2012 aspen ideas program guide

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13#AspenIdeas aspen ideas festival 2012

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Technology and DemocracyAn interview with Google’s executive chairman.Eric SchmidtInTErvIEwEr Jeffrey Goldberg

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will The European Union Survive?The EU’s economic crisis has brought its member nations to a historic moment. The present limited pooling of sovereignty is failing. Either the Union moves closer to becoming the United States of Europe, or it risks breaking up altogether. Unfortunately, Europe’s citizens don’t like either choice.richard HaassSimon Johnson Beppe SevergniniMoDEraTor Clive Crook

arab Spring: 18 Months Laterwhat’s ahead for Democracy?nicholas BurnsDavid rothkopf Toni verstandigMoDEraTor Hala Gorani

what Should the US Care about?nicholas Burnsrichard HaassJane HarmanInTErvIEwEr Jeffrey Goldberg

US and DemocracyWhat has happened to our own system of government? Is America the gold standard for the exercise of democracy? Has American democracy been captured by economic interests? Has hyper-individualism rendered us fractured and stuck? Do individual votes matter?E.J. DionneDavid rothkopfMoDEraTor Elliot Gerson

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3What are the prospects for democracy around the globe? Can countries embroiled in conflict over governance make a planned and peaceful transition? Is American democracy worth emulating? What does “democracy” really mean today, and is this the best system for everyone?

what Is Democracy? Does It work?From the Greek, “rule of the people,” “democracy” is a form of government wherein all the citizens of a nation determine policy: laws and actions. Does it work?David Kennedy Sanford v. Levinsonruss MuirheadMoDEraTor Chrystia Freeland

our Constitution at a Crossroads: Does the System need reformOur constitution serves as the foundation and charter to the United State’s system of government. It has created a resilient and adaptive system, but there are signs of stress emerging in that system. Some question whether the centuries-old system is up to facing today’s global issues, and if perhaps it is time for significant reform. A distinguished panel comprising some of the nation’s leading constitutional scholars will discuss the current challenges facing our Constitution system and discuss options to address them.Pamela S. Karlan Sanford v. Levinsonrichard a. Pildes Jed rudenfeldMoDEraTor richard wilhelm

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14 aspen ideas festival 2012 #AspenIdeas

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TraCK FaCTS Over 90 percent of Muslims and Arabs polled in 10 Muslim-majority countries consider democracy to be the best form of government.

–Middleeastwindow.com, May 2012A survey of 2,500 Arab youth in 12 Middle Eastern countries examined 12 Middle Eastern countries and found that the youth in all of them unequivocally placed being paid a fair wage as their top priority, above living in a democracy and receiving reliable healthcare, the top two priorities in 2011.

–The Jerusalem Post, May 2012

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China and DemocracyIn much of the world, China is admired—or feared—as the rising new model of economic achievement under ruthlessly effective government direction. In the eyes of many others, the Chinese model is increasingly showing its contradictions and limits: economic, environmental, social, and political. Two of the world’s leading exponents of these respective views discuss where they disagree, and why—and what the next stage is most likely to hold for the world’s most populous and (until recently) fastest-growing nationEric X. Li Mixin PeiMoDEraTor James Fallows

women and DemocracyRemarkable women from diverse countries explain their challenges in the quest for democratic change.Laura alonsoKah wallaamira Yahyaoui MoDEraTor Steve Clemons

Vital Voices: The Power of Women Leading Change around the World Four global leaders discuss emerging leadership models led by women and how these models are redefining the concept of power. Will these women reshape our world? Laura alonsoKah wallaamira YahyaouiMoDEraTor alyse nelson

BBC world Service’s “The Forum”: america’s role in the worldDavid Brooksrichard Haassanne-Marie SlaughterMoDEraTor Bridget Kendall

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This jobless era is rewriting the lives—and futures—of countless Americans old, young, and in between. How will we recover? This track takes a hard look at our jobs future, fiscal and monetary policy, debt, and stimulus. Is this America’s “lost decade”?

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an american Competitiveness agendaThrough Honeywell chairman and CEO David Cote’s tenure, stock price is up 84 percent and total shareowner return is plus 215 percent, outperforming the S&P 500. What does the United States need to do to compete as effectively on the world market? Cote has a strategy.Dave CoteInTErvIEwEr Chrystia Freeland

Can Corporate values Drive Shareholder value?Balancing profit with a social conscience. Howard SchultzInTErvIEwEr Joe nocera

The Creative EconomySince the list’s inception, Shelly Lazarus, chair of Ogilvy & Mather, has consistently appeared in Fortune magazine’s annual ranking of America’s 50 Most Powerful Women in Business. She shares her views on what it will take for brands, at home and abroad, to successfully bridge old and new media and stay competitive in a very demanding global market. Shelly LazarusInTErvIEwEr Gillian Tett

recovering from Financial CrisesA conversation with the president’s chief economist, Alan Krueger, will focus on current recovery as it compares to previous recoveries in America and around the world. This conversation will touch on themes discussed in the 2012 Economic Report of the President as well as in Chairman Krueger’s April 2012 speech “Reversing the Middle-Class Jobs Deficit.”alan KruegerInTErvIEwEr Chrystia Freeland

will the recession Ever End?David rubensteinMortimer B. Zuckerman

Can we Compete?What does the global economy portend for American companies, small and large? Are we competitive, are investors safe, and are consumers at home and abroad still enamored with American goods and services? The head of the Export Import Bank, a chief economist, and a chief investment officer debate the prospects.Marco annunziataFred P. HochbergChristopher M. HyzyMoDEraTor Maria Bartiromo

