This format lends itself magnificently to allowing us to learn from the unfettered opinions of others … which have challenged my perspectives, Student.

A nice balance of listening and speaking … touching on a wide range of thought-provoking aspects without getting bogged down. The calibre of participants was also key … from student to CEO, Managing Director.

Welcome to ‘A Moment of Clarity’ - our curation of views on the challenges posed by COVID-19 from global subject matter experts and the Aspen Institute’s International Network.

See the latest posts:

• Aspen Fellows: Changing geo-politics of energy post COVID world.

• Wired: Open source can play a pivotal role in fighting Covid-19.

A message from Aspen Institute President and CEO Dan Porterfield, Washington DC.

Dear Friends,

One of the great lessons of history is that in moments of crisis, our communities sustain us. And since our founding, the Aspen Institute has been committed to not only the creation of a free, just, and equitable society, but to fostering strong communities among our many partners and friends. Indeed, the ways in which we connect with each other are at the heart of our work and our impact.

The statement below was released by members of the Aspen Ministers Forum on February 18, 2020. We are a group of former foreign ministers from around the world who met recently to discuss one of the most urgent challenges of our time: the deepening global environmental crisis. It is clear to us from these discussions that climate change, ecosystem degradation, and the excessive exploitation of natural resources are now threatening millions of species with extinction and jeopardizing the health of our planet.

The inaugural Aspen New Zealand Seminar titled ‘Leadership, Sustainability and the Good Society’ was held at Millbrook Resort earlier this month. Todd Breyfogle, the Aspen Institute’s Managing Director of the Executive Leadership Programme, moderated the sessions over four days which embodied classical, humanitarian and leadership issues as well as current tensions and consequences.

Sandy Mandic, Associate Professor at the University of Otago, shares her experience at the CityLab 2019 Convention in Washington, DC last month. Sandy was delighted to be nominated by the Aspen Institute New Zealand to attend.

AI is over 60 years old, but in the past five years, it has exploded into the news and major media. This seminar addressed the factors leading to the recent successes of AI and machine learning and provided examples of economic and medical opportunities, and the social risks associated with AI and privacy, autonomous systems, and potentially democratic institutions.