margot at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton exoneree with the Innocence Commission on Central America until it ceased has shared her insights with the White House and & Garrison. As Secretary of Project. Robert was arrested at operation and as a member of the President’s has presented at the Aspen Institute, the US Homeland Security, Jeh was the age 19 for crimes he did not Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. Dr. Conference of Mayors and Fortune Brainstorm head of the third largest cabinet department of commit. He was found guilty as an innocent man Kissinger was also member of the Commission on Tech. Previously, Margot was a senior executive the U.S. government. His responsibilities as and was sentenced to serve life plus 121 years. Integrated Long-Term Strategy of the National at a variety of tech companies. She held positions Secretary included counterterrorism, cybersecurity, While Robert was incarcerated he re-educated Security Council and Defense Department and at Blackboard, Inc., Skillsoft, Global Village and aviation security, border security, port security, himself by obtaining his GED, then learning law, a member of the Defense Policy Board. He is also American Express. maritime security, protection of our national business and political science. He was also an a Nobel Laureate and an author of 18 books. leaders, the detection of chemical, biological and inmate lawyer and organization leader amongst Dr. Kissinger was born in Germany, came to the ROBERT HORMATS, nuclear threats to the homeland, and response to other prisoners. After serving 23 years on a United States and was naturalized a United States former Under Secretary of State natural disasters. Prior to becoming Secretary of wrongful conviction, Robert is now a free man citizen. He graduated summa cum laude from for Economic Growth, Energy Homeland Security, Jeh was General Counsel of who has been cleared of all charges. He is a Harvard College and received M.A. and Ph.D. and Environment, is current the Department of Defense. In that position, he is motivational speaker, a well-known community degrees from Harvard University. Vice Chairman of Kissinger credited with being the legal architect for the U.S. activist and one of the co-founders of the Associates. Bob was previously MICHAEL KRAMER is a military’s counterterrorism efforts in the Obama Free-Dem Foundations, Inc., a nonprofit vice chairman of Goldman Sachs for 25 years. playwright, an award-winning Administration. Secretary of Defense Robert organization that mentors and guides youth in He has served as Assistant Secretary of State for political columnist, and author. Gates wrote that Jeh “proved to be the finest his community. Robert is a co-author of the Economic and Business Affairs, Ambassador and As New York Magazine’s lawyer I ever worked with in government — a book Unbreakable Resolve: Triumphant Stories, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, and as a senior political columnist, he covered straightforward, plain-speaking man of great of Three True Gentlemen. staff member for International Economic Affairs integrity, with common sense to burn and a good local and national politics. For a on the National Security Council. He has worked sense of humor.” He is a graduate of Morehouse decade, he was Time Magazine’s political extensively in Western Europe, China, India, College and Columbia Law School. columnist, covering national and foreign affairs. Russia, the Middle East and South East Asia. He was also chief political correspondent for U.S. His areas of expertise and experience include News and World Report and managing editor of international trade and investment, intellectual the New York Daily News. Michael was the editor property, foreign investment in the US, protection and publisher of More, the media magazine and of trade secrets and global energy issues. Bob’s editor of Content, a short-lived magazine about publications include The Price of Liberty: Paying the news business. Along with winning numerous for America’s Wars from the Revolution to the War “If at first the idea is not absurd, print journalism awards, Michael has co-authored on Terror and Abraham Lincoln and the Global then there is no hope for it.” two books: The Ethnic Factor and I Never Wanted Economy. He earned a BA from Tufts University – Albert Einstein to be Vice President of Anything, a biography of and an MA and a PhD in International Nelson Rockefeller nominated for a Pulitzer. Economics from the Fletcher School of Law He is a graduate of Amherst and the Columbia and Diplomacy at Tufts. Law School. 20 21 SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
MITCH LANDRIEU WYNTON MARSALIS HAROLD McGEE writes inherited a city in turmoil when Born in New Orleans in 1961, about the chemistry of food and he was sworn in as New Orleans he began his classical training on cooking. He studied literature “I had a monumental idea this mayor in 2010. The city and its trumpet at age 12 and entered at Caltech undergraduate and morning, but I didn’t like it.” people were still recovering The Juilliard School at age 17. Yale graduate school, where from Hurricane Katrina and Mr. Marsalis has since recorded he also taught. In 1984 he – Samuel Goldwyn were in the midst of the BP oil spill. The city was more than 80 jazz and classical recordings, won published the first edition of his prize-winning on the brink of bankruptcy, had the highest-in- nine Grammy awards and sold over 7 million reference book, On Food & Cooking: The Science & the-nation murder rate, and a police department copies worldwide. He became the first and only Lore of the Kitchen. The book is used widely in under federal investigation. Today, New Orleans artist to win both classical and jazz Grammy awards food science courses at many universities. In is recognized as one of the nation’s great in the same year, and is the only artist ever to win 2008, Time Magazine named Dr. McGee to its comeback stories. The economy is growing and Grammys in five consecutive years. He became the annual list of the world’s most influential people. JAY KRIEGEL is Senior diversifying, has the highest credit in the city’s