Contemporary Military Topics (series)
Joli Saraf
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions
Contemporary Military Topics (series of five sessions)
Sponsor(s): Center for International Studies, MIT Security Studies Program
Contact: Harlene Miller, 258-6531, harlenem@mit.edu
| Jan/18 | Wed | 02:00PM-03:30PM | E40-496, Lucian Pye Conf Rm |
Navy Commander Bob Holmes discusses the art and science of electronic warfare (EW) and the Navy's newest EA-18G "Growler." Bob recently commanded Electronic Attack Squadron 132 and will provide an unclassified presentation pertaining to EW, Growler capabilities & Navy equities within the Dept. of Defense. He will recap the highlights of a recent deployment and show a motivational video shot from the cockpit.
Commander Robert Holmes, USN
| Jan/19 | Thu | 02:00PM-03:30PM | E40-496, Lucian Pye Conf Rm |
Air Force Captain John Boyd's mastery in tactical flying blossomed into a demonstration of expertise at the operational & strategic levels of warfare, paving the way for his famous Observe, Orient, Decide and Act (OODA) Loop. The OODA Loop is widely used today in business, athletic and military strategies, yet many fail to understand its significance in representing future conflict and the next generation of warfare.
Lt. Col. Erick Gilbert, USAF
| Jan/24 | Tue | 02:00PM-03:30PM | E40-496, Lucian Pye Conf Rm |
This one hour seminar will examine some of the basic tenets of Sun Tzu, the author of The Art of War. Lessons learned from Sun Tzu will be analyzed through the perspective of a military advisor to an Iraqi Intelligence officer from 2008-2009. Embedded in the seminar will be discussion on decision making in grey environments.
LTC Joe Vongs, USA
| Jan/31 | Tue | 02:00PM-03:30PM | E40-496, Lucian Pye Conf Rm |
The United States government has a wide range of available capabilities in the event of a crisis, domestic or overseas. The US military has units trained to respond to a range of possible scenarios on short notice. This course provides an overview of capabilities from the Army and the Marine Corps, offering insight into these units, how they are organized, trained, and prepared to respond during times of crisis.
LTC Joe Vongs, USA, Lt Col Daniel Coleman, USMC
| Feb/02 | Thu | 10:00AM-12:00PM | E40-496, Lucian Pye Conf Rm |
This session provides an overview of the 4 theater-level commands operating in So. Korea: Combined Forces Command; U.S. Forces Korea; UN Command; & the ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff. Col Creamer covers their respective responsibilities, authorities, & communication channels, as well as their interrelationships & how the 4 commands influence and facilitate decisionmaking during crisis & contingencies on the Korean peninsula.
COL Shawn Creamer, USA
Energy Policy in the context of Climate Change: the case of Mexico
Dr. Lourdes Melgar, CIS Wilhelm Fellow, former Deputy Secretary of Energy of Mexico
Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions
How does a country reconcile the search for energy security with a commitment to mitigate climate change? What dilemmas do policymakers face in an oil producing country committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions? Can the energy sector be decarbonized without hurting the economy? How does a government rally support for deployment of energy projects in indigenous communities? How do you ensure that oil revenues are well invested? Why is having a clean energy secure Mexico good for No. America?
In 2013, Mexico approved all-encompassing energy reform at the Constitutional level, simultaneously modernizing the hydrocarbons and electricity sectors following international best practices. Having earlier approved a Climate Change Law (2012), Mexico’s Energy Reform includes elements to promote clean energies and reduce GHG emissions.
Dr. Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, states that “[t]his is not a reform, it's a revolution on an unprecedented scale.” In addition to its depth, Mexico’s energy reform is being implemented in record time. The sense of urgency comes from the need to fuel the country, comply with climate change commitments & boost the competitiveness of the economy.
This seminar, led by a major player in the design and implementation of this historic energy reform, aims at understanding the challenges and dilemmas policymakers face in designing a modern energy sector. Mexico’s Energy Reform will serve as reference for the discussion.
Sponsor(s): Center for International Studies, MIT Mexico Program
Contact: Laurie Scheffler, LAURIES@MIT.EDU
| Jan/09 | Mon | 10:30AM-12:00PM | E40-496, Pye Conf Rm |
Mexico's Energy Reform: Overview
Dr. Lourdes Melgar, CIS Wilhelm Fellow - former Deputy Secretary of Energy of Mexico
| Jan/11 | Wed | 10:30AM-12:00PM | E40-496, Pye Conf Rm |
Mexico's Upstream Sector: Resources, contracts and bids.
Dr. Lourdes Melgar, CIS Wilhelm Fellow - former Deputy Secretary of Energy of Mexico
| Jan/18 | Wed | 10:30AM-12:00PM | E40-496, Pye Conf Rm |
The Challenges of Creating Energy Markets
Dr. Lourdes Melgar, CIS Wilhelm Fellow - former Deputy Secretary of Energy of Mexico
| Jan/20 | Fri | 10:30AM-12:00PM | E40-496, Pye Conf Rm |
The transition to a low-carbon electricity sector
Dr. Lourdes Melgar, CIS Wilhelm Fellow - former Deputy Secretary of Energy of Mexico
| Jan/23 | Mon | 10:30AM-12:00PM | E40-496, Pye Conf Rm |
The Importance of Sustainability (financial, social and environmental)
Dr. Lourdes Melgar, CIS Wilhelm Fellow - former Deputy Secretary of Energy of Mexico
Ikebana: The Art of Japanese Flower Arrangement
Hiroko Matsuyama
| Feb/03 | Fri | 02:00PM-03:30PM | E40-496, Pye Conference Rm |
Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/11
Limited to 20 participants
Fee: $10.00
for Materials (due at time of registration)
Create your own flower arrangment with Hiroko Matsuyama, instructor from the Ohara school of Ikebana, in an IAP course on this ancient Japanese art.
