A public forum titled “Why China? Why Wisconsin? Why now?” will highlight the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s growing engagement with the Greater China region and the importance of advancing these initiatives further.
A diverse panel of speakers will address a variety of topics, including Wisconsin’s historic ties with China through decades of scholarly exchange, the strategic importance of China to the state and its private sector, increased academic exchanges with China as exemplified by the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, and UW–Madison’s Shanghai Innovation Office, which opened last June.
The forum, sponsored by the Wisconsin China Initiative, will be held Wednesday, April 24, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., in the DeLuca Forum (Room 1255), at the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery, 330 N. Orchard St. The event is free and open to the public.
“Further strengthening ongoing efforts to engage the Greater China region is of vital importance to the present and future of UW–Madison,” says Nicole Huang, director of the Wisconsin China Initiative. “We must continue to build upon and expand our strong academic tradition in all areas and disciplines as related to that region. The urgency has to do with our core educational mission, for our students, faculty, alumni, and the future of the State of Wisconsin.”
Huang will moderate the panel discussion, which will include:
- UW–Madison Provost Paul M. DeLuca, who traveled to China this month as part of a Wisconsin trade mission led by Gov. Scott Walker
- Wade Fetzer, UW–Madison alumnus (BS ‘59), retired partner at Goldman Sachs and Co., member of Wisconsin China Initiative External Advisory Board, and former chair of the University of Wisconsin Foundation Board
- Guido Podestá, interim vice provost and dean, UW–Madison Division of International Studies
- Susan Zaeske, associate dean for advancement, arts and humanities, UW–Madison College of Letters and Science
- Janet Silbernagel, chair, Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development Program, UW–Madison Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies
Each panelist will make brief remarks, followed by a town hall-style question-and-answer session.
The event will be available for online viewing. To access the webcast, go to https://discovery200.webex.com/; search for “April 24 events”; select “China Town Hall 4/24/13 WebCast”; enter your name, email, and the meeting password (42413), allow Cisco WebEx Software Install, and enable your computer audio for playback.
– by Kerry G. Hill