first jazz artist to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize in He has published original research in Nature Advisor for the Related history, reformed the police department and Music. Mr. Marsalis is an internationally respected and Physics Today, and written many articles for Companies, developer of drove down the city’s record number of homicides. educator, a leading advocate of American culture, magazines and newspapers. Hudson Yards, the largest project He gained national prominence for his powerful and a recipient of honorary doctorates from over 25 in NYC history. He was Mayor decision to take down four Confederate of America’s top academic institutions. He helped ROGER McNAMEE‘s John V. Lindsay’s Chief of Staff monuments in New Orleans, which helped earn lead the effort to construct Jazz at Lincoln Center’s career as a technology investor from 1966 to 1973. Kriegel ran New York’s bid to him the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage home— the first education, performance, and began in 1982 at T. Rowe Price host the 2012 Olympic Games and co-founded Award. He recently served as president of the broadcast facility devoted to jazz, which opened its Associates, where he managed The American Lawyer magazine. He serves on the U.S. Conference of Mayors. doors in October 2004. the top performing Science & boards of Prep for Prep, New Visions for Public Technology Fund. Beginning Schools, and The After School Corporation. ROBERT LANG has been SAFWAN M. MASRI is in 1991, he co-founded three firms — Integral an avid student of origami for Executive Vice President for Capital Partners, Silver Lake Partners and ITAMAR KUBOVY Before nearly 50 years and is now Global Centers and Global Elevation Partners — all of which successfully joining Pilobolus as its first recognized as one of the world’s Development at Columbia pioneered new approaches to investing in tech. Executive Creative Director in leading masters of the art. He University. Prof. Masri is Mr. McNamee is the author of one book, The New 2004, Mr. Kubovy studied is noted for designs of great responsible for the development Normal, and editor of eight others. He has served philosophy at Yale, ran theaters detail and realism, and includes in his repertoire of an expanding network of Columbia Global as a technical advisor for four seasons of HBO’s in Germany and Sweden, some of the most complex origami designs ever Centers, located in Amman, Beijing, Istanbul, Silicon Valley series. He serves on the boards directed plays by John Guare, co-directed the 2002 created. Lang is one of the pioneers of the Mumbai, Nairobi, Paris, Rio de Janeiro and of the Haight Street Art Center, the Center for season finale of “The West Wing,” and made a film, cross-disciplinary marriage of origami with Santiago. The Centers promote and facilitate Counterculture Studies, and the Rock ‘n’ Roll “Upheaval,” starring Frances McDormand. At mathematics. His work combines aspects of the the engagement of faculty, students, and alumni Hall of Fame. He is also a professional musician, Pilobolus, he increased the Pilobolus brand Western school of mathematical origami design with the world, address global challenges, and performing 50 to 125 concerts a year in footprint to over 1 billion people around the world with the Eastern emphasis upon line and form. advance knowledge and its exchange. He has Moonalice and the Doobie Decibel System. digitally, and where over 5 million people live in His work has been exhibited in museums around been Director of the Columbia Global Centers | DANIEL MENDELSOHN 69 countries. Highlights of Mr. Kubovy’s career the world, including Paris, Los Angeles, Japan Amman since its founding in 2009. with Pilobolus include an Emmy nomination and New York City (MoMA). He is the author is an internationally bestselling JESSICA TUCHMAN author, critic, essayist and and commissions from Oprah, Ellen, Stephen or co-author of seventeen books and numerous MATHEWS Colbert, MTV and the Queen of England. articles on origami. is a distinguished translator. He writes frequently fellow at the Carnegie for the New Yorker and New CHARLES C. MANN’s CORBY KUMMER is a senior Endowment for International York Review of Books and has editor of The Atlantic, editor- most recent book is The Wizard Peace. She served as Carnegie’s been a columnist for BBC Culture, New York, in-chief of Ideas: The Magazine and the Prophet. His previous president for 18 years. Before her Harpers, and the New York Times Book Review. of the Aspen Institute, restaurant two books were 1491 and 1493, appointment in 1997, her career included posts in His most recent memoir, An Odyssey: A Father, critic of Boston Magazine and which was a New York Times both the executive and legislative branches of a Son, and an Epic, published in 2017, was Atlanta Magazine, columnist best-seller. He has co-written government, in management and research in the shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize and named on food and food policy for The New Republic, four other books and has also written for nonprofit arena, and in journalism and science a Best Book of the Year by NPR, Library Journal, frequent contributor to other magazines including television. A correspondent for The Atlantic policy. She was director of the Council on Foreign Kirkus, and Newsday. His other books include Technology Review, The New York Times, and Monthly, Science, and Wired, Mr. Mann has Relations’ Washington program and a senior two memoirs, The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Vanity Fair, and author of The Joy of Coffee and covered the intersection of science, technology, fellow from 1994 to 1997. Ms. Mathews is a Million (2006) and The Elusive Embrace (1999); The Pleasures of Slow Food. and commerce for many newspapers and member of the Harvard Corporation, the senior two collections of essays; and a translation, magazines here and abroad. governing board of Harvard University. She has with commentary, of the complete poems of served as a trustee of leading national and Constantine Cavafy. He teaches literature at international nonprofits including, currently, the Bard College. Nuclear Threat Initiative.