Registration: to register, please contact Christine Pilcavage at csp18@mit.edu. Your registration is not complete unless you have paid your $10 registration fee. You will forfeit your registration if you do not pay by Wed. January 11th and your place will be given to the next person on the waiting list.
Sponsor(s): Center for International Studies, MIT Japan Program
Contact: Christine Pilcavage, csp18@mit.edu
KYUDO: Japanese Archery
Joyce Wu, Jim Boorstein, Sam Kanner
Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Limited to 15 participants
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions
Fee: $20.00
for instruction
Kyudo, or Japanese archery, means the "way of the bow" and was considered the highest discipline of ancient Japanese samurai. Kyudo is based on standing Zen meditation used by Zen Buddhist monks as a means of cultivating self-awareness. Beginners will receive instruction in the basic form of kyudo. Training will take place on the first day (1/14), followed by actual shooting on the second day (1/15). People are required to come on Saturday to be trained in order to shoot on Sunday.
Cosponsored by Byakko Kyudo.
Sponsor(s): MIT Japan Program, Center for International Studies
Contact: Christine Pilcavage, E40-431, x8-8208, csp18@mit.edu
| Jan/14 | Sat | 01:00PM-05:00PM | MAC Court |
Kyudo training
| Jan/15 | Sun | 09:30AM-03:30PM | Rockwell Cage, North Court |
Kyudo shooting
Starr Forum presents: "Amour"
John Tirman, Executive Director, CIS
| Jan/27 | Fri | 12:00PM-02:30PM | E15-070, Bartos Theater |
Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)
Amour is a 2012 French-language romantic drama film written and directed by the Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke, starring Jean-Louis Trintignant, Emmanuelle Riva and Isabelle Huppert. The narrative focuses on an elderly couple, Anne and Georges, who are retired music teachers with a daughter who lives abroad. Anne suffers a stroke which paralyses her on the right side of her body.
The film was screened at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Palme d'Or. It won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 85th Academy Awards, and was nominated in four other categories: Best Picture, Best Actress in a Leading Role (Emmanuelle Riva), Best Original Screenplay (Michael Haneke) and Best Director (Michael Haneke). At the age of 85, Emmanuelle Riva is the oldest nominee for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
At the 25th European Film Awards, it was nominated in six categories, winning in four, including Best Film and Best Director. At the 47th National Society of Film Critics Awards it won the awards for Best Film, Best Director and Best Actress. At the 66th British Academy Film Awards it was nominated in four categories, winning for Best Leading Actress and Best Film Not in the English Language. Emmanuelle Riva became the oldest person to win a BAFTA. At the 38th César Awards it was nominated in ten categories, winning in five, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress.
2hrs 27m
Sponsor(s): Center for International Studies, MIT France Program, MIT Germany Program, CIS
Contact: Michelle Nhuch, starrforum@mit.edu
Starr Forum presents: "Cache"
John Tirman, Executive Director, CIS
| Jan/20 | Fri | 12:00PM-02:00PM | E15-070, Bartos Theater |
Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)
Caché, titled Hidden in the UK and Ireland, is a 2005 French psychological thriller written and directed by Michael Haneke. Starring Daniel Auteuil as Georges and Juliette Binoche as his wife Anne, the film follows an upper-class French couple who are terrorized by anonymous tapes that appear on their front porch and hint at childhood memories of the husband.
Caché opened to acclaim from film critics, who lauded Binoche's acting and Haneke's direction. The ambiguities of its plot continue to attract considerable discussion among scholars; many have commented on the film's themes of "bourgeois guilt" and collective memory, often drawing parallels between its narrative and the French government's decades-long denial of the 1961 Seine River massacre. Caché is today regarded as one of the greatest films of the 2000s.
1h 57min
Sponsor(s): Center for International Studies, MIT Germany Program, CIS, MIT France Program
Contact: Michelle Nhuch, starrforum@mit.edu
Starr Forum presents: "White Ribbon"
John Tirman, Executive Director, Center for International Studies
| Jan/13 | Fri | 12:00PM-02:30PM | E15-070, Bartos Theater |
Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)
The White Ribbon is a 2009 black-and-white German-language drama film written and directed by Michael Haneke. It darkly depicts society and family in a northern German village just before World War I and, according to Haneke, "is about the roots of evil. Whether it’s religious or political terrorism, it’s the same thing."
The film premiered at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival in May 2009 where it won the Palme d'Or, followed by positive reviews and several other major awards, including the 2010 Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The film also received two nominations at the 82nd Academy Awards in 2009: Best Foreign Language Film (representing Germany) and Best Cinematography (Christian Berger).
2h 24min
Sponsor(s): MIT Germany Program, CIS, MIT France Program, Center for International Studies
Contact: Michelle Nhuch, starrforum@mit.edu
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