Can the Federal reserve Stimulate the Economy? Dallas Federal Reserve Chair Richard Fisher discusses the delicate balance between government and the market.richard w. Fisher InTErvIEwEr Maria Bartiromo

Is regulation Killing the Economy?Beth BrookeGlenn HubbardMoDEraTor Clive Crook

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TraCK FaCTS

Full-time working women in America earned only 82.2 percent of men’s median weekly earnings last year, according to a new report by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, a think-tank in Washington, DC. Women earned less than men in almost all occupations.

–The Economist, April 2012

40 percent of small businesses surveyed said they would expand their operations and hire more people if they could get credit, and they can’t get credit.

–TIME, Nov. 2011

Co-Presented with NBC News’ “Education Nation”

Is College for Everyone?Is college what it’s cracked up to be in this troubled economy? We know a high-school education is imperative for basic job skills, but does a liberal arts education match?Jamie MerisotisTed MitchellEduardo PadronMoDEraTor andrea Mitchell

Knowledge Exchange:The new Professional The new professional no longer learns one task or works in one industry for life. Gone are the days of assembly-line production and when 9 to 5 meant a separation of work and home. The new professionals are dedicated to a values-based work environment that will offer a connection to what they believe in, and they will only stay engaged through a company’s ability to tap into creative, analytical, dimensional, and collaborative solutions. How can companies adjust and embrace new paradigms, new segmentations, and new organizational initiatives to suit the new professional?reid HoffmanMark PennSusan PetersDeirdre StanleyMoDEraTor Heidi Moore

Underwritten by Thomson Reuters

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Has Maximizing value Endangered america’s Great Companies?Corporations are the engines of America’s prosperity. Yet The Economist says they are an endangered species. In the last 15 years, the number of publicly listed corporations has shrunk by almost 50 percent! Worse, polls tell us corporations have lost much public favor and are sometimes even seen as destructive to the general welfare. The result is the threat of ever more regulation. What is happening? And why? Are corporations responding to the wrong incentives? If so, is it because today’s shareholders are more typically short-term speculators than long-term investors? What is the purpose of the corporation? This panel will step back and examine the corporation’s purpose from historical, legal, economic, and moral perspectives.Thomas DonaldsonShelly LazarusHoward SchultzLynn a. StoutMoDEraTor Gillian Tett

Health and the US EconomyWith health spending representing nearly one-fifth of US GDP, the debate on fixing the US economy is inextricably bound to the debate on fixing US health care. As health care costs grow from $2.6 trillion to an officially projected $4.6 trillion over the coming decade, what will be the impact on family incomes, business performance, and state and federal budgets? Can the debate on taxes and government spending be resolved without serious health care entitlement reform? And how to assess the positive economic effects from a US health sector that is a vibrant jobs creator and source of export-led growth? Martin GaynorElizabeth nabelPeter orszagMoDEraTor Jimmy Henry

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what will It Take to renew our Cities?Nowhere have the voices of the 99 percent been heard more forcefully than in the squares of America’s cities—some of which are in the midst of painful, albeit powerful, cycles of change. A handful of cities across the country are showing glimmers of success in launching jobs programs, promoting civic leadership, and renewing their downtowns. This session will explore the lessons learned and opportunities ahead for two of America’s most innovative mayors.Lisa P. JacksonMitch Landrieu annise Parker MoDEraTor Michele norris

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will Technology Beat Us? Why has median income stopped rising in the United States? Why is the share of the population that is working falling so rapidly? Why are our economy and society becoming more unequal? We just might find answers in the digital revolution. While touted for accelerating innovation and driving productivity in some quarters, digital technologies are rapidly invading workplaces that used to belong to humans alone. Should we be worried? andrew Mcafee

The United States and Europe: the Drags on Global Growth alan GreenspanInTErvIEwEr David Leonhardt

Learning with new orleansA conversation with Mayor Mitch Landrieu.Mitch LandrieuInTErvIEwEr walter Isaacson

Investing in Markets: Safe or Unsafe?Keith BanksInTErvIEwEr william E. Mayer

why we’ll remain PreeminentLawrence Summers is optimistic about the country’s future, crediting beyond our economic position the strength of our universities and the talent they cultivate. What does he worry about? Among may weaknesses, K-12 education among them, our reluctance to cultivate an ethos that embraces ambition rather than one that condemns it, and the general distrust of government and its stakeholders.Lawrence H. SummersInTErvIEwEr Elliot Gerson

