Fall Lectures
September 16, 2010
Global Finance after the Crisis
With the dynamics of the global financial crisis of 2007-09 now fairly well understood and regulatory reforms having been undertaken, focus has shifted to the impact on markets, businesses, and ordinary households. The global legacy of reforms–effects on financial activity, innovation, and growth, as well as possible unintended consequences–will be considered.
Ingo Walter Vice Dean of the Faculty; Seymour Milstein Professor of Finance, Corporate Governance and Ethics, Stern School of Business, NYU
/video/institute/10-11/091610.flvSeptember 26, 2010
From Metaphor to Model: What Victorians Understood about Markets that Modern Economists Often Miss
The financial crisis of 2008 has highlighted a contradiction inherent in neo-liberal accounts of financial markets: some depict the market as a self-organizing, efficient system; others emphasize individuals whose actions epitomize the autonomy everyone presumably enjoys in a free-market economy. Mary Poovey will argue that the tension between these two accounts also appeared in nineteenth-century liberalism, but whereas nineteenth-century liberals were aware that all accounts of the market are metaphorical, neo-liberals have tended to turn the metaphors that underwrite their descriptions into "accurate" models.
Mary Poovey Samuel Rudin University Professor in the Humanities, NYU
/video/institute/10-11/092610.flvOctober 4, 2010
Understanding Privacy in Context
Characterizing appropriate sharing is at the heart of Privacy in Context (Stanford UP, 2009): the conditions under which information is shared, by what means, and under what terms. Helen Nissenbaum will also examine how new information flows serve different interests, including society's key structures and institutions.
Helen Nissenbaum Author; Professor of Media, Culture, and Communication & Computer Science; Senior Faculty Fellow, Information Law Institute, NYU
In conversation with
Mireille Hildebrandt Associate Professor of Jurisprudence, Erasmus University, Rotterdam
October 10, 2010
The Future is Now: Making Art / Thinking Ecology
Marina Zurkow’s animated, psychological narratives address humans and their relationships to animals, plants and the weather. She will present Crossing the Waters, a body of animated works that focus on climate change and mediated representations of both The Deluge and The Future. She will also present works in progress that investigate our fraught, highly selective relationships with both native and invasive species.
Marina Zurkow Artist; Professor, Interactive Telecommunications Program, Tisch School of the Arts, NYU
/video/institute/10-11/101010.flvOctober 20, 2010
The Ethical Brain
Continuing advances in quantitative techniques will allow us to solve mysteries of how the brain responds in social contexts. New knowledge about making judgments, moral responses, social comparisons, and a host of other mental states will form the basis for thinking about our species' ethical posture towards ourselves and others. Of particular interest is how these advances will be viewed in light of traditional judicial and legal practices.
Michael Gazzaniga Professor, Psychology; Director, SAGE Center for the Study of Mind, University of California, Santa Barbara
/video/institute/10-11/102010.flvOctober 27, 2010
The Use of Economics on Environmental and Public Health Policy
The distinguished lecturers will discuss the use of cost-benefit analysis as an aid to environmental and public health policy decision-making.
Richard L. Revesz Dean and Lawrence King Professor of Law, NYU School of Law
Oliver Harrison Director of Public Health and Policy of the Abu Dhabi Health Authority
November 1, 2010
Artist’s Talk: The Cosmopolitans: Photographs by Zubin Shroff
Conversations with Authors | Open to the Public
Zubin Shroff’s large-scale, formal portraits offer a cast of global citizens who hail from six continents. Stripped of titles and cultural context, the individuals portrayed in the photographs are difficult to categorize in an increasingly globalized world. Shroff will discuss with Joanne Savio how cultures and people connect across place, space and ethnics boundaries.
Zubin Shroff Author and Photographer
In conversation with
Joanne Savio Director of Freshmen Studies, Kanbar Institute of Film & Television, Tisch School of the Arts, NYU
November 4, 2010
Interpreting The 1001 Nights for the Stage
Stage director Tim Supple’s love of dramatic story-telling began at an early age and developed into a professional reputation for adapting plays, books, stories and poems into highly visual, musical and imaginative theatrical events. Before performing some brief illustrative rehearsal sketches, Supple will discuss his work on the adaptation of The Arabian Nights for the stage.
