International conference series established on contemporary social, political and economic issues

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
Lisa Shirota, (808) 956-7352
Communications Director, Social Sciences, Dean's Office
Posted: Feb 29, 2016

The first in an international colloquium series featured 30 scholarly experts.
The first in an international colloquium series featured 30 scholarly experts.
Representatives sign the memorandum of understanding.
Representatives sign the memorandum of understanding.

UH Mānoa, in partnership with Fulbright Canada and SUNY Plattsburgh, has announced the establishment of a multi-year international conference series addressing critical contemporary social, political and economic issues. The conference series, which will be held each February through 2019 and is partially funded through private donations by the Daniel K. Inouye Institute (DKII), furthers the commitment of these universities to collaborate and address the complex challenges facing our world today.

“Our new partnership with Fulbright Canada and SUNY Plattsburgh illustrates the resolve of the UH Mānoa College of Social Sciences to bring together scholars from top universities around the world, such as Yale, King’s College London and Université de Montréal, to focus on consequential topics from diverse fields of study," said CSS Dean Denise Eby Konan.  "The college’s unique geographical location allows for substantial exposure to influences from the eastern and western worlds, making it an ideal place to lead a dialog on global and multicultural issues facing society across North America and the Asia Pacific."

Added Dr. Michael K. Hawes, CEO of Fulbright Canada, “The Fulbright Program, established by the U.S. Congress in 1946 under legislation introduced by then-Senator J. William Fulbright, is dedicated to increasing mutual understanding between the U.S. and other countries. It is fitting, then, for the Daniel K. Inouye Institute to partner with us to bring forth this extraordinary opportunity.  Senators Fulbright and Inouye worked together for over a decade and shared a commitment to building cross-country understanding for the purpose of peace and reconciliation through scholarly understanding. This international conference series reflects the continuation of this great legacy."

Title of the first conference of the series was “Confronting Terror in Canada and the United States: Domestic and International Dimensions." Held at the UH Mānoa campus, it examined and evaluated North America’s response to domestic and international challenges posed by increasing incidents of violent extremism.

The title of the second conference, to be held in February 2017, is “Canada, the United States, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership: Change and Challenge in the Brave New World of International Economic Cooperation.” The colloquium will address the impact of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TTP) on Canada, the U.S., and its foreign economic policies and priorities.

Scholars seeking information about the February 2017 colloquium may contact Ivy Yeung, CSS international programs coordinator, at (808) 956-8747 or cssintl@hawaii.edu.

About The Fulbright Program and Fulbright Canada
The Fulbright Program is one of the most prestigious and highly regarded international academic exchange and public diplomacy program in the world. Today there are approximately 360,000 Fulbright alumni in more than 160 countries throughout the world, including: 54 Fulbright alumni from 14 countries who have been awarded the Nobel Prize; 29 alumni who are MacArthur Foundation Fellows; 82 alumni who have received Pulitzer Prizes; and 33 alumni who have served as heads of state or government.

Fulbright Canada is dedicated to the enhancement of mutual understanding between the people of Canada and the United States by providing support to students, scholars, teachers, and independent researchers through a variety of programs which are open to individuals in all academic fields with the exception of medical training. These individuals conduct research, lecture, or enroll in formal academic programs in the other country. In doing so, Fulbright Canada aims to grow intellectual capacity, increase productivity, and assist in the shaping of future leaders.

About SUNY Plattsburgh
SUNY Plattsburgh is home to a vibrant community of renowned teachers and nationally recognized scholars, dedicated to engaging students and helping them to succeed. SUNY Plattsburgh's remarkable campus culture and environment combine with an exceptionally high quality of teaching to produce success for students, while also challenging them to discover their potential, to seek new intellectual horizons, and to learn skills that can turn dreams into realities. It's an experience that calls students to explore new ground and reach still greater heights of achievement.

About the UH Mānoa College of Social Sciences
Marked by leadership, excellence and innovation, the College of Social Sciences (CSS) at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa provides students with a culturally diverse experience that transforms them into bold, engaged global citizens who affect change, break down barriers, touch lives and succeed in a multi-cultural context. Its student-centered environment id dedicated to providing students with a vibrant academic climate that affords exciting, intense interaction among students and faculty as they address fundamental questions about human behavior. Featuring outstanding scholarship through internships, active and service learning approaches to teaching, and an international focus particularly in the Asia Pacific region, it prepares students to become leaders in public and private enterprises throughout Hawai‘i and Asia.

(Full photo caption of group photo): 
“Confronting Terror in Canada and the United States,” the first in an international colloquium series, was held February 24-26, 2016, and featured approximately 30 scholarly experts in fields related to this topic. Pictured: Denise Eby Konan, dean, UH Mānoa College of Social Sciences (row 1, 3rd from right); John Ettling, president, SUNY Plattsburgh (row 1, 1st from left); Christopher Kirkey, director, Center for the Study of Canada and Institute on Quebec Studies, SUNY Plattsburgh (row 1, far right); and Michael Hawes, CEO, Fulbright Canada (row 2, far right).

(Full photo caption of signing photo):
Representatives from Fulbright Canada, SUNY Plattsburgh, UH Mānoa and UH Mānoa College of Social Sciences sign a memorandum of understanding establishing a multi-year international conference series addressing critical contemporary social, political and economic issues. Pictured from left: Christopher Kirkey, director, Center for the Study of Canada and Institute on Quebec Studies, SUNY Plattsburgh; John Ettling, president, SUNY Plattsburgh; Robert Bley-Vroman, chancellor, UH Mānoa; Michael Hawes, CEO, Fulbright Canada; and Denise Eby Konan, dean, UH Mānoa College of Social Sciences.

For more information, visit: http://www.socialsciences.hawaii.edu/