Humphrey Institute News on-the-go

The following is a list of upcoming events sponsored by the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and open to the public. Visit the Humphrey Institute online at www.hhh.umn.edu.

Monday, April 30, 9-10:30 a.m.: The Center for Science, Technology, and Public Policy invites you to the "Arctic Voices Tour: Global Warming Policy Forum," a discussion about the human impacts of climate change, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 30, in Cowles Auditorium. Featured speakers include three Arctic indigenous spokeswomen: Sheila Watt-Cloutier, former chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference; Olav Mathis Eira, member of the executive board of the Saami Council; and Sarah James, a Neetsaii Gwich'in Indian from Arctic Village, Alaska. Registration is not required.

May 2-3: The global bias to consider food and agricultural policies from a national or domestic point of view has resulted in barriers to efficient use of the world's agricultural resources. Many experts believe these shortsighted policies have led to a global loss in food and output, thus reducing the contributions that agriculture can make to international economic welfare. "Toward a Global Food and Agricultural Policy for an Open International Economy" will bring together scholars and policy experts from around the world to discuss this problem. The two-day symposium will be held May 2-3 at the Humphrey Institute. The University of Minnesota is sponsoring the symposium to honor Regents Professor G. Edward Schuh on the occasion of his retirement. The registration fee is $75/$20 for students. For more information—including a complete list of presenters and paper topics—and to register, visit the Schuh Symposium website.

Thursday, May 3, noon-1:30 p.m.: The Center for Integrative Leadership (CIL), a new University of Minnesota initiative to examine and develop leadership models for complex global challenges, will host David Gergen, director of the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and former presidential consultant; and Bill George, former Medtronic Inc. CEO and chairman, at CIL's official launch event on May 3. "The Age of Integrative Leadership: A Conversation with David Gergen and Bill George" is scheduled from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 3, at the Ted Mann Concert Hall, 2106 4th St. S., on the East Bank of the University of Minnesota's Minneapolis campus. A reception in the Ted Mann Concert Hall lobby will follow the event. George also will sign copies of his new book, True North, in the auditorium after the program. The event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Click here to RSVP or call Peter Rich at (612) 624-8913.

Wednesday, May 9, 7-8:30 p.m.: In the wake of the unspeakable acts of Nazi doctors during the Holocaust, modern governments adopted a series of international conventions that declared doctors’ participation in torture to be unethical. In August 2004, Steven H. Miles, a bioethicist and professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota, reported in the British medical journal The Lancet that in Iraq and Afghanistan and at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, doctors were collaborating in the design and implementation of coercive interrogations. "Torture, War, and Medical Ethics" will examine this issue in detail when Dr. Miles is joined in conversation by Professor Oren Gross from the University of Minnesota Law School and international human rights advocate Barbara Frey, director of the Human Rights Program at the University. This Home and Away program was rescheduled from March 1.

Sunday, May 13, 2 p.m.: The Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs commencement ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 13, at Ted Mann Concert Hall on the West Bank. Norman Ornstein, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and University of Minnesota alumnus, will deliver the commencement address.

Monday, May 14, 10-11:15 a.m.: Senator Norm Coleman will talk about renewable energy from 10 to 11:15 a.m. on Monday, May 14, in Cowles Auditorium. His public presentation is part of "Connecting with Government," a program series sponsored by the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance. Registration is not required.

Wednesday, May 16, 6-9:30 p.m.: The Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs will host the 2007 Hubert H. Humphrey Public Leadership Awards on Wednesday, May 16, at the McNamara Alumni Center. This year's recipients are Senator John C. Danforth, former U.S. Senator from Missouri and Ambassador to the United Nations; Josie R. Johnson, civil rights leader and educator; Eugene C. Sit, founder and co-chair of the Minnesotans' Military Appreciation Fund; and Harlan Cleveland, former ambassador to NATO and founding dean of the Humphrey Institute. The Women's Foundation of Minnesota will be recognized for its commitment to cultivating leadership among young women. For tickets to the scholarship fundraiser, contact Lars Leafblad at leafblad@umn.edu or (612) 625-9588. Tickets for the dinner and program are $125, of which $75 is a tax-deductible contribution.

Wednesday, May 30, noon-1:30 p.m.: The Humphrey Institute welcomes Congressman Jim Ramstad from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 30, in Cowles Auditorium. Ramstad will give a policy presentation as part of "Connecting with Government," a program series sponsored by the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance. Ramstad's presentation is free and open to the public. Registration is not required.

Save the date!

June 6: The Women and Politics Reading Group will discuss A Taste of Power: A Black Woman's Story by Elaine Brown at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 6, in Freeman Commons (205 Humphrey Center). All are invited to attend the discussion sponsored by the Center on Women and Public Policy.

June 25: The State and Local Policy Program will co-sponsor the public policy conference "After Forty Years of Regionalism, Where Next?" from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 25 at the Four Points Sheraton in Minneapolis.