22 23 SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
WARDELL MILAN TREVOR MORRISON is ROBERT PICONI is Throughout his practice, Wardell currently the Dean and Eric M. Co-Founder and Chief “If you have an apple and I have an Milan sustains a thoughtful and Laurie B. Roth Professor Executive Officer of Energy apple and we exchange these apples inquiry into the nature of beauty of Law at New York University Vault, based in Lugano, then you and I will still each have and the unconscious, touching School of Law. He spent 2009 in Switzerland, that focuses on the one apple. But if you have an idea on topics such as body the White House, where he development of renewable and I have an idea and we exchange modification and gender performance. From a served as associate counsel to President Barack energy storage solutions. His experience includes these ideas, then each of us will recent group of significant works on paper, Mr. Obama. He is a member of the American Law prior executive leadership roles in Fortune have two ideas.” Milan takes a journey through the history of Institute and the U.S. State Department’s 100 public companies. He also founded and photography – invoking Henri Cartier-Bresson, Advisory Committee on International Law. Prior – George Bernard Shaw developed several innovative healthcare service Nobuyoshi Araki, Robert Mapplethorpe, and to becoming NYU Dean he was a professor at and solution companies within the European others – seeking out compositional ideas and Columbia Law School and held many posts in market. Mr. Piconi completed his undergraduate physiognomic cues in an array of iconic imagery. the Justice Department. studies at the University of Notre Dame and Works by the artist may be found in many his graduate MBA studies at Northwestern museum collections in the US and Europe, SARAH MOSER is Assistant CAL NEWPORT specializes University’s Kellogg School of Management. including of The Art Institute of Chicago; Professor of Geography at in the theory of distributed He resides with his wife and 8 children in Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago; McGill University in Montreal, algorithms. In addition to Lugano, Switzerland. Denver Art Museum; Brooklyn Museum, New where she is the Director of the studying the theoretical PILOBOLUS York; Hessel Museum of Art, Bard College, New Urban Studies Program. She foundations of our digital age, For 45 years, York; The Museum of Modern Art, New York; is interested in the global Prof. Newport writes about Pilobolus has tested the limits of The Morgan Library & Museum, New York; The phenomenon of constructing new cities from the impact of these technologies on the world human physicality to explore the Studio Museum in Harlem, New York; Whitney scratch and has conducted research and published of work. His most recent book, the best-seller beauty and the power of Museum of American Art, New York; UBS Art on new city projects in Malaysia, Indonesia, United Deep Work, argues that focus is the new I.Q. in connected bodies. Pilobolus Collection; Daniel & Florence Guerlain Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. Sarah’s current the knowledge economy, and that individuals brings decades of expertise Contemporary Art Foundation, Paris; Hall Art research examines China’s new city projects in the who cultivate their ability to concentrate without telling stories with the human form to show Foundation; and San Francisco Museum of Indian ocean and the geopolitical implications of distraction will thrive. His previous book, diverse communities, brands, and organizations Modern Art. Milan lives and works in New York. urbanizing the oceans. Ms. Moser has held So Good They Can’t Ignore You, argues that “follow how to maximize group creativity, solve problems, create surprise, and generate joy through the NINA MORRISON fellowships at the Massachusetts Institute of your passion” is bad advice. Since its publication, is a Technology (Aga Khan Program for Islamic it has been selected for several best business power of nonverbal communication. Pilobolus has Senior Staff Attorney at the Architecture) and the Center for Urban and books-of-the-year lists. Prof. Newport is also the created and toured over 120 pieces of repertory to Innocence Project. She Global Studies at Trinity College. Sarah has author of three books of unconventional advice for more than 65 countries, performing for over represents prisoners from around written three forthcoming books: New Master- students: How to Be a High School Superstar, How 300,000 people across the U.S. and around the the nation seeking to prove Planned Cities, Islam, and Identity; the Research to Become a Straight-A Student, and How to Win at world each year. their claims of actual innocence Handbook on Asian Cities; and the Atlas of College. He earned his Ph.D. from MIT in 2009 under state and federal law. In her 16 years at the New Cities. and graduated from Dartmouth College in 2004. Innocence Project, Ms. Morrison has been lead “There are some ideas so wrong or co-counsel for 27 individuals who have been NEHA NARULA Neha Narula JOE NOCERA is a that only a very intelligent person freed from death row or lengthy prison sentences is the Director of the Digital Bloomberg View columnist. could believe in them.” based on newly discovered exculpatory evidence, Currency Initiative, a part of the He was formerly a staff writer including but not limited to DNA evidence. She MIT Media Lab focusing on for The New York Times before – George Orwell also serves as a spokesperson for the Innocence cryptocurrencies and blockchain moving to the op-ed page in Project’s efforts to educate the public about technology. While completing a 2011. The focus for most of the causes of wrongful convictions and how to PhD in computer science at MIT, she built fast, his career has been on business, including reform the justice system. Her work has also been scalable distributed systems and databases. She is 10 years as a writer and editor at Fortune, as well featured in two award-winning documentary a member of the World Economic Forum’s as a business columnist for Esquire and GQ films. Ms. Morrison is a 1992 graduate of Yale Global Futures Council on Blockchain. In a magazines, a contributing writer for Newsweek, University and a 1998 graduate of New York previous life, Ms. Narula helped relaunch the and a writer and editor at Texas Monthly and The University School of Law. news aggregator Digg and was a senior software Washington Monthly. Mr. Nocera is the author engineer at Google. There, she designed Blobstore, of four books: A Piece of The Action (1994); Good “Great minds discuss ideas. Average a system for storing and serving petabytes of Guys and Bad Guys: Behind the Scenes with the minds discuss events. Small minds immutable data, and worked on Native Client, a Saints and Scoundrels of American Business (2008); discuss people.” way to run native code securely through a browser. All The Devils Are Here: The Hidden History of the Financial Crisis, co-authored with Bethany – Eleanor Roosevelt McLean. (2010); and Indentured: The Inside Story of the Rebellion Against the NCAA, with co-author Ben Strauss. It was published in February 2016.