The Road to FreedomEntrepreneurship, personal responsibility, and upward mobility: These traditions are at the heart of the free-enterprise system and have long been central to America’s exceptional culture. In recent years, however, policymakers have dramatically weakened these traditions—by exploding the size of government, propping up their corporate cronies, and trying to reorient our system from rewarding merit to redistributing wealth. In The Road to Freedom, Arthur C. Brooks shows that this trend cannot be reversed through materialistic appeals about the economic efficiency of capitalism. arthur C. BrooksInTErvIEwEr Clive Crook

why we Don’t want Everyone to Go to HarvardCommunity colleges, skills-training programs, and even for-profit institutions have made great strides in the last decade in readying thousands of people for good jobs in an increasingly uncertain economy. What are the opportunities and challenges for students at these institutions, and how will the economy benefit from their training. How can we ensure the United States does not lag behind globally as an educator?Ellen alberdingEduardo Padronothers TBa

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Six Degrees of Separation: How Do our Connections Improve our Lives? Our networks—personal and professional relationships, club memberships, and faith communities, among others—help us to get jobs, advance our careers, and build economic mobility. How does “who we know” help us move up the economic ladder, and what can be done—socially, economically, and politically—to strengthen social capital as a key ingredient to breaking the grip of poverty?anne Mosle robert D. PutnamMario SmallMoDEraTor David Leonhardt

The Start-Up of YouWhy should you look at your career as a start-up? Because you know how to build your professional network, you take smart risks, and you take advantage of uncertainty. Author and Linked-In founder Reid Hoffman discusses the enterprising spirit of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and draws lessons for all of us seeking a focused career in an unsteady market.reid HoffmanInTErvIEwEr Joichi Ito

Best Practices in Sustaining a Legacy of values across GenerationsWhat kind of world do we want to create, protect, and leave behind? We transfer wealth as we can, but more importantly, what we really want our children to understand is our values. Chris Heilmann

Underwritten by U.S. Trust

B R e A k FA s t s / lu n c h e s

women Philanthropists: Doing It DifferentlyThe original definition of philanthropy is “the love of humankind.” Going back to the roots of this word, how are leading women philanthropists approaching giving with a humanitarian lens? What does it mean to be a woman philanthropist today, how did they create their philanthropic agenda, and how might these women influence a younger and broader generation of philanthropists?Jackie BezosTory BurchMerle Chambersann B. FriedmanLaurie TischMonique villaMoDEraTor anne Mosle

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Need, Speed, and Greed The book’s subtitle is the best description for this talk: How the New Rules of Innovation Can Transform Businesses, Propel Nations to Greatness, and Tame the World’s Most Wicked Problems. The author will discuss his insightful assessment of the changing global economy, complete with recommendations for how companies can thrive in a perpetually disruptive environment.vijay vaitheeswaran

White House Burning: The Founding Fathers, Our National Debt, and Why It Matters To YouAmerica is mired in debt—more than $30,000 for every man, woman, and child. Bitter fighting over deficits, taxes, and spending bedevils Washington, even as partisan gridlock has brought the government to the brink of default. Yet the more politicians on both sides of the aisle rant and the citizenry fumes, the more things seem to remain the same. Simon JohnsonMoDEraTor Chrystia Freeland

Entrepreneurship 2012 Would you start a business today? In this tough economic environment, what does it take to be a successful entrepreneur? Beth a. Brooke

Can we Solve the Debt Crisis?Simon JohnsonMoDEraTor Kai ryssdal


“Marketplace” LiveEver wonder what goes on behind the scenes at the number one rated business program in the United States? Well, here’s your chance to see economic news in action, to be part of the action as Marketplace goes on-air. Marketplace’s Kai Ryssdal hosts a live show at the Aspen Ideas Festival in front of an audience. Get a taste of Marketplace’s irreverent and insightful coverage of the money, business, and economic news that influence’s your life. And stay for a Q&A after the live show.David BreashearsTory BurchHeidi Mooreadditional Guests TBaMoDEraTor Kai ryssda

Detropia: a Film and DiscussionDetroit was the birthplace of the middle class, an industrial utopia where anyone who worked hard enough could experience the American dream. Today, Detroit is on the brink of bankruptcy. How the Motor City reboots itself will set the example for countless other post-industrial cities with similar fates.Heidi Ewingrachel GradyMoDEraTor Charlie Firestone

reinventing Community, Finding Lost HillsLynda resnickInTErvIEwEr walter Isaacson

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gThe world’s population surpassed seven billion in the fall of 2011, and each additional billion has accumulated more quickly than the last. With burgeoning youth populations in the poorest parts of the world and rapidly growing middle classes elsewhere, demands on natural resources, transportation systems, health services, and housing raise pressing challenges regarding water, energy, urban design, and quality of life. What are the best ideas for tackling this global collision between population pressures, dwindling natural resources, health, and growth?

