Spring 2012 Lecture Series

The Franklin College Spring 2012 Lecture Series offers exciting and diverse topics coupled with esteemed speakers who will inspire new perspectives and challenge previous opinions.

Lectures will take place on a Thursday evening from 6:30 to 7:30pm in the Franklin College Auditorium. After each lecture there will be a small reception where the audience can meet the speaker and discuss the evening’s topic. The lectures are free of charge and open to the public. We hope you can join us!

For more information, please see our Spring 2012 Lecture Series program.

February 9 6:30-7:30 pm

A Few Committed People

Sergio Savoia
Director of the European Alpine Program for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Bellinzona, Switzerland

American anthropologist Margaret Mead said it best: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” The history of environmental activism proves Mead right. In the 50 years since the foundation of the WWF, incredible progress has been made. The mindset of people and governments around the world has changed.

This lecture, which was originally part of the Fall 2011 Lecture Series, has been rescheduled for this date. It is also part of the third edition of Franklin's annual "Be The Change" Conference and Franklin's Center for Sustainability. 

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March 8 6:30-7:30 pm

Financial Innovation for Society

Maria Pereira
Member of the Economics & Society Working Group for the National Commission of Justice and Peace, Portugal

The financial crisis has intensified debate about our financial system and has reinforced initiatives and action relating to biosphere economy, social enterprise, impact investing, microfinance, ethical finance and sustainable capitalism, among other things. The challenge that society faces is to provide for an ever-expanding population in a world of increasing shortages of resources, including financial capital. Jobs have to be created, goods and services provided, the natural capital preserved and social harmony ensured. Financial innovation has thus to veer away from financial engineering and aim toward providing real economic value to society in a sustainable fashion.

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March 29 6:30-7:30 pm

The Magic and Poetry of Havana

Julio César Pérez Hernández
Architect, urban planner, urban designer and author, Cuba

Settled by the harbor in 1519, Havana, capital of Cuba, is a city full of magic and poetry, a city with a spirit, genius loci, that gives life both to people and place. Its exceptional geographic position and the increased commercial activity of its harbor soon granted Havana a distinguished status among overseas colonies as ships stopped there either to be repaired or to wait for departure for Spain carrying cargoes of gold in convoy.

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April 19 6:30-7:30 pm

International Public Health: Culture, Faith and Social Justice

Nhan Tran
Manager, Implementation Research Platform (IRP), World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland

Before joining the World Health Organization, Dr. Tran worked as a health systems researcher at Johns Hopkins University, where he led the development of an HIV surveillance system in Afghanistan and conducted studies on improving road safety interventions in Russia, Cambodia and Vietnam. He also spent 10 years working with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where he designed and managed research studies to inform national strategies for the delivery of family planning services.

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Office of Public Relations, Franklin College Switzerland
Via Ponte Tresa 29, 6924 Sorengo
Consuelo Grieco
Tel: 091 986-3609 Fax: 091 986-3640 Email: cgrieco@fc.edu

Please check this webpage or our Events Calendar for any changes in the schedule.