24 25 SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
MICHAEL POLLAN MARK REUSS leads the DAVID SANGER is a is the author of the new book design, engineering, safety, national security correspondent How to Change Your Mind: What quality, research and and a New York Times senior the New Science of Psychedelics development, advanced vehicle writer. In a 36-year reporting “The difficulty lies not so much in Teaches Us About Consciousness, technology and program career for the Times, he has developing new ideas as in escaping Dying, Addiction, Depression, management of General Motors been on three teams that have from old ones.” and Transcendence. A contributing writer to The cars, trucks and crossovers around the world. He won Pulitzer Prizes, most recently in 2017 – John Maynard Keynes New York Times Magazine since 1987, his also is a member of the GM Executive for international reporting. His newest book, writing has received numerous awards. In 2010, Leadership Team. From 2009-2013, Mr. Reuss The Perfect Weapon: War, Sabotage and Fear Pollan was named to the 2010 TIME 100, the was President of General Motors North America, in the Cyber Age, examines the emergence of magazine’s annual list of the world’s 100 most responsible for GM’s performance, manufacturing, cyberconflict as the primary way large and small influential people. In addition to teaching at portfolio and dealer network. Under his watch, states are competing and undercutting each other, Harvard and UC Berkeley, he lectures widely on GM’s North America region produced consistent changing the nature of global power. He is also food, agriculture, health and the environment. profits and improved margins during a product the author of two Times best sellers on foreign BRET STEPHENS, winner Mr. Pollan grew up on Long Island and was renaissance featuring a slate of award-winning policy and national security. For The Times, of the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for educated at Bennington College, Oxford vehicles. A lifelong auto enthusiast, he is a Mr. Sanger has served as Tokyo bureau chief, commentary, is an op-ed University, and Columbia University, from which certified industry pool test driver on the North Washington economic correspondent, White columnist for The New York he received a Master’s in English. He lives in the Course of the Nürburgring Motorsport Racetrack House correspondent during the Clinton and Times. He previously served as Bay Area with his wife, the painter Judith Belzer. in Germany, and is licensed for FIA C and IMSA Bush administrations, and chief Washington editor-in-chief of the Jerusalem Road Racing. Mr. Reuss is a mechanical engineer correspondent. Mr. Sanger spent six years in AKSHAT RATHI Post and deputy editorial-page editor of the is a who began his GM career as a student intern in Tokyo, writing about the emergence of Japan Wall Street Journal, where he also wrote the London-based reporter for 1983. He holds a bachelor of engineering degree as a major American competitor, and then the foreign-affairs column and served on the editorial Quartz, where he covers science, from Vanderbilt University and a master of country’s humbling recession. He wrote many of board. He has reported stories from around the energy, environment and climate business administration from Duke University. the first articles about North Korea’s emerging world and interviewed scores of world leaders. change. He has a PhD in organic nuclear weapons program. Mr. Stephens was raised in Mexico City, educated chemistry from the University JERRY SALTZ was awarded LESLEY STAHL at the University of Chicago and the London of Oxford, and a BTech in chemical engineering the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for , 60 Minutes School of Economics, and holds three honorary from the Institute of Chemical Technology in Criticism. In 2015, he won the correspondent, is one of doctorates. He lives in New York City with Mumbai. In 2018, Dr. Rathi won Journalist of National Magazine Award for America’s most honored and his family. the Year at the Drum’s Online Media Awards Criticism. He has lectured experienced broadcast ceremony and he was shortlisted for British widely, including at Harvard journalists. Her rich career has KAI STINCHCOMBE is Science Writer of the Year by the Association of University, the Museum of Modern Art, the been marked by political scoops, co-founder and CEO of True British Science Writers. He has won fellowships Guggenheim Museum, and the Whitney surprising features and award-winning foreign Link Financial, a financial from Columbia University and City University Museum of American Art. He has taught at reporting, Ms. Stahl landed the first post-election services firm focused on the of New York. Dr. Rathi has worked at The Columbia University, Yale University, Rhode television interview with Donald Trump in diverse needs of today’s retirees Economist and the Royal Society of Chemistry. Island School of Design, The School of the Art November 2016. She followed this up with an — addressing longevity, His writings have been published in Nature, Institute of Chicago, among many others. interview with Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin long-term care costs, cognitive aging, and The Hindu, The Guardian and others. Netanyahu on how one of America’s crucial allies investment, insurance, and banking. He was would work with the new administration. Prior to previously cofounder of Aktana, an enterprise joining 60 Minutes, Ms. Stahl served as CBS sales effectiveness software company deployed News White House correspondent — the first at seven of the top ten pharma companies, the woman to hold that job — during the Carter and second employee at LendUp, a provider of Reagan presidencies and part of the term of high-quality credit to underbanked Americans, George H. W. Bush. founder of Strategic Districts, a distributed computing solution for redistricting, and founder of the Roosevelt Institute, a university-based “We’ve had three big ideas at public policy think tank. Mr. Stinchcombe holds Amazon that we’ve stuck with for degrees from Colorado College and Stanford 18 years, and they’re the reason University, is a frequent speaker on innovation we’re successful: Put the customer and product development, and was a member of first. Invent. And be patient.” the President’s Working Group on Aging and Technology under President Obama. He is a – Jeff Bezos noted blockchain skeptic, with articles published in six languages.
