Author Archives: Natalie Cox

MIIS Report on US Coastal Economies Lauded by Congressman Farr

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—National Ocean Economics Program Director Dr. Judith Kildow, Congressman Sam Farr, and Center for the Blue Economy Director Dr. Jason Scorse, who also serves as program chair of the Institute‘s International Environmental Policy program.

Presenting the 2014 State of the U.S. Ocean and Coastal Economies report at a press conference in Monterey on Monday, Dr. Judith Kildow, director of the National Ocean Economics Program at the Monterey Institute‘s Center for the Blue Economy, noted the imbalance between the economic importance of coasts and coastal oceans and the federal support for stewardship of these resources. According to the report, coastal states supply over 81 percent of American jobs and contribute $13 trillion to the economy, or 84 percent of GDP.

Rep. Farr lauded the NOEP report and said it was a very important contribution to the policy debate because it placed real economic value to our coastal resources. He said he was particularly happy that this important work was being done at the Monterey Institute, where he “went to study Spanish before joining the Peace Corps and going to Colombia.” Farr said there simply was “no place like MIIS anywhere.”

The press conference was covered by leading local news station KSBW and the Monterey County Weekly, and also mentioned in the Monterey Herald. For more on the the State of the U.S. Ocean and Coastal Economies 2014, visit oceaneconomics.org. The report can be downloaded here.

Read more at the MIIS Newsroom

Donor Pledges $2 million to Immersive Learning for MIIS Students

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—Students in the Monterey Institute’s unique immersive learning programs have the opportunity to work on real-life projects such as local development efforts in Peru.

The Monterey Institute has received a $2 million gift pledge from a donor who wishes to remain anonymous. The gift will be divided equally between support for the Institute’s unique immersive learning programs, which provide real-world professional opportunities for students as part of their academic experience, and the school’s endowment, which provides general support for all Institute activities.

“We are extremely grateful for this generous and visionary gift, which will allow us to expand opportunities for both students and faculty at the Monterey Institute,” commented President Sunder Ramaswamy. “Immersive learning is one of the signature elements of a Monterey Institute education, and this gift will allow us to explore new opportunities for our students to learn in the field as well as the classroom while enrolled here.”

Read more at the MIIS Newsroom.

MIIS Hosts Carmel Jewish Film Festival Finale Screening ‘The Attack’

JEWISH-FILM-FEST-TIX-copyOn Sunday March 9th, the Monterey Institute is thrilled to host the finale event of the Carmel Jewish Film Festival. The film “The Attack” will be screened with an expert panel discussion following, featuring key MIIS faculty members. Faculty panelists from MIIS include Dr. Beryl Levinger, Dr. Avner CohenBrigadier General (Ret.) Russ Howard,  and Dr. Nuket Kardem and Provost Dr. Amy Sands will be the panel moderator.

Join the Monterey Institute and greater community at 6:30pm on Sunday March 9th for the Reception, Film Screening, and Panel Discussion.

Visit the Film Festival’s website for tickets!

2014 MonTREP Conference: Terrorism and Counterterrorism in Africa

MonTREPMonTREP Conference ImageOn March 6th and 7th, the Monterey Terrorism Research and Education Program (MonTREP) will host its second annual Conference. Panelists will debate terrorism threats, counterterrorism measures, and illicit trafficking in Africa. MonTREP is pleased to welcome as Featured Keynote Speaker, former Arizona congressman, Jim Kolbe. View 2014 MonTREP Conference Agenda and Speaker Information, and Register Now to reserve your spot.

Renowned Pianist Kun Woo Paik in Salinas with the Monterey Symphony

Kun Woo PaikThe Monterey Institute and the Monterey Symphony are pleased to extend a special invitation to eMIISsaries to attend the February Innovation performance, featuring world renowned pianist, Kun Woo Paik, on Friday February 21st at 7:30 p.m..

Held at the newly renovated Steinbeck Institute of Art and Culture (formerly Sherwood Hall), this performance is a unique opportunity for eMIISsaries, as MIIS ambassadors, to experience a fresh side of Salinas.

As part of the Monterey Institute community, eMIISsaries can purchase discounted tickets for $5 to the Friday evening performance in Salinas. All tickets need to be purchased in advance by calling the Monterey Symphony box office directly at (831) 646-8511. We hope to see you there!