Tim Supple Stage Director
Houda Echouafani, Lassen Razzougui and Ramzi Choukair Artists
November 8, 2010
Realizing the Ecological City? Ecology for the City and the “Ecocity” Challenge
Drs. Cadenasso and Sze explore the challenge of building effective sustainability strategies for urban contexts, drawing from a long-term case analysis in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, and the specific case of Dongtan, near Shanghai. Discussion between the two scholars will be guided by the question, “How might we enact a truly ecological city?”
Dr. Mary Cadenasso Associate Professor, Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis
Dr. Julie Sze Associate Professor, American Studies, University of California, Davis; Founding Director, Environmental Justice Project, John Muir Institute of the Environment
November 14, 2010
The Science and Pseudoscience of Winning Elections
In his lecture drawing on his recent book (Get Out the Vote: How to Increase Voter Turnout, Second Edition, Brookings Institution Press, 2008) Donald Green will summarize the experimental research literature on voter mobilization. The foil of his talk will be the tactics promoted by campaign consultants which seem to have more to do with the profitability of campaign services than with the effectiveness of tactics used.
Donald Green A. Whitney Griswold Professor of Political Science; Director, Institution for Social and Policy Studies, Yale University
/video/institute/10-11/111410.flvDecember 12, 2010
Obama’s Foreign Policy
Last year U.S. President Barack Obama delivered a speech in Cairo in which he promised “a new beginning” for the U.S. in the Middle East. He has been able to make only modest headway on his stated goals, and public opinionin the Middle East towards the U.S. has trended steadily downwards. Did Obama promise more than he was able to deliver? Or is more patience required for what were always understood to be long-term prospects?
James Traub Contributing writer, The New York Times Magazine; Weekly columnist, Foreignpolicy.com; Adjunct Professor, NYUAD
In conversation with
Hassan Fattah Editor-in-Chief, The National
December 20-21, 2010
Musician Scholars of the Middle East
The professions of performer, composer and musicologist are usually associated with different people; only a very few individuals from Middle Eastern musical cultures have the distinction of being outstanding in more than one of these areas. Among the best performers from their countries of origin, three visiting musicians successfully combine these separate fields. Their research represents the cutting edge of inquiry on their respective musical traditions. The musicians will perform in concert and address the basic issues in the history and structure of the art of music in the Middle East.
Curated by Walter Zev Feldman Professor of Music, NYUAD
Musicians:
Münir Nurettin Beken Oud; Performer, Composer, Scholar and Assistant Professor of Ethnomusicology, University of California, Los Angeles
A.J. Racy Nai and Bozuq; Performer, Composer and Professor, Department of Ethnomusicology, University of California, Los Angeles
Dariush Talai Setar; Head, Department of Music, Tehran University
Spring Lectures
January 6, 2011
Understanding Social Entrepreneurship in a Time of Urgent Threats
In his recently released book Driving Social Change: How to Solve the World's Toughest Problems, Paul Light discusses the basic role of social entrepreneurship and innovation in bringing new ideas to bear toward creating a more just, tolerant, equitable, healthy, and vibrant world. Although he will argue that social entrepreneurship and innovation are important forms of creating social change, he will also challenge the conventional wisdom that these are the most important drivers for impact.
Paul C. Light Paulette Goddard Professor of Public Service, Wagner School of Public Service, NYU
/video/institute/10-11/010611.flvJanuary 9, 2011
The Data and Computer-Driven Transformation of Modern Science
Modern science is undergoing a profound transformation as it tackles this century’s complex problems and is becoming highly collaborative. After centuries of little change, compute, data and network environments have grown by 12 orders of magnitude in recent decades. Cyberinfrastructure—the comprehensive set of deployable hardware, software, and algorithmic tools and environments supporting research, education, and increasingly, collaboration—is transforming all research disciplines and society itself. Harry Edward Seidel will discuss this transformative impact and the National Science Foundation’s efforts to address new trends in science.