26 27 SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
JOEL VIEHLAND began JOSEPH WALSTON is the FAYE WATTLETON is a working in restaurant kitchens Vice President for Global former president and CEO of at 16. He cooked at such Conservation of the Wildlife Planned Parenthood, the nation’s “Men are strong only so long as they award-winning restaurants as Conservation Society, overseeing oldest and largest voluntary represent a strong idea. They become New York’s Gramercy Tavern, WCS’s portfolio of field-based reproductive health provider, She powerless when they oppose it.” Noma in Copenhagen, and programs across 60 countries in was the youngest, first woman, – Sigmund Freud Herbsaint and Bayona in New Orleans before Africa, Asia, North America, Latin America and first African American, and longest tenured becoming the opening chef at Community Table Caribbean as well as the Marine realm and the professional to hold this position. She has been in Connecticut in 2010. It was there that he Wildlife Health and Health Policy Program. He one of the strongest champions of women’s rights began his focus on locally sourced New England has spent 15 years living in South East Asia and reproductive health. Her distinguished career ingredients, emphasizing seasonal simplicity, (Vietnam and Cambodia), the Congo Basin spans more than three decades, during which ELISABETH SUSSMAN depth of flavor and purity of flavor. During his (Gabon), and Southern Africa (Zambia) before she has amassed an extraordinary track record for joined the Whitney Museum five years there, it was nominated for three James moving to New York in 2010. Mr. Walston began leadership, both as a CEO of national not-for- as a Curator in 1991 and was Beard Awards, including Best New Restaurant with WCS in 1999 to help establish the WCS profit organizations and serving on the boards named the Sondra Gilman and Best Chef New England. His new restaurant, Cambodia Program and lead the first nationwide of public and private corporations, academic Curator of Photography in 2004. Swyft, opened in Kent, Conn., in fall 2017; also surveys of Cambodian forests since the Khmer institutions and high-impact philanthropic She oversees the collection of in Kent, Ore Hill will open in late 2018. Rouge, which resulted in his being awarded the organizations. Ms. Wattleton recently joined photography and the running of the Photography DARREN WALKER country’s highest civilian honor. He has published Buffkin/Baker as a Partner. She was formally a on species strategies, such as a multi-authored Managing Director of Alvarez & Marsal. Acquisition Committee, organizes special and is President of the Ford touring exhibitions, and is currently co-curating the analysis on the future of tigers in the wild. Ms. Wattleton holds 14 honorary degrees. Foundation, the nation’s second Joe also has a specific interest in bat conservation Whitney Biennial and an exhibition of the work of largest philanthropy, and for two MIKE WEISSER Nick Mauss. She co-curated the Whitney Biennial and he sits on the board of Bat Conservation has been decades has been a leader in the International. In 2012, a new species of involved with the gun business 2012, curated the Whitney Biennial 1993, and has nonprofit and philanthropic curated or co-curated many major exhibitions. tube-nosed bat was named Murina Walston in since 1965, when he first sectors. He led the philanthropy committee that recognition of his conservation efforts. worked in a relative’s gun WILLIAM TAUBMAN helped bring a resolution to the city of Detroit’s is KEN WASHINGTON factory in North Carolina, then the author of the just-published historic bankruptcy and chairs the U.S. Alliance is operated a Smith & Wesson law Gorbachev: His Life and Times. on Impact Investing. Prior to joining Ford, he was vice president of Research and enforcement distributorship in South Carolina, His biography, Khrushchev: Vice President at the Rockefeller Foundation Advanced Engineering and then operated a sporting goods distributorship The Man and His Era, won the where he managed the Rebuild New Orleans chief technology officer, Ford in New York City, and then a retail gun dealer, Pulitzer Prize and the National initiative after Hurricane Katrina. He serves as Motor Co. He is leading Ford’s manufacturer and importer in Massachusetts. Book Critics Circle Award for biography. He also a trustee of Carnegie Hall, New York City Ballet, massive effort in developing and He currently conducts lethal force certifications wrote Stalin’s American Policy: From Entente to the High Line and the Arcus Foundation. In commercializing autonomous vehicles, to be for the Department of Homeland Security and Détente to Cold War, and co-authored Moscow 2016, TIME magazine named him to its annual on the road by 2021. Prior to joining Ford, he the Energy Department. He has published seven Spring with his wife, Jane Taubman, retired list of the “100 Most Influential People in the had executive roles at Lockheed Martin Space books on the gun business, wrote a weekly column Amherst College professor of Russian. He chairs World.” He is a member of the Council on Systems and Sandia National Laboratories. for Huffington Post and has written over 1,000 the Academic Advisory Committee of the Foreign Relations, the American Academy of Dr. Washington has bachelor’s, master’s and columns on his own blog, “Mike, the Gun Guy.” Cold War International History Project at the Arts and Sciences and the recipient of ten doctorate degrees in nuclear engineering from Receiving a PhD from Northwestern, he Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington. He has honorary degrees. Texas A&M. later became a vice president at MassMutual received the Order of Friendship of the Russian Financial Services. Federation. He lives in Amherst, Massachusetts.
