The Hitachi Center for Technology and International Affairs

Speaker Series

The HCTIA sponsors speakers throughout the year who represent the cutting edge in research, policymaking and on-the-ground initiatives that are at the crossroads of technology and international affairs.

2011-2012

  • Patrick Meier, Director of Crisis Mapping at Ushahidi

Topic: Do ‘Liberation Technologies’ Change the Balance of Power Between Repressive Regimes and Civil Society?

Date: Oct 4, 2011

 

  • Inspire the Next: Research Colloquium

Topic: Discussion of current Hitachi Research Institute projects and Fletcher student and faculty funded projects by HCTIA

Rachel Fredman: The Dictator’s Dilemma and the Politics of Telecommunications in Cuba: A Case Study
 
Prashanth Parameswaran: Beyond Damnation: Nam Theun 2 and the Future of Hydropower in the Mekong
 
Jim Platte: National Decision Making and the Nuclear Fuel Cycle in Japan: An Analysis of Influences
 
Elizabeth Yepsen: The Geography of Fiber Optics Infrastructure and GDP Growth: A Cross-Country Analysis

Date: Oct 19, 2011

 

  • Japan Round Table 2011

Topic: The Great East Japan Earthquake: Innovating for the Future

For details on the conference presentations and discussions, please see the conference summary

Date: Nov 18, 2011

 

2010-2011

  • David Porteous, Director, Bankable Frontier Associates LLC

Topic: Mobile Financial Services in Africa: On to the Third Generation

Date: Sep 22, 2010

 

  • Inspire the Next: Research Colloquium

Topic: Discussion of current Hitachi Research Institute projects and Fletcher student and faculty funded projects by HCTIA

Date: Oct 6, 2010

 

  • Alec Ross, Special Advisor for Innovation in the Office of Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton

Topic: 21st Century Statecraft

Date: Nov 2, 2010

 

  • Nicco Mele, Founder and Director, EchoDitto

Topic: Democracy and Foreign Policy in the Digital Age

Date: Mar 29, 2011

 

  • Mikel Maron and Erica Hagen, Frontline SMS

Topic: Community Information and Empowerment: Map Kibera and Grand Truth Initiative

Date: Apr 12, 2011

 

  • Drew Bennett, Smart Grid Industry Analyst, U.S. Dept of Commerce, International Trade Administration

Topic: Building the Clean Energy Super Highway: The Development of the Global Smart Grid and the Next Innovation Infrastructure

Date: Apr 25, 2011

 

2009-2010

  • Jonathan Zittrain, Professor of Law, Harvard Law School and Co-director of Berkman Center for Internet and Society

Topic: A Mutual Aid Treaty for the Internet

Date: Mar 10, 2010

 

  • Japanese Business and Technology Roundtable

Topic: Japanese Corporations and Bottom-of-the-Pyramid Business

Date: April 2, 2010

Program
Summary
Report

 

2008-2009

  • Nicholas Negroponte, founder of the MIT Media Lab and chairman of One Laptop per Child

Topic: Advancing the Power of Innovation

Date: Oct 23, 2008

 

  • Prof. Partha Ghosh, Visiting Professor of Strategic Management at the Fletcher School

Topic: Strategic Approaches to Innovation