Exploring the rational Middle: How Do we Stay There in the natural Gas Debate?While there’s little doubt the world needs all possible energy sources to meet growing future demand, controversy surrounds the role that natural gas should play. Concerns, misinformation and confusion—especially around shale gas and the practice of hydraulic fracturing—have led to often-polarizing debate that threatens to hinder development of this critical, abundant natural resource. How can we work together to stay in the rational middle, where fact-based discussions lead to realistic decisions and solutions that can help us realize the promise of natural gas, safely and responsibly?russ FordGregory Kallenbergalexis KarolidesMoDEraTor alexis Madrigal

Underwritten by Shell

F e s t i VA l P R e V i e W c e O s e R i e s

The role of Business in addressing the nine BillionWhat role can the private sector play and how can we partner

with NGOs and government to address the challenges

society is facing?

C. Douglas McMillonInTErvEwEr James Fallows

The Population ChallengeWorld population passed seven billion in 2011, and both the Aspen Institute and National Geographic magazine explored the meaning of this historic moment in a year-long series of forums and articles. This kick off discussion for the “Our Planet: Seven Billion and Counting” track will take you on a vivid slide show tour of our expanding presence that examines the implication, challenges, and opportunities for humanity as we grow towards a projected nine billion people at mid-century.Dennis DimickHelene GayleMoDEraTor Joel achenbach

with support from the United States Agency

for International Development (USAID)

advice for the MegacityBy 2030, two out of three people will live in an urban area. What are the best practices for managing transportation, health care, job creation, sanitation, and more? What can urban governments do to manage megacities?richard M. DaleyInTErvIEwEr richard Florida

How Do we See The world?Marissa MayerInTErvIEwEr vijay vaitheeswaran

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How will we Feed nine Billion of Us?A global food crisis is upon us, with variable weather, poor harvests, and political turmoil sending food prices soaring to all-time highs. At the same time, the planet’s population has surpassed seven billion, and serious food shortages continue to affect many vulnerable regions. Join leading innovators as they design the next generation of solutions to ensure that no one goes hungry. Lauren BushTom DaschleHelene D. GayleBeth SauerhaftMoDEraTor Dan Glickman with support from the United States Agency


The Earth in 2050: what Is the Stress nexus of Food, Energy, and water?By the year 2050, Earth will be home to more than nine billion people—an increase of more than two billion over today’s current population. Concerns are escalating about the planet’s finite resources and the increasing pressures they will be placed under by a growing, aging, and more affluent population in the coming decades. When we examine what needs to be done to address the gap between available resources and the growing demand for energy, it becomes clear that the drivers of the world’s energy challenges are the same drivers of our environmental and economic challenges. What is the “stress nexus,” and what opportunities are there to address this challenge?Marvin odumInTErvIEwEr TBa

How Can we Create “Smart” Transportation?Will a combination of high-tech transportation (bullet trains and light rail) and low-cost transportation (biking and walking) define the city of the future in order to reduce congestion and air pollution? Will automobiles be left behind, and, if not, what form will they take in the city of the future? What other factors will influence the face of transportation? How do we ensure access for all? ray LaHoodPeter TrickMoDEraTor richard Florida

Is water the next Global Security Threat?Despite the seemingly endless supply of water in the developed world, many countries are facing devastating water shortages that threaten individuals and communities with drought, starvation, and armed conflict. How does water access affect broader global security concerns, including interstate relations and transboundary conflicts? How do long-term trends predict water’s role in security issues? Is water the flashpoint for the next major conflict in developing countries?Sylvia LeeSteven McCormickGary whiteMoDEraTor Joel achenbach

The Politics of SexEven as the world’s population surpasses seven billion, conversations about sex, population, and reproductive health have become a charged third rail. Contraception is hotly debated from town halls to insurance company boardrooms to the floor of the United Nations. What do families want? With more than 215 million women in the world wanting access to reproductive health services, yet unable to get them, how can population politics meet reality?Christopher EliasMusimbi KanyoroTimothy E. wirthMoDEraTor Monique villa with support from the United States Agency


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TraCK FaCTSWhen women and girls earn income, they reinvest 90 percent of it into their families, as compared to only 30-40 percent reinvested in families by men.

—“The Girl Effect,” CARE, Oct. 2010

When a girl in the developing world receives at least seven years of education, she marries four years later and has 2.2 fewer children.

—UNPF, State of World Population, 1990

Nearly four out of ten girls in developing countries marry before their 18th birthday.


Sustainability redux: radical ChangemakersIn 1987, the Brundtland Commission first coined the term “sustainable development.” Five years later, the 1992 Earth Summit established an interdependent foundation built upon economic, social, and environmental pillars. World leaders gathered again this June at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) to address the challenges at the intersection of the environment, population dynamics, and economics. In this time of significant global economic upheaval, it is critical to prioritize innovative approaches that provide sustainable benefits for families, communities, and nations. How should we capitalize on the momentum generated by Rio+20?Musimbi KanyoroBilly ParishTimothy E. wirthMoDEraTor Peggy Clark

with support from the United States Agency


The Geography of Progress: what Do Cities Look Like in a world of Seven Billion?Ours is an urban world. Cities and metro areas are the principal source of economic progress for the global economy. More than half the world’s population lives in cities and metro areas, a proportion that is projected to grow to roughly three-quarters. But until recently, we have lacked the kind of data and information required to understand the role, function, and disparities among the world’s cities. This talk provides a data-driven assessment of global cities in a world of seven billion, using data from satellite images from space of the world at night.richard Florida

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what will Fuel the automobile of the Future?ray LaHoodLisa P. Jackson

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14 percent of girls in developing countries are married before the age of 15 and 38 percent are married before the age of 18.