HAROLD VARMUS, co-recipient of the Nobel Prize for studies of the genetic basis of cancer, became the Lewis “Everyone who’s ever taken a shower Thomas University Professor has an idea. It’s the person who gets at the Meyer Cancer Center at out of the shower, dries off and does Weill Cornell Medicine in April 2015. Formerly something about it who makes a he served as Director of the National Cancer difference.” Institute and as Director of the National Institutes – Nolan Bushnell of Health. He is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine. He is the author of over 350 scientific papers and five books, including a recent memoir, The Art and Politics of Science.
28 29 SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES CHARITABLE GRANTS 2018
FRANK WISNER JAMES D. ZIRIN is an is a leading One of the principal missions of KentPresents is to support local charitable organizations, primarily those International Affairs Advisor litigator, having served as an that serve people in need. Last year, we made contributions to 38 such charities. Many of them say that at Squire Patton Boggs. A career Assistant United States the KentPresents grants have had lasting impacts on both their organizations and the people they reach. diplomat with the personal Attorney for the Southern rank of Career Ambassador, he District of New York and in the Since the inception of KentPresents, Ken Cooper has done an outstanding job of organizing and running served as Ambassador to India Criminal Division under the the committee of Litchfield residents who meet six times a year to solicit applications for grants and from 1994-1997. Additionally, he held the legendary Robert M. Morgenthau. He has then make the difficult choices of to whom and how much. Thanks also to members of theKentPresents positions of Ambassador to Zambia (1979-82), represented clients for over 40 years in some of Provides Committee: Egypt (1986-91) and the Philippines (1991-92). the most notorious financial scandals of our time. Mr. Wisner has served in a number of positions Mr. Zirin is the author of two books, The Mother Catherine Bachrach Jim Blackketter Mardee Cavallaro Ken Cooper, Chair in the U.S. government, including Undersecretary Court—Tales of Cases That Mattered in America’s Rev. Jack Gilpin Gige Hernandez Cynthia Hill Allan Priaulx of Defense for Policy (1993-94), Undersecretary Greatest Trial Court, and Supremely Partisan— Leah Pullaro Janet Rivkin Patsy Stroble Kevin Umeh of State for International Security Affairs How Raw Politics Tips the Scales in the United Rabbi Burt Visotzky Rev. Roger White (1992-93), Senior Deputy Assistant Secretary for States Supreme Court. Jim is the host and producer African Affairs (1982-86), and Deputy Executive of the critically acclaimed cable television talk Secretary of the Department of State (1977). show, “Conversations in the Digital Age,” Berkshire Taconic Community Gathering Place of Torrington Kent Volunteer Fire Department Foundation-Jane Lloyd Fund After leaving government service, Mr. Wisner www.digitalage.org which can be seen weekly Improves homeless quality of life Volunteer firefighters Pays living expenses of cancer patients, by providing housing, advocacy and Kent Youth Hockey joined the American International Group, where throughout the New York metropolitan area including transportation, housing, referral services Hockey for ages 5-14 he was named Vice Chairman, External Affairs. on CUNY-TV. food and utilities. Greenwoods Counseling Litchfield Hills Chore Services He returned to government in 2005 to represent Berkshire Taconic Community Referrals CAREN ZUCKER Provides affordable helpers for senior the Secretary of State as her special representative Together Foundation-Northwest Corner Mental healthcare and related to the Kosovo status talks. Fund for the Prevention of social services Literacy Volunteers on the Green with co-author John Donvan, Substance Abuse Caren Zucker’s bestselling book, Hotchkiss Library of Sharon Promote English literacy Pursue strategies to delay the first use of EKOW YANKAH Improve community quality of by Loaves and Fishes is Professor In a Different Key: The Story of alcohol and drugs among students providing access to books, dvds, audio Hospitality House of Law, Cardozo School of Law, Autism, was a 2017 Pulitzer Berkshire Taconic Community books, computers Distributes food to the needy Yeshiva University. He holds Prize finalist. As a producer Foundation-Kent Education Housatonic Youth Learning Foundation New Milford Homeless degrees from the University of for ABC’s World News and Nightline she has Services Bureau Shelter Coalition Provides financial and human resources Michigan, Columbia Law reported on a broad range of subjects, both Provides free behavioral health services for creative educational programs at Provides safe emergency transitional shelter School and Oxford University. domestically and internationally. Working and programs to local schools and Kent Center School through winter months His work focuses on questions of criminal theory alongside Peter Jennings, Charlie Gibson, and organizations in the NW part of CT Children’s Center of New