Arnold Schwarzenegger - GERMAN WORLD MAGAZINE

Facing the four elements:
Developing a transatlantic
approach to sustainability
More than 100 German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH) alumni gathered at the
German House New York from October 28 - 30, 2010, to discuss and
exchange their expertise on sustainability and transatlantic relationships.
The networking event, which was co-sponsored by the German
Center for Research & Innovation, also addressed new approaches to
supporting academic and scientific research and exchange. Ulrich
Grothus, DAAD Deputy Secretary General, and Professor Dr. Enno
Aufderheide, Secretary General of the Alexander von Humboldt
Foundation, welcomed the participants to three days filled with panel
discussions, networking opportunities, and a dinner cruise around
Manhattan. During the conference's opening night, Professor Dr.
Roland Schindler, Director of the Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable
Energy Systems, discussed the challenges and opportunities of
extending Fraunhofer research to the U.S. Alison Taylor, Vice
President, Sustainability for the Americas, Siemens Corporation,
spoke about Siemens’ approach to sustainability.
Throughout the conference, approximately 38 former DAAD and
AvH alumni discussed topics, such as “Sustaining Coastal Systems in
a Changing Global Environment," “Energy
Dependence as a Threat to Germany and the
U.S.”
Escape to life —
German
intellectuals
in New York
On September 29, the German Center for
Research & Innovation hosted the opening
event of the three-day symposium on the
impact of German intellectuals on the cultural
and educational landscape of New York and
the United States. At the conference, experts
elaborated on the translation and consequent
transformation of German intellectuals’ ideas
and work, which accompanied their immersion
in American life and culture. During the
opening, Sigrid Weigel from the Center for
Literary and Cultural Research (ZfL, Berlin)
IN BRIEF
spoke about Hannah Arendt's bilingual writing. Other topics included
“From Königsberg to Little Rock: Childhood East and West by Hannah
Arendt”; Liliane Weissberg and “Nature versus History, or the
Lifeworld According to Karl Löwith” by Rodolphe Gasché.
The symposium continued at Deutsches Haus at New York
University on September 30 and October 1.
Transatlantic perspectives on
emerging technology
The German Center for Research and Innovation (GCRI), in cooperation
with Hannover Messe Research and Technology, the leading international
trade fair for R&D and Technology Transfer in Hannover,
Germany, hosted a panel discussion on the national frameworks,
practices, and funding schemes for early-stage high-tech companies
in the United States and Germany at the German House New York on
October 26.
Richard Bendis, President & CEO of Innovation America, Edward
Reinfurt, Executive Director of the New York State Foundation for
Science, Technology and Innovation, and Dr. Thomas Lechler of the
Howe School of Technology Management at Stevens Institute of
Technology discussed best practices, accessing non-domestic
sources of seed money to establish university
spin-offs and the effects of the world economy
on tech transfer, tech commercialization, and
finance. Their discussion included examples,
opportunities, and obstacles of international
collaboration.
The GCRI, which opened in February 2010,
provides information and support for the
realization of cooperative and collaborative
projects between North America and Germany
in the humanities, science, and technology.
With the goal of enhancing communication on
the critical challenges of the 21st century,
GCRI hosts a wide range of events ranging
from lectures and exhibitions to workshops
and science dinners. Launched as a cornerstone
of the German government’s initiative to
internationalize science and research, it is one
of five centers worldwide.
For upcoming events at the GCRI,
the Deutsches Haus at NYU,
and the DAAD visit:
www.germaninnovation.org,
www.nyu.edu/deutscheshaus,
www.daad.org
Winter 2010/11 www.german-world.com 9