Before the second half of the 20th century, no person had lived through a doubling of global population. Today, some have lived through a tripling.

—Science, Nov. 2003 Achieving universal access to voluntary contraception would reduce population

growth by about 20 percent. —Lancet, Nov. 2006

“rivers of Ice”: vanishing Glaciers of the Greater HimalayaThe Himalaya are home to the world’s most magnificent peaks and thousands of high-altitude glaciers. These important glaciers supply crucial seasonal flows to rivers across Asia, yet many are disappearing at an increasing rate. “Rivers of Ice” presents recent photographs by mountaineer and photographer David Breashears of the world’s least studied glaciers alongside archival photographs taken over the past century by the world’s greatest alpine photographers. The comparison starkly reveals the alarming loss of ice during the intervening years.David Breashears

Making Good: Finding Meaning, Money, and Community in a Changing WorldAs we emerge from the recession, a generation is searching for practical ways to succeed financially while also making positive changes in the world. From energy to food to education, Making Good outlines how to do this. These opportunities are not just for entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies: Making Good outlines step by step how anyone can achieve financial autonomy, capitalize on global changes to infrastructure, and learn from everyday success stories—providing the skills and insight this generation needs to succeed.Billy Parish

SPEaKEr SaLonCan we Design our way out of Poverty?In 2011, IDEO, the world-renowned design and innovation company, launched IDEO.org, a nonprofit committed to the eradication of poverty by applying design-based methods to challenges in areas such as health, sanitation, education, and agriculture. IDEO.org’s mission is to foster and spread design in the social sector by making all projects open and sharable. Join IDEO CEO Tim Brown and IDEO.org Executive Director Jocelyn Wyatt to discuss learnings and insights about how design-thinking is driving new possibilities in philanthropy and social innovation.Tim BrownJocelyn wyatt

Chasing Icea Film and DiscussionIn the spring of 2005, internationally renowned environmental photographer James Balog headed to the Arctic on a tricky assignment: to capture images to help tell the story of the Earth’s changing climate. Within months, he conceived the boldest expedition of his life: the Extreme Ice Survey. With a band of young adventurers in tow, Balog began deploying revolutionary time-lapse cameras across the Arctic to capture a multi-year record of the world’s changing glaciers.James Balog

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Theater That MattersWhat is the theater that matters? In our digital age, how does the theater speak to our times? Can theater be a force for social justice and positive change? Join a panel of dynamic directors and producers as they debate the importance of theater today.

oskar EustisGregory Mosheranna Deavere SmithJulie TaymorMoDEraTor rocco Landesman

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In Conversation: Julie TaymorWorld-renowned theater, film, and opera director Julie Taymor, a Harman-Eisner artist in residence, in conversation with entertainment industry leader Michael Eisner, discussing Taymor’s career and her vision for the future of storytelling and entertainment. Julie TaymorInTErvIEwEr Michael Eisner

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Culture and ConflictIn conflict areas around the globe, the best diplomatic efforts still often leave children trapped in a cycle of endless enmity, born into a seemingly inevitable pattern of distrust. How can the arts help to bridge cultures and create the possibility of easing conflicts? Can music and dance teach children to overcome prejudice and enable understanding and respect?Pierre DulaineMerlijn TwaalfhovenMoDEraTor Damian woetzel

radical Creative SpacesHow can a space serve more than a singular purpose? When does a space become an experience in itself? Is the use of space the way we shape ourselves as a people, and shouldn’t we pay more attention to it if that is so? Join innovative architect Liz Diller, Harman-Eisner artist in residence, for an exploration of architecture and spaces that defy categorization and create new interdisciplinary environments unique to the 21st century. Elizabeth Diller

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arts in EducationIn recent years, a focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)-based curriculum and standard metrics has taken hold in schools across the country, but a growing chorus has argued that this focus is too limiting to foster an engaged and enlightened citizenry and a creative workforce. How can arts education best contribute to building the successful schools and minds we need? Are the arts key to creativity?Howard GardnerJonah LehrerDamian woetzelMoDEraTor andrea Mitchell

Community and the arts: all art Is LocalArtists and arts organizations are uniquely positioned to contribute to their communities. This panel explores how the arts can be leveraged to increase public engagement. Can the arts create a stronger sense of connection between people at the local level? What are the services that artists can provide their community and other local artists? How can art and artists enrich the communities around them? Theaster Gates Laura Zabel MoDEraTor Damian woetzel

Art Matters at the Ideas Festival considers how the arts make an essential difference—not just in the lives of individuals but also for society at large, from education, economics, and diplomacy to our national conscience and legacy. For this track, artists, educators, experts, and policymakers gather to explore how the arts affect our lives and can change the world.

