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Delivering a Sustainable Future City
6 April 2013
The US Studies Centre, with the support of the New South Wales Government, invited local communities in New South Wales to participate in an exciting program which provided leaders of cities and towns the opportunity to explore, discover and test innovative ways to address some of the challenges they face.
The US, Australia and China with Kurt M Campbell
14 March 2013
Former US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Kurt Campbell, widely recognised as a key architect of the Obama administration’s pivot to Asia, gave a talk entitled "The US, Australia and China" at Customs House. The presentation, part of the United States Studies Centre’s Alliance 21 project, was followed by a Q&A session moderated by Centre Chief Executive and US-China expert Professor Bates Gill.
Low carbon jet fuel: The industry flight path
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.
AIRSHOW 2013 - Reception at Government House
26 February 2013
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. A reception was held at Victoria's Government House to welcome guests to AIRSHOW 2013.
New South Wales Advanced Biofuels Industry Roundtable
22 February 2013
Pressure is building globally and in Australia to reduce consumption of fossil (non-renewable) transport fuels. Transport sectors that cannot easily make the switch to alternative fuels such as gas or electricity are driving demand for advanced biofuels. These sectors include aviation, maritime, mining and defence. They recognise that they cannot continue to grow under a business as usual scenario with continuing strong dependence on fossil oil. Alternatives are required that assist with energy security and reduce carbon emissions.
Advanced biofuels, based on non-food biomass sources, include waste streams from agriculture, forestry, household and industrial sources, and dedicated energy crops that do not compete with the production of food. These fuels will have significantly smaller “ground to tail pipe” green house gas emissions compared to petroleum. Advanced biofuels need to seamlessly “drop-in” to, and be interchangeable with, petroleum in existing supply lines. Successful technologies will utilise existing assets to the greatest extent possible, deploy at meaningful scale (i.e., significant supply), ensure access at a price that is at parity with petroleum and meet societal needs.
This event brought together influential individuals from the advanced biofuels supply chain in Australia and the United States to discuss this emerging industry.
Evidence-Based Policymaking
29 January 2013
The term evidence-based policy; is in wide use today, but there is a large gap between the empirical analysis that academic experts recommend and what is typically done in policymaking circles. Partly this reflects a lack of communication between scholars and practitioners about advances in methodologies. A major development in the social sciences in the past two decades has been the refinement and application of experimental and quasi-experimental techniques for empirical analysis. In particular, scholarly work has emphasized the value of randomised evaluations as a method for measuring the effects of policies and programs. The approach has been applied to study a diverse range of issues, including job training, policing of domestic violence, health insurance, school vouchers, immunizations, microfinance, and household savings.
Australia/US Dialogue on Energy Security
6 December 2012
The Dialogue brought together a diverse group of high-level participants from the US and Australia to consider an issue of long-standing salience in the US and of growing significance in Australia.
Dynamics of 21st Century Trade and Investment in the Asia-Pacific: An Australia-US Perspective
30 November 2012
The evolving trade and investment dynamics in our region provide exciting opportunities for businesses and government leaders who understand our changing circumstances and have the vision to take advantage of developments. This public conference brought together high-level experts from Australia and the United States to analyse and debate some of the most important challenges and developments in the Asia-Pacific and what it means for Australians and Americans.
Perth USAsia Centre launch
13 November 2012
US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton took part in the launch of the Perth USAsia Centre, a new West Australian-based institution aimed at strengthening ties between the United States, Australia and the Asian region. Along with Federal Tertiary Education Minister Senator Chris Evans and State Premier Colin Barnett, and Centre CEO Bates Gill, Secretary Clinton unveiled a plaque commemorating the launch of the Perth USAsia Centre at The University of Western Australia.
Election Day Spectacular
7 November 2012
Election Day Spectacular was the biggest US Election Day event in Sydney! After months of intense campaigning by Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, Americans finally went to the polls to decide who would hold the keys to the White House for the next fours years. Friends, colleagues and political foes gathered to witness the US election results live at the Manning Bar.
VIDEOS & INTERVIEWS
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.
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