We’re in the middle of Hilary term and the atmosphere at the Blavatnik School is buzzing: while the Admissions team is working around the clock to assess the hundreds of applications for our MPP and DPhil, our current MPP students are tackling the ‘science and public policy’ module which will help them become informed and critical consumers of scientific and medical advice.
Our events calendar is also brimming with events – some of them are just for students and alumni, but some others are open to the public.
Coming up first, is next week’s lecture “The End of Development” (Wednesday 25 March, 17:00) led by Professor Henrietta Moore, anthropologist and head of the Institute for Global Prosperity at London’s University College. Professor Moore will discuss the effectiveness of traditional aid to development with our Dean Ngaire Woods. In addition, we’re really excited to welcome BBC World Service who will be recording the lecture as part of their ‘A Richer World’ season. It’s the second time the BBC choses us as a venue, and we think it’s mostly down to our insightful and questioning students.
For those interested in global economics, the Global Economic Governance Programme are hosting the discussion "The World Trade Organisation: still relevant?" with Jonathan Fried, chair of the WTO General Council and Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada (Friday 27 February, 14:00).
We’ve also joined forces with Blackwell’s Bookshop on Broad Street, Oxford, for an interesting lunchtime talk in their atmospheric Norrington Room. Our Dean will talk to Walter Isaacson about his new book “The Innovators: How a Group of Inventors, Hackers, Geniuses and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution” (Wednesday 4 March, 13:00). Isaacson is the president and CEO of the Aspen Institute, and has been held leading roles at CNN and Time, so it will be interesting to hear his take on technological innovation.
Last but not least, a debate about the role of small states in international negotiations (Friday 6 March, 14:00) will bring together two veteran negotiators such as Quamrul Chowdury (UN Climate Negotiator) and Edwin Laurent (Director of the Ramphal Institute and senior advisor to UNEP).
We hope to see you at one of these events, and we look forward to involving students and public even more frequently once we move to our new building next September.
A complete list of upcoming events and information on how to attend and get involved is available on our events page