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Making Cities SingIn urban centers around the country, local governments are looking to attract emerging industries and the next generation of entrepreneurs. At the same time, there is an increasing synergy between cities, philanthropies, and arts organizations looking for ways to promote an environment hospitable to a creative economy. How have the arts and policymakers collaborated? What are the initiatives that can make our cities sing? rocco LandesmanDennis SchollDarren walkerMoDEraTor richard Florida

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Joe Papp in Five ActsFilm and Panel DiscussionThis documentary tells the story of New York’s indomitable, streetwise champion of the arts, Joe Papp—founder of The Public Theater and free Shakespeare in the Park—who introduced interracial casting to the American stage and nurtured an entire generation of artists, along with their works, from Hair to A Chorus Line.Tracie HolderInTErvIEwEr oskar Eustis

A presentation of “NEW VIEWS: Documentaries & Dialog,”

co-presented by The Aspen Institute and AspenFILM

In Conversation with Stanley TucciInTErvIEwEr Jeffrey Goldberg

Ballroom DancingPierre Dulaine, whose work in schools was the subject of the award-winning documentary Mad, Hot Ballroom and the feature film Take the Lead, will demonstrate how his Dancing Classrooms program works by teaching Festival attendees some ballroom dance moves!Pierre Dulaine

In Conversation with MobyAn acclaimed musician, DJ, and photograoher, Moby is also known for his interest in architecture. Moby has sold more than 20 million albums.InTErvIEwEr Tim Brown

True Believers“In True Believers, Kurt Andersen—the New York Times best-selling and critically acclaimed author of Heyday and Turn of the Century—delivers his most powerful and moving novel yet. Dazzling in its wit and effervescent insight, this kaleidoscopic tour de force of cultural observation and seductive storytelling alternates between the present and the 1960s—and indelibly captures the enduring impact of that time on the ways we live now. Kurt andersenInTErvIEwEr walter Isaacson

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Who should be our next president? To examine the key issues that define the candidates’ platforms, we’ll enlist top policy advisors, political analysts, and other insiders to review diverging positions on economic recovery, immigration, health care, education, and foreign policy. We’ll also explore questions of leadership style and personality. What choice will you make?

where Do we Go next with US Foreign Policy?nicholas Burnsrobert KaganJames Steinberg MoDEraTor: Jeffrey Goldberg

Coding the next Chapter of american HstoryGovernment is what we do together. How disruptive can digital technology be to actually make it work better? Jennifer Pahlka

Charlie rose: The InterviewInTErvIEwEr walter Isaacson

Congress’s Fall From Grace Is one party to blame? What can be done?ron BrownsteinTom DaschleMickey EdwardsDan Glickmanvin weberMoDEraTor Jane Harman

US and MexicoImmigration, economic growth, leadership, drug wars, poverty. Both countries deal with the same issues. Will the relationship improve? What does the United States most need to understand about Mexico? ricardo SalinasInTErvIEwEr walter Isaacson

america’s Domestic outlookWhat’s best for the United States moving ahead when it comes to immigration, health care, jobs creation, education, and more? A former White House policy advisor and a former congressman suggest there are different ways to look at this. We will decide what approach we like best in November.Melody Barnesvin weber

Our Divided Political HeartE.J. DionneInTErvIEwEr Molly Ball

Can we Be Energy Independent?In addition to having a global perspective, the United States must establish a comprehensive energy policy. If not, rich US natural resources that can serve as powerful energy sources might not see their full potential. The session will discuss how having “all the arrows in the quiver”—diverse fuel sources, technology innovation, energy efficiency—can meet the energy needs of the Earth’s burgeoning population. Tom FanningPeter orszagMoDEraTor andrew ross Sorkin

requiem for the american Dream? Unequal opportunity in americarobert Putnam

what will It Take to Govern in This Highly Polarized Environment? Mickey Edwardsnorm ornstein InTErvIEwEr Gwen Ifill

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Can Teacher Unions Be Partners in reforming Schools in the 21st Century? The president of the American Federation of Teachers discusses her agenda, which includes reforming tenure, proposing a comprehensive teacher evaluation, and development program, helping to develop and promote the common core standards, and creating public-private partnerships to take over the nation’s poorest schools. By acknowledging mistakes and moving forward, the AFT’s reforms are showing hope and promise in places like New Haven, CT; Hillsborough County, FL; Baltimore; Cincinnati; and the ABC school district in Los Angeles County. randi weingartenInTErvIEwEr walter Isaacson

Lessons in EducationFrom national security to the global economy to the future of the middle class, how high are the stakes and where are the solutions when it comes to educating America’s children? Why hasn’t more progress been made after decades of reform? Why are changes at the school-district level—and even the state—necessary to create environments where teachers and students can succeed? How will digital learning transform personalized education? What lessons can be learned from other nations? What would a high-functioning city public school system look like? How do we get there? Eli BroadThomas L. Friedman

why we’ll remain PreeminentLawrence Summers is optimistic about the country’s future, crediting beyond our economic position the strength of our universities and the talent they cultivate. What does he worry about? Among many weaknesses, K-12 education among them, our reluctance to cultivate an ethos that embraces ambition rather than one that condemns it and the general distrust of government and its stakeholders.Lawrence H. SummersInTErvIEwEr Elliot Gerson

why Do we Celebrate July 4 on July 4? It really Should Be July 2.David rubenstein