Harry Edward Seidel Assistant Director, Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate, National Science Foundation
/video/institute/10-11/010911.flvJanuary 12, 2011
The Evolution of Death
Drawing from his recent book Death, Tyler Volk will explain the intriguing ways creatures—including ourselves—use death to enhance life. The exquisite schemes and styles of death that have emerged from evolution have been essential to the great story from life’s beginnings to ancient human rituals surrounding death and the existential concerns of human culture and consciousness today. Volk will weave together autobiography, biology, Earth history, and fascinating studies to demonstrate that an understanding of what some call the “ultimate taboo” can enrich the celebration of life.
Tyler Volk Science Director for Environmental Studies and Professor of Biology, NYU
/video/institute/10-11/011211.flvJanuary 16, 2011
The (Unfortunate) Complexity of Economic Systems
In theory, deregulated markets should be efficient and stable: crises can be triggered by acute exogenous disturbances, but not by the market itself. Recent studies, however, cast strong doubts on classical dogma. Market fluctuations seem to result from endogenous complex dynamics that spontaneously exhibits jumps and shocks. Jean-Philippe Bouchaud will discuss the impact of trades on prices and feedback loops, illustrated by simple statistical mechanics models. Financial markets can by themselves, in the absence of appropriate regulation and control, lead to instabilities.
Jean-Philippe Bouchaud Co-founder, Capital Fund Management; Professor of Physics, ESPCI Paris Tech and École Polytechnique
/video/institute/10-11/011611.flvJanuary 19, 2011
Climate Change and the Mathematics of Sea Ice
The dramatic decline of the summer Arctic sea ice pack is probably the most visible, large-scale change on Earth’s surface in recent years. Most global climate models, however, have significantly underestimated this decline. Kenneth Golden will discuss how statistical physics models are used to study key sea ice processes such as the growth and melting of seasonal ice. Such processes must be better understood to improve projections of the fate of polar ice packs. Video from a recent Antarctic expedition where sea ice properties were measured will be shown.
Kenneth M. Golden Professor, Mathematics; Adjunct Professor, Bioengineering, University of Utah
/video/institute/10-11/011911.flvJanuary 23, 2011
Gardens of Eden, History, and the Human Imagination
The Garden of Eden haunts the history and the imagination of the Peoples of the Book. The exile of Adam and Eve from the garden that God planted for the first Man set their descendants on an unending quest to find, describe, picture, and recreate this Paradise on earth. This talk will explore differences in the interpretation of the garden among the three Abrahamic religions, and ask whether the Garden of Eden holds productive meanings today.
Mariët Westermann Vice President, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
/video/institute/10-11/012311.flvJanuary 24, 2011
Arab Voices
Renowned writer and journalist James Zogby speaks about his book Arab Voices: What They Are Saying To Us, and Why It Matters published to critical acclaim last year. The Arab World is a region that has been vastly misunderstood in the West. Arab Voices asks the questions, collects the answers, and shares the results that help us see Arabs clearly. The book brings into stark relief the myths, assumptions, and biases that inhibit informed understanding of the Middle East and North Africa region and its people.
James Zogby Founder & President, Arab American Institute; Senior Advisor, Zogby International polling firm
/video/institute/10-11/012411.flvJanuary 25, 2011
Middle Eastern Comics and their Place in the 21st Century
As part of the comic strip and cartoon 2011 educational program presented by ADMAF, this panel discussion brings together leading experts in the field of graphic novels.
The panel is chaired by Dez Skinn, winner of over 20 industry awards for his innovative creations, including 17 Eagle Awards and the Society of Strip Illustration Lifetime Achievement Award. As editorial director of Marvel Comics (UK), he launched “Hulk Comic,” revived “Captain Britain” and edited “Star Wars Weekly.”
Chair: Dez Skinn prominent editor and author
Qais Sedki writer of the Arabic comic “Gold Ring”
Charles Kochman Executive Editor, Abrams ComicArts
February 7, 2011
The Life and Afterlife of Indian Images: How Early Twentieth Century Archaeology and Conservation Transformed Ancient Indian Bronze Icons
The spectacular ancient and medieval bronzes for which South India is renowned were once “living” icons used in Jain, Buddhist and Hindu religious contexts. This lecture follows the fascinating and complex story of their original use, burial, archaeological excavation, and subsequent conservation and display within a museum. Using recently examined archives from the Government Museum, Madras (now Chennai) and the Tamil Nadu State Archives, and interviews with conservators and contemporary bronze craftsmen, this lecture considers how “living” religious objects are transformed by archaeology and conservation.