Milford New Milford Visiting Nurse and punishment, political theory and particularly, Diane Sawyer, she covered economic summits, Kent Affordable Housing Association Early childhood education and care for Develop affordable housing questions political obligation and its interaction presidential campaigns, social trends and the community Provides homecare, hospice and public health services with justifications of punishment. Prof. Yankah Olympic Games. She was honored for her role in Chore Service Inc Kent Cemetery Fund has written on questions of race, equality and ABC’s coverage of 9/11 with two of television’s Primetime House Home care for senior and disabled Nonprofit cemetery association moral values in areas ranging from policing to most prestigious prizes, the Peabody and the residents Kent Center School Support for mentally ill education and athletics. His expertise includes Alfred L. DuPont awards. Ms. Zucker was the Civic Life Project Scholarship Fund Robotics and Beyond voting rights and election law. He sits on the producer and co-writer of the PBS NewsHour Promotes youth civic engagement through College scholarships Provide STEM education to young Board of the Innocence Project. series Autism Now. Her oldest son Mickey’s production of documentaries Kent Community Fund people through robotics autism diagnosis inspired a new direction in her Community Culinary Institute Financial support for emergency need Sharon Playhouse ROBERT ZIMMER, President reporting: to bring a better understanding of of NW CT and charitable programs Teaching theater of the University of Chicago, is a autism’s realities. Ms. Zucker and Mr. Donvan Qualifying unemployed and low income Kent Education Center and Theatre Works Nursery School frequent commentator on free have been collaborating on stories about autism persons for food service jobs and helping Produces contemporary theater to engage feed the community expression and academic since 2000. At ABC, they created the pioneering Pre-K Education a diverse community Corner Food Pantry Kent Historical Society freedom. Prior to his series Echoes of Autism, the first regular UWWC Back to School Provide food to needy residents of appointment as President, Dr. feature segment in network news devoted to Provide educational and research material Supply low income children with Litchfield County to enrich the public understanding of clothing and school supplies Zimmer, a noted mathematician, was a faculty understanding the lives of individuals and Connecticut Antique Machinery Kent’s cultural heritage Wassaic Project member and administrator for more than two families living with autism. Kent Memorial Library Museum dedicated to preservation and Foster positive social change through decades. As President of the University, he serves restoration of antique machinery from Provide materials, programs and services art and arts education as Chair of Argonne National Laboratory, the CT’s industrial past. to encourage reading, learning Wheels of Greater New Milford EMS Institute Kent Veterans Memorial Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and the Provide transportation for seniors and “No matter what people tell Committee Marine Biological Laboratory. He is a fellow of Promote pre-hospital care in towns that citizens with disabilities to their non- the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and you, words and ideas can change service Sharon Hospital Provides ongoing maintenance, security emergency medical appointments the American Association for the Advancement the world.” Five Points Gallery for the Veterans Memorial in Kent Women’s Support Services Kent Village Housing for Elderly of Science. He earned his A.B., summa cum laude, – Robin Williams Challenging perceptions through Services to support and advocate for visual arts Housing for low and moderate victims of domestic violence from Brandeis University and a Ph.D. in income seniors mathematics from Harvard University.
30 31 DONORS THE BOOKSTORE
The only way that KentPresents can carry out its mission is through the generosity of Many of our speakers have recently written books that you can purchase at the bookstore just outside its donors. Ticket sales alone are insufficient. So thank you, our wonderful donors, Mattison Auditorium. The authors tend to a remain in the vicinity after their talks and available for for all that you do to help make KentPresents a reality. signing. The store is run by the House of Books, Kent’s local independent bookstore. If you’d like to avoid lugging the books on a plane, they’ll be happy to ship them to you at no additional charge. William Bernhard Jennifer & Mark Lapine Walda & Sydney Besthoff Nancy & John Novogrod Gabriella de Ferrari Kathleen O’Grady Shelley Floyd & Albert Loshkajian Annette de la Renta Flynn Family Office Susan & Elihu Rose Foundation A G Foundation Christopher Stavrou Hess Philanthropic Fund Peter Wright Karen & Kevin Kennedy
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We would like to thank you all for the generous help that you have so graciously provided KentPresents. There is no way that this event could have happened without you.