Hearts, Minds, and the 2012 Election A look at the social, economic, and cultural issues that will help decide the 2012 election, from faith and race to reproductive rights and the role of women.E.J. DionneJoe KleinDebra LeeMark PennMark PrestonMoDEraTor ron Brownstein

Underwritten by Southern Company

SPEaKEr SaLonFair Play and Illusion: racial Myths From obama and Immigrants to College athletesHow two separate careers have followed issues of race and justice into many areas where they are commonly avoided, including college sports. Taylor BranchInTErvIEwEr anna Deavere SmithInTErvIEwEr Gwen Ifill

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what Does It Take to Be President? What are the qualities it takes to be a successful president in the modern era? David GergenJoe KleinGeorge Mitchellandrea MitchellMoDEraTor ron Brownstein

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The Real RomneyMichael Kranish turns his investigative eye on Romney’s personal life, his bond with his wife and how they handled her diagnosis with multiple sclerosis, and his difficult years as a Mormon missionary in France, where a fatal car crash had a profound effect on his path. The book also illuminates Romney’s privileged upbringing in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; his rejection of the 1960s protest culture; and his close but complicated relationship with his father. Michael Kranish InTErvIEwEr Mark Preston

BBC world Service’s “The Forum” Presents: america’s role in the worldDavid Brooksrichard Haassanne-Marie SlaughterMoDEraTor Bridget Kendall

america the Post-SuperpowerIf we no longer have a monopoly on economic, political, and cultural leadership, can the United States find a role for itself in a world with multiple power players? Expert media figures share their perspectives.andrea MitchellDina Temple ralstonBret Stephensvijay vaitheeswaranMoDEraTor Steve Clemons

Can we afford to Be Healthy?On the expected eve of one of the more contentious and anticipated Supreme Court decisions, observers share perspectives on Obamacare and its future.Joe KleinDavid LeonhardtMoDEraTor Suzanne Malveaux

Media and the ElectionMike allenCharlie CookFrank LuntzMoDEraTor Gwen Ifill

SPEaKEr SaLonSo Rich, So Poor, Why It’s So Hard to End Poverty in AmericaPeter Edelman

nPr’s “Talk of the nation” Live!When Americans want to be a part of the national conversation, they turn to NPR’s midday news-talk call-in program “Talk of the Nation.” Host Neal Conan leads a productive exchange of ideas and opinions on the issues that dominate the news landscape. The show will broadcast live from the Aspen Ideas Festival, tackling topics ranging from politics to video games.robert KaganMark PennBen waberMobyShankar vedantamMoDEraTor neal Conan

Finding north: a Film and DiscussionForty-nine million people in the US—one in four children—don’t know where their next meal is coming from. Finding North examines this issue through the lens of three people who are struggling with food insecurity. Hunger poses serious economic, social, and cultural implications for our nation. Is it possible to make healthy food available and affordable for all?Kristi JacobsonDan GlickmanMoDEraTor Corby Kummer

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What do we really mean when we talk about values? What is their source? How are they changing? Religion or faith, morality and responsibility, marketplace versus social good, the definition of “character”: Are there such things as common American values? Can we agree on common principles?

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what Is a Life worth?Special Master of the Federal September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 Kenneth Feinberg discusses how the law values human life and how compensation can reflect self-worth in the eyes of the recipient. Kenneth FeinbergInTErvIEwEr Steve Clemmons

The Character CodeWestern civilization’s ancient recipe for being a better person—and how we forgot it. David Brooks

are we really Coming apart?Two very different scholars of American society look at the United States and the growing gap in values and behaviors among communities and classes within them. What is happening and why? What do we do to restore our sense of common purpose? And most of all, what is at risk? Charles Murrayrobert D. PutnamMoDEraTor David Gergen

what Is “values-Based Leadership”?Since 1950, the Aspen Institute has offered seminars committed to the idea of values-based leadership. This session will discuss leadership for the 21st century, arguing that successful, values-driven leaders pay coordinated attention to the person, the person’s organizational and community affiliations, and the systemic frameworks that define both. We consider the likelihood that all leaders express values, whether or not we share them; ask what values drive the leaders whom we remember; and assess the relevance of moral reflection for leadership practice. The session will focus on attendees’ responses to the title question for our seminar, juxtaposing them to views on the subject from the Aspen canon of great books and other sources.Leigh G. Hafrey

Seventy-three percent of Americans say moral values in the country as a whole are getting worse, up from 69 percent last year.

