2007-08 Series Details | KUT Audio Library
2007-08 Series: Austin and the "Flat" World
New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman wrote about the "flattening" of the world as an explanation for the way economies and people connect with one another in the 21st century. The lowering of trade and political barriers and the exponential technical advances of the digital revolution have made it possible to do business, or almost anything else, instantaneously with billions of other people across the planet.
How does the Austin region fit in this new flat world? Do we want to? Do we have a choice? The following were the topics explored under this theme for the 2007-08 Engage Speaker Series. Click on a link below to hear the audio recording.
October 2, 2007
How Austin Stacks Up: Defining our place in the global economy
Speakers:
- Gary Chapman - Director, The 21st Century Project, LBJ School of Public Affairs
- Brewster McCracken - Austin City Council Member
- Moderated by Jim Walker - Director, Central Texas Sustainability Indicators Project
People and Ideas in Motion: Communication and transportation
Speakers:
- Dr. Chandra R. Bhat - Adnan Abou-Ayyash Centennial Professor in Transportation Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
- Lee Walker - Board Chair, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority
- Moderated by Jim Walker - Director, Central Texas Sustainability Indicators Project
Top Talent, Big Business: Encouraging and retaining a competitive edge
Speakers:
- Betty Dunkerley - Mayor Pro Tem, City of Austin
- Jon Roberts - Managing Director, TIP Strategies; business and economic development consulting firm for both public and private-sector clients
- Moderated by Jim Walker - Director, Central Texas Sustainability Indicators Project
On the Scene in Central Texas: The international arts and cultural landscape
Speakers:
- Turk Pipkin - Writer, Director, and Executive Producer of the documentary feature Nobelity; author of ten books, including his latest, The Tao of Willie, coauthored with Willie Nelson; also recognized for his work as a comedian and an actor in "The Alamo," "Friday Night Lights," "A Scanner Darkly," and his recurring role on "The Soprano's."
- Moderated by Jim Walker - Director, Central Texas Sustainability Indicators Project
Planting Seeds, Growing Strong Entrepreneurs: Entrepreneurial support networks
Sponsored by: MSSTC at IC2 Institute, The University of Texas at Austin
Speakers:
- Laura Kilcrease - Founder and Managing Director, Triton Ventures, LLC
- Andy Martinez - President/CEO, Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Moderated by Jim Walker - Director, Central Texas Sustainability Indicators Project
The Global Economy: The good, the bad, and the ugly
Sponsored by: Compass Bank
Speakers:
- Blake Hastings - Vice President in Charge, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, San Antonio Branch
- Senator Kirk Watson - Texas State Senate, District 14
- Moderated by Jim Walker - Director, Central Texas Sustainability Indicators Project
Clean and Alternative Energy: What does this mean to the quality of life in Central Texas?
Sponsored by: Trademark Media
Speakers:
- Joel Serface, Director, Clean Energy Incubator
- John Rosshirt, Director, Texas Clean Energy Park
- Moderated by Jim Walker - Director, Central Texas Sustainability Indicators Project
Our Human Capital at Risk: Strengthening the Education Pipeline
Speakers:
- Susan Dawson - Executive Director, E3 Alliance
- Greg Hartman - Senior Vice President, University Medical Center at Brackenridge Hospital
- Moderated by Jim Walker - Director, Central Texas Sustainability Indicators Project