The Hiroshima Peace Institute (HPI) held its forth Public Lecture Series in English. In this program our lecturers presented a series of talks in English, focusing on intriguing topics in their fields of expertise. All lectures were free and open to the public.
Lecture 1
Date & Time: January 11, 2019, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Topic: “The Birth of Nuclear Power in the Manhattan Project: CP-1 and Hanford”
Lecturer: Robert Jacobs, Professor, Hiroshima Peace Institute, Hiroshima City University
Abstract: Nuclear power plants were invented to produce plutonium for nuclear weapons. This talk will look at the origins of nuclear power in the Manhattan Project. It will look at the first sustained chain-reaction at CP-1, and then the construction and operation of the first nuclear power plants at Hanford and Oak Ridge, which were all built for nuclear weapon manufacturing.
Profile of the lecturer: Jacobs is a historian of the social and cultural aspects of nuclear technologies. His recent work focuses on a global cross-cultural study of radiation affected communities.
Lecture 2
Date & Time: January 18, 2019, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Topic: “The 2018 Malaysian General Elections and its Impact on Domestic Politics”
Lecturer: Narayanan Ganesan, Professor, Hiroshima Peace Institute, Hiroshima City University
Abstract: The 2018 Malaysian general elections led to the Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) coalition storming into power and displacing the Barisan Nasional (National Front) government that has been in power since 1970. This talk will examine the impact of this opposition victory and its impact on the previous governmental coalition led by UMNO and its impact on the domestic political process and consociational model of politics in general.
Profile of the lecturer: Ganesan’s teaching and research interests are in Southeast Asian politics and foreign policy with a focus on issues that generate interstate and intrastate tensions.
Lecture 3
Date & Time: February 1, 2019, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Topic: “Contemporary Discussion on Post-Conflict Peacebuilding: Where Do States Fit in?”
Lecturer: Yoshiaki Furuzawa, Associate Professor, Faculty of International Studies, Hiroshima City University
Abstract: More than a quarter century after the Agenda for Peace (1992), peacebuilding has successfully proved to the international community that it is not a passing fad. The term peacebuilding is under extensive review, and many interesting questions are being asked by various researchers today. For example, some prefer to use statebuilding, and not peacebuilding. Why is this? A group of researchers coined a new term peace formation in addition to peacebuilding. What are the differences between peacebuilding and peace formation? And, why is peace formation necessary? While many questions are being asked, a key in understanding the contemporary discussion on peacebuilding is how we perceive states in today's world.
Profile of the lecturer: Furuzawa teaches conflict resolution. His research focuses primarily on peacebuilding policy in sub-Saharan Africa with a focus on Sierra Leone, Kenya, and Rwanda.
Lecture 4
Date & Time: February 8, 2019, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Topic: “Global Media: Politics and Communication”
Lecturer: Kyung Jin Ha, Associate Professor, Hiroshima Peace Institute, Hiroshima City University
Abstract: In this lecture we discuss the phenomena of global media and communication in modern society. For example, how does the media engage with and represent political issues, including war and civil movements? What kind of perspective is required to understand the dynamism of global communication? This lecture will answer those questions and deepen our critical understanding of global issues.
Profile of the lecturer: Ha obtained a doctorate in interdisciplinary information study from University of Tokyo in 2015. She conducts research in media and communication studies with a focus on the historical and theoretical transformation of public relations.
Venue:
Seminar Room, Satellite Campus, Hiroshima City University
9F Otemachi Heiwa Building, 4-1-1 Otemachi, Nakaku, Hiroshima
Capacity:
40 people (first-come-first-served basis)