Sanchita Balachandran Curator/Conservator, The Johns Hopkins Archaeological Museum
/video/institute/10-11/020711.flvFebruary 10, 2011
Political Currents in Egypt and the Middle East
This panel will discuss the ongoing protests in Egypt, and the implications for the region. Panelists bring expertise on opposition movements, politics, economy, youth, and US foreign policy to bear in their analysis.
Tarik Yousef Founding Dean, Dubai School of Government
Shadi Hamid Director of Research, Brookings Doha Center
Nasr Arif Executive Director, Institute of Islamic World Studies, Zayed University (ZU)
Moderated by
Riaz Hassan Global Professor of Social Research and Public Policy, NYU Abu Dhabi
February 13, 2011
The Science of Sad Sounds
"Sad" music can be found in most of the world’s cultures. For example, cry-songs and musical laments are evident in scores of societies. This presentation summarizes a series of scientific studies that address four questions: What is it about sounds that makes them sound “sad”? Does nominally sad music actually make listeners feel sad, and if so, how? Why do people enjoy music that may make them feel sad? What are the cultural and personal factors that influence how a person experiences nominally sad music?
David Huron Distinguished Professor, School of Music and Center for Cognitive Science, Ohio State University
/video/institute/10-11/021311.flvFebruary 21, 2011
Repositioning Islam through THE 99
In conjunction with The Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation
In 2003, Naif Al-Mutawa ventured to reposition Islam to both Muslims and non-Muslims alike by going back to the very core of what extremists had used for their messages of violence and replace those messages with tolerant, multicultural ones. The result is THE 99, the first group of superheroes born of an Islamic archetype. THE 99 franchise has spawned a comic book series in several languages, a theme park and an animated television series coproduced by media giant Endemol that is making its global debut in 2011. THE 99 have been named as one of the top twenty pop culture trends sweeping the globe by Forbes. Awards and praise followed from the World Economic Forum, the United Nations, and President Barack Obama who called THE 99’s team up with Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman the most innovative response to his Cairo Speech.
Naif Al-Mutawa Creator, The 99; Kuwaiti clinical psychologist
/video/institute/10-11/022111.flvFebruary 24, 2011
Beyond the Crash: Overcoming the First Crisis of Globalisation
The Right Honorable Gordon Brown MP Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; Distinguished Global Leader in Residence, NYU
In conversation about his recent book Beyond the Crash: Overcoming the First Crisis of Globalisation with
Bruce D. Jones Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution; Director, The Center on International Cooperation, NYU
/video/institute/10-11/022411.flvMarch 1, 2011
Use and Misuse of Probability
Modern science aims to be grounded in probabilistic and statistical methods, yet hiding behind the sophisticated statistical apparatus there are problems and inconsistencies in the way probabilities are used, computed, derived and interpreted. Somehow, dense technical formulations can hide the source of elementary mistakes. The problem is very severe in finance and economics. One consequence of such misuse and misunderstanding of probability was the recent financial crisis.
Nassim Taleb Distinguished Professor of Risk Engineering, NYU-Poly; Author, The Black Swan and The Bed of Procrustes, Philosophical and Practical Aphorisms
/video/institute/10-11/030111.flvMarch 3, 2011
Housing Middle Income Households in High-Cost Cities: Is There a Role for Government?
Over the last two decades global cities have experienced rapid increases in income inequality. This polarization-with significant growth at the upper and lower income brackets-has contributed to higher housing costs, as wealthy residents bid up the cost of housing. Meanwhile middle income households get left out-not qualifying for government housing programs, yet unable to afford the rising costs of housing.
Michael White Senior Planning Manager, Urban Planning Council
Talal Al Dhiyebi Director of Planning and Infrastructure, Aldar Properties
Moderated by
Ingrid Gould Ellen Professor of Public Policy and Urban Planning, Wagner School of Public Service, NYU
