‘Bridges – Dialogues Towards a Culture of Peace’ (1st ASEAN wide event series in the Philippines and Thailand)
Nobel Laureates/keynote speakers visit De La Salle University
November 2007
Professor Robert Alexander Mundell, the 1999 Nobel Laureate for Economics at Columbia University in New York, who prepared the first plan for a common currency in Europe and is known as the father of the theory of optimum currency areas. He has established the foundation for the theory which dominates practical policy considerations of monetary and fisca l policy in open economies. His contributions to monetary dynamics constitute the core of teaching in international macroeconomics.
Professor Mundell lectured on “Economic development by fitting globalization into the national development strategy” and on “Remaking the international exchange rate system: The optimum currency area approach to a global currency” on November 15 at De La Salle University in Manila (in cooperation with Mapua Institute of Technology)
January 2008
Professor David Jonathan Gross, the 2004 Nobel Laureate for Physics at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics of the University of California in Santa Barbara. His work led to a completely new physical theory, quantum chromodynamics (QCD), which has been widely accepted to be the best understandi ng of how the universe works . This has brought physics one step closer to fulfilling a grand dream: to formulate a unified theory comprising gravity as well as a theory for everything.
Professor Gross spoke on “The coming revolutions in fundamental physics” on January 10 at De La Salle University in Manila
March 2008
Mr. James D. Wolfensohn, the President of the World Bank from 1995 to 2005 and currently the Chairman of the Citigroup International Advisory Board. As President of the World Bank he successfully led initiatives on debt reduction, environmental sustainability, anti corruption programs, AIDS prevention and treatment.
He developed activities on religion and culture and decentralized offices overseas linked by the most modern telecommunications system in the international community.
Mr. Wolfensohn spoke on “Beyond East-West, North-South – Peace and prosperity in a four speed world” on March 6 at De La Salle University in Manila
January 2009
Professor Jose Ramos-Horta, the President of Timor-Leste, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996 with Bishop Carlos Belo, the religious leader of East Timor, “to honor their sustained and self-sacrificing contributions for a small but oppressed people”. A portion of the funds received from the Nobel Prize were used to establish the Jos é Ramos-Horta Microcredit Fund for the Poor, which is in full operation today, with a payback rate of 97%.
President Ramos-Horta will speak on “Is long lasting peace an attainable dream?” on January 15 at De La Salle University in Manila (in cooperation with Far Eastern University)
.