Events

Michael Fried lecture: Thomas Demand's Pacific Sun

24 May 2013

The US Studies Centre is partnering with the Power Institute and Sydney Ideas at the University of Sydney to present a lecture by international guest speaker Michael Fried. In his lecture Fried will show Demand's two minute long stop-motion film Pacific Sun (2011) (the name of a cruise ship struck by seven powerful waves off the coast of New Zealand several years ago), and will discuss the film and artist in detail.

China, friend or foe?

23 May 2013

China is becoming the key economy of the current era. It’s tipped to overtake the US within 10 years. But what other effects will economic power have on China? Will China’s rise be ‘peaceful’, or something the world outside needs to be apprehensive about? Join China-watching experts Dr Bates Gill (Rising Star: China's New Security Diplomacy), Mobo Gao (The Battle of China's Past: Mao and the Cultural Revolution) and Feng Chongji (The Chinese Communist Party: from Chen Duxiu to Li Shenzhi) for a discussion moderated by Kerry Brown.

The US Electoral College: An 18th Century Relic in the 21st Century

15 May 2013

The framers of the United States Constitution forged a workable, if awkward, institution when they created the Electoral College as the means for selecting the president. This lecture addresses multiple shortcomings – in theory and practice – in the Electoral College and argues that some change, from the technical to a complete overhaul, would produce a more coherent and more democratic means of choosing the American president. At this special event, you will hear from Fulbright Flinders University Distinguished Chair in American Political Science, Professor Burdett A. Loomis.

Founders talk with Genovation Cars: Green transport in the 21 century

16 April 2013

Andrew Saul is CEO and founder of American green car company Genovation Cars. He will discuss the innovative development his company is conducting at the University of Maryland and the industry-related challenges ‘green car’ companies face today, including product design and fundraising. One key discussion topic will explore the barriers of green car uptake amongst consumers. At the moment, the most critical component to achieve widespread adoption of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids is the efficiency of the propulsion battery pack. Whilst significant engineering resources are invested into developing more efficient electric motors, inverters, chargers and other components, the cost and weight of the battery continues to need more attention. Currently, large and heavy lithium packs are required to meet daily driving needs and lithium packs can only accept a limited amount of the kinetic energy created during braking, without significantly impairing the battery pack’s lifecycle.

Delivering a Sustainable Future City: Three Day Workshop

4 April 2013 - 6 April 2013

The US Studies Centre has developed the Delivering a Sustainable Future City program to support local government leaders in building low carbon, sustainable and liveable communities. As part of the program this three day workshop, led by experts in urban re-design and sustainable development from the United States and beyond, will focus on the issues that each community brings for discussion, strategic options and strategy formulation. Follow this link to learn more about the program and express your interest in participating.

Reinventing Fire: Changing the energy rules for a growing economy

3 April 2013

The Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) is a US based organisation which specialises in delivering sustainable options and strategic scenarios for communities to improve the liveability of cities. Its mission is “to drive the efficient and restorative use of resources” especially via integrative design and systems thinking. Their strategic focus, executed through specific initiatives, is to map and drive the transition from coal and oil to efficient and renewable energies and holistic approaches to develop liveable cities. Since 1982 they have designed and applied many innovations to help make the world richer, fairer, cooler, and safer – from contributions toward tripled-efficiency cars, trucks, and airplanes, energy and water efficiency, renewable energy, community economic development, and more. In this talk, Managing Director of RMI, Robert ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson, will focus on strategies for Australia to create a new energy future.

Thomas Crow lecture: The Death and Life of Pop Art in the 1960s Counter-Culture

19 March 2013

The US Studies Centre is partnering with the Power Institute and Sydney Ideas at the University of Sydney to present a lecture by international guest speaker Thomas Crow. In The Death and Life of Pop Art in the 1960s Counter-Culture Crow discusses the legacy of pop and its influence in other areas of culture.

Kurt Campbell on the US, Australia and China

14 March 2013

Former US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Kurt Campbell, said he was bullish about the US/China relationship in his first public address since leaving office earlier this year. Widely recognised as a key architect of the Obama administration’s pivot to Asia, Dr Campbell was a central figure in advancing the US-China relationship and was a key player in the historic normalisation of bilateral ties between the United States and Burma/Myanmar. He is currently Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Asia Group and is writing a book about his experiences in the Obama administration with the title The Pivot.

Low carbon jet fuel: The industry flight path

26 February 2013 - 27 February 2013

Commercial aviation is critical to national and international trade, transport and economic growth. Demand for capacity is projected to increase about five-fold by 2050 from the 2005 base. Growth is not possible without mitigating the environmental impact of the additional air traffic by the introduction of energy efficiency and low carbon fuel options. Thus, the international and Australian aviation industries are engaging with the whole supply chain to secure commercial supply of sustainable jet fuel that is interchangeable with kerosene. To highlight the most promising near and medium term opportunities for the production of sustainable jet fuel, the Australian Initiative for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (AISAF) hosted the Low Carbon Jet Fuel: The Industry Flight Path conference in partnership with AIRSHOW 2013 and the US Studies Centre. The Conference featured high-level international and national industry leaders.

New South Wales Advanced Biofuels Industry Roundtable

22 February 2013

The NSW Advanced Biofuels Industry Roundtable brought together Australian and American experts from the agricultural, aviation, maritime and defence sectors. They considered a NSW-based approach to this emerging industry, as well as public policy frameworks that will enable the industry to achieve its full potential, maximize the State’s existing competitive advantages and add value to the State’s resources and economy. The experts discussed how to leverage the US Navy’s interest in sailing the Great Green Fleet into Sydney Harbour in 2016 and the success of the Sustainable Maritime Fuels Forum that the US Studies Centre convened in February 2012.

VIDEOS & INTERVIEWS

Tornado rips through Oklahoma

Disaster recovery expert Edward Blakely says changes in the way houses are built, especially a lack of underground shelters, are partly responsible for the death toll following the tornado in Oklahoma City.

Obama to address drones, Guantanamo

Associate professor Brendon O'Connor previews Barack Obama's major defence speech, saying that the closing of Guantanamo Bay and the continued use of drone strikes are sure to be key issues.