Bruce Adams Kathleen and Marty Lindenmayer Catherine Bachrach Kathryn McAuliffe and Jay Kriegel Jeannette Montgomery and James Barron Denny Mantegani Anne Bass and Julian Lethbridge Terence Miller Flora Biddle Alicia Moniz Meet the 2018 Tea m Fiona Donovan Cathy Neill Tom Bouldin Nancy and John Novogrod Carolyn Casey Pergola Jeff Cataldo Elissa and George Potts Ken Cooper and Charmian Place Roaring Oaks Florist Shane Galvin Ken Roman Alan Gawal Jeff Romley Thelma Golden Fr. Richardson Schell Julia Benedict Sam Cournoyer Claire Kissane Elaine Griffin Lorry Schiesel Agnes Gund Dawn Schneider Christine Harper and Michael Kramer Eileen Smith Darin Hudson Ira D. Smith Janette Ireland Megan Sokolnicki Louise Johnson Starberry Farm Kent Chamber of Commerce Patsy Strobel Kent Volunteer Fire Department Jonathan Tomlinson Michael Kramer Jay Kriegel Ben Rosen Donna Rosen Kent Wine & Spirit Harold Varmus Peter Vermilyea KentPresents Board of Advisers This year KentPresents is again going KentPresents Provides Committee Jane Whitney and Lindsey Gruson green. We ask that you bring your water KentPresents Volunteers David Whitman bottles provided in your welcome bags to Kent School Board of Trustees Hiram Williams Kent School Faculty and Staff Joe Wolinski campus each day and use the water stations Dominique Lasseur Western Connecticut State University for fresh drinking water. Also this year there are recycling bins, which you will see around campus. Please use them for any plastic and/or paper you need to dispose of during KentPresents photos by Randy O’Rourke your time at KentPresents. Thank you.
32 33 USEFUL INFORMATION
EMERGENCY DELI, COFFEE, BEAUTY SNACKS, WINE In case of medical David Gavin Salon emergency, call 911. JP Giffords 25 North Main Street New Milford Hospital Kent CT 06757 12 North Main Street 860-927-4671 21 Elm Street Kent CT 06757 New Milford, CT 06776 860-592-0200 Kent Nail Spa 800-585-7198 Kent Coffee & 17 Kent Green Boulevard Sharon Hospital Chocolate Co. Kent CT 06757 860-927-1020 50 Hospital Road 45 North Main Street Sharon, CT 06069 Kent CT 06757 GENERAL 860-364-4000 860-927-1445 Post Office Kent Station Pharmacy Kent Wine & Spirit 31 Kent Green Boulevard 38 North Main Street 24 North Main Street Kent CT 06757 Kent CT 06757 Kent CT 06757 Library 860-927-3725 860-927-3033 32 North Main Street The Villager CAR SERVICES Kent CT 06757 Kee Limousine 28 N. Main Street 860-927-3761 Kent CT 06759 BOOKS New Milford, CT 860-927-1555 860-355-4509 SoDelicious Bakery House of Books Wingdale Taxi Services 1 Kent Green Boulevard 10 North Main Street Wingdale, NY Kent CT 06757 Kent CT 06757 845-224-1893 860-592-0743 860-927-4104 109 Cheese Market 14 N. Main Street Kent CT 06757 860-592-0366
34 MATTISON AUDITORIUM SESSIONS RECITAL HALL SESSIONS EVENT TIME
REGISTRATION 8:00-6:30
CONTINENTAL 7:30-9:00 BREAKFAST
APERITIFS 15 Speakers 8:30-9:15
DESIGNER BABIES, FUTURE FAMILIES, ORIGAMI: THE ART AND SCIENCE Sean Carroll, Alta Charo Robert Lang, Harold Varmus 9:25-10:00 BIOLOGICAL TRUTHS AND LEGAL FICTIONS FROM A MASTER
Nicholas Burns, Christopher Hill, IN A DIFFERENT KEY: NORTH KOREA VS. THE U.S. John Donvan, Caren Zucker 10:10-11:00 David Sanger THE STORY OF AUTISM
BREAK 11:00-11:20 SATURDAY BITCOIN, BLOCKCHAIN AND WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS IN Robert Jones, Nina Morrison, Neha Narula, Kai Stinchcombe 11:20-12:10 CYBERCURRENCIES THE POST-DNA ERA Ekow Yankah THE CONTEMPORARY ART WORLD; HOW WE GOT TO “POST-TRUTH” AMERICA Kurt Andersen THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE VERY BAD; Jerry Saltz 12:20-12:55 TIPS, LESSONS ANDWARNINGS
LUNCH 12:55-2:15
SEXUAL HARRASSMENT AND ASSAULT IN Lisa Bloom, Marjory Fisher, STORAGE: THE HOLY GRAIL FOR Joseph DeSimone, Rob Piconi, 2:15-3:05 THE ERA OF THE #METOO MOVEMENT Faye Wattleton SUSTAINABLE ENERGY Akshat Rathi
IMMUNOTHERAPY: Luis Diaz, Stefanie Joho, MOLECULAR FOOD Corby Kummer, Harold McGee 3:15-3:50 NEW HOPE FOR CANCER Harold Varmus
BREAK 3:50-4:10
Nicholas Burns, Michael Kramer, WHY EVOLUTION IS TRUE, AND WHY RUSSIA ON TOP Jerry Coyne 4:10-5:00 William Taubman MOST AMERICANS REJECT IT
WORDS AND MUSIC WITH WYNTON MARSALIS Wynton Marsalis, Darren Walker, 5:10-6:00 AND DARREN WALKER Sullivan Fortner
RECEPTION 6:00-7:30
Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work
Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas
When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of
Ideas A Festival ofIdeas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Festival of Ideas A Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared Ideas Work Best When Shared
SATURDAY SCHEDULE
KENT, CONNECTICUT
|
www.KentPresents.org
SATURDAY