Kun Woo Paik lives in Paris, and serves as the Artistic Director of the  Festival International de Musique de Dinard. Paik played his first piano concert at the age of 10 with the Korean National Orchestra, studied in New York and London from the age of 15, and became an international sensation following performances in 1974 at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.  He has performed with the world’s most celebrated orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, St Petersburg Philharmonic, London Symphony, BBC Symphony, Orchestre de Paris, Berlin Symphony, Hungarian National, Oslo Philharmonic, Rotterdam and the Warsaw Philharmonic. The Monterey Symphony is honored to welcome him to the Peninsula, and to inaugurate the newly revitalized Steinbeck Institute of Art and Culture. Watch Kun Woo Paik play Chopin, Vals Op. 64 n. 2.

The Steinbeck Institute of Art and Culture
(formerly Sherwood Hall) in Salinas
Friday February 21st at 7:30 p.m.

Additional Performances at the Sunset Center in Carmel
Saturday February 22nd at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday February 23rd at 3:00 p.m.

Spring Semester Offerings for Our eMIISsaries

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“Red Garden”, Painting by President Emeritus Steven Baker

For Monterey Institute students, the arrival of spring means a new cohort of peer connections, fresh perspectives from January-term travels, and that hopeful eagerness surrounding commencement, job interviews, and turning theory into practice.

For eMIISsaries and the Monterey community, this spring brings an array of campus events, lectures, and engagement opportunities we’re pleased to extend to you. Here is a sampling of our spring season offerings:

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MIIS will host the film, ‘The Attack’, on March 9th

March 9th  –  The Monterey Institute will host the finale event of the Carmel Jewish Film Festival. The film “The Attack” will be screened with an expert panel discussion following, featuring key MIIS faculty members. Visit their website for tickets.

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Steve Hawkins, Executive Director, Amnesty International

April 11th  –  Human Rights Fair keynote speaker, Steve Hawkins, Executive Director of Amnesty International. Details to follow.

Monterey Symphony

Monterey Symphony Orchestra

May 1st  –  Inaugural Chamber Music Concert with the Monterey Symphony Orchestra, hosted by the Monterey Institute in the Irvine Auditorium. Details to follow.

Happy Holidays, eMIISsaries!

MIIS beachThe eMIISsaries Steering Committee wishes you and your family Happy Holidays and a Joyous New Year. Students, faculty, and staff at the Monterey Institute are grateful for your involvement in campus activities, and for making the Monterey Bay such a vibrant and supportive community for MIIS students from around the globe. We thank you for your support and engagement this year, and look forward to connecting you with a wide array of enriching cultural activities, speaker events, and conferences in 2014. Below is a sneak peek at several 2014 events, so mark your calendars early!

The New Year Sampler – Save These Dates!

 

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Followed by a MIIS faculty expert panel discussion

March 9 – Finale event of the Carmel Jewish Film Festival. The film “The Attack” will be screened with an expert panel discussion following, featuring key MIIS faculty members.

steve amnesty int'l

Steve Hawkins, Executive Director, Amnesty International

April 11 – Human Rights Fair keynote speaker, Steve Hawkins, Executive Director of Amnesty International.  

Marine Policy Speaker Series

Nov 19th marine policyJoin the Monterey Institute’s Center for the Blue Economy (CBE) as they continue to host the 2013 Marine Policy Speaker Series.

On Tuesday December 3rd, 6:00 to 7:30 pm, MIIS welcomes Cat Kuhlman (Deputy Secretary for Ocean and Coastal Matters, California Natural Resources Agency), and Skyli McAfee (Executive Director, California Ocean Science Trust) for a talk on Working in the boundary of ocean science and policy.

On Tuesday, December 10th, 6:00 to 7:30 pm, join a conversation with Andrew Kahrl (Assistant Professor of History, Marquette University): on Public versus Private Interests in the Coastal Zone. 

Both talks will be held in the McGowan Building (Room 102) at the Monterey Institute of International Studies.

TEDx MontereyWomen

TEDxWomenThe Monterey Institute community is thrilled to invite the eMIISsaries to join us for TEDxMontereyWomen on December 6th. The event includes screenings of TEDWomen talks from around the globe, as well as local speakers presenting enlightening perspectives on women and women’s issues. Local speakers include Paulette Lynch with  “Art is the Answer”, and Tonya Antle, with a talk entitled, “Why Stop Here?”.  Connect with community members and Monterey Institute students around these energizing topics. Join us on Friday December 6th, from 4:30 to 7:00 pm in the Irvine Auditorium, 499 Pierce Street, Monterey Institute of International Studies. Tickets are sold in advance online at www.tedxmonterey.org ($10 students, $20 adults). We look forward to seeing you there!

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