–Gallup, May, 2012

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what Sustains Us?How do religious values implicitly, as well as explicitly, influence our values? What sorts of religious institutions stand at the heart of our civic life, and do they affect our values by their presence? To what degree are our most cherished Western values actually the same or the result of our most cherished religious values, and what will happen to those seemingly secular values when they are cut off from religious tradition after two, three, four, or more generations? Prominent religious leaders and thinkers discuss what sustains our values when we seemingly pay attention to traditional religion less and less.Diana Z. EckSteven Z. LederElaine PagelsJane ShawMoDEraTor anna Deavere Smith

will They Trust Us again?It’s generally accepted that America is running a trust deficit, but there isn’t enough discussion about what we should do to close the trust gap. In an election year, this is an extremely relevant topic with potential to be provocative in the most constructive way. Berl BernhardtSteven Z. LederGeorge MitchellEduardo Padron Thomas wilsonMoDEraTor ron Brownstein

Confucianism: If not a religion, what Is It?annping ChinInTErvIEwEr orville Schell

The aspen Institute/atlantic american values SurveyThis study of What Americans Believe, conducted by Penn Schoen Berland for the Aspen Ideas Festival in partnership with The Atlantic and the Aspen Institute, provides a detailed assessment of what Americans say their values are. From death to taxes, the economy to politics, family, religion, science, education, free speech, and beyond, this survey of 2,000 Americans identifies the issues that divide us and the ties that unite us as a nation.James BennetDonald BaerMark PennMoDEraTor Elliot Gerson

Markets and Morals: what Money Can’t BuyShould we pay children to read books or get good grades? What about hiring mercenaries to fight our wars, paying people to sell their organs, or auctioning admission to elite universities? Drawing on themes from his new book, What Money Can’t Buy, Michael Sandel leads a lively discussion of one of the biggest ethical issues of our time: What should be the role of money and markets in our society? Michael J. Sandel

Americans are more than twice as likely to rate the state of moral values in the United States as “poor” rather than as “excellent” or “good.” The 43 percent who say the state of moral values is “poor” is up from last year, but similar to what Gallup measured from 2006 to 2010.

–Gallup, May 2012

Americans have mixed views on the influence of organized religion in the United States today, with 29 percent saying religion should have more influence and an identical percentage saying it should have less influence. A slightly larger 39 percent believe organized religion’s influence should be kept as it is now.

–Gallup, Feb. 2011

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who wrote the Book of revelation—and why Do People Still read It?Religion historian Elaine Pagels talks about her new best-seller Revelations: Visions, Prophecy, and Politics in the Book of Revelation. Who wrote it? How did it get into the Bible? And why do people still read it? It matters for our politics, even today.Elaine Pagels

SPEaKEr SaLonAttached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find and Keep LoveWe rely on science to tell us everything from what to eat to when and how long to exercise, but what about relationships? Is there a scientific explanation for why some people seem to navigate relationships effortlessly, while others struggle? According to psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr. Amir Levine and Rachel Heller, the answer is a resounding “yes.”amir LevineInTErvIEwEr Sue Goodwin

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our Moral ImaginationIn our current market society, where everything and everyone is potentially a commodity, we need to develop our moral imaginations. We can do this through active engagement with the arts and humanities—which opens the way for us to explore our values and speak across our cultural divides. A moral imagination enables us to develop empathy, an enlarged sense of community, and a consideration for the other.Jane Shaw

Is Lying oK?NPR On-Stage presents: “A Fish Tale.” NPR is usually in the business of seeking the truth, but for “A Fish Tale,” NPR’s science correspondents go out in search of a lie. They find one—a classic big-fish story invented by two little boys in Wisconsin—and examine it from various angles to explain the science behind human deception. NPR’s Jon Hamilton, Alix Spiegel, and Shankar Vedantam normally cover neuroscience, individual psychology, and social behavior, respectively, but in “A Fish Tale,” they artfully weave their three beats together to give a fuller understanding of the very human urge to lie. During the show, they argue amongst themselves, play fascinating clips from interviews with scientists and with liars, and use the powerful art of storytelling to make the latest scientific research entertaining and accessible.Jon Hamiltonalix SpiegelShankar vedantam

Religiousness is highly correlated with political orientation in the United States today. Republicans are on average significantly more religious than Democrats. This helps explain why Republicans and conservatives are more likely to say organized religion should have more influence, while Democrats and liberals are more in favor of the “less influence” choice.

–Gallup, Feb. 2011

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Sports no longer sit on the periphery of our society, as a mere diversion in American life. Our Sports Track recognizes that sports, as an institution and all grown up now, both reflects and shapes our culture. Here, we dive deep into its most compelling storylines.

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one-on-one with the President of ESPn: what’s the role of Sports in Society? Organized sports were introduced to American life more than a century ago as not just a venue for entertainment but a tool of nation building. Now that we’re a nation of sports fans—where even President Obama’s March Madness picks are televised on ESPN—what does social leadership through sports look like?John SkipperInTErvIEwEr robert Lipsyte

Head Games: Can Football Be Saved from Itself? Discussion followed by Screening: American ManFootball is America’s most popular game, underwritten by communities and schools everywhere. But even NFL veterans are now starting to steer their children into alternate sports to save them from lasting injuries. Our panel considers the latest research on concussions, and cutting-edge ideas designed to manage the violence. The documentary American Man by Jon Frankel, featuring former NFL player Kevin Turner, will be screened before the discussion. Daniel GarzaChris nowinskiKevin TurnerMoDEraTor Tom Farrey

TraCK FaCTS 1.6 to 3.8 million: Estimated number of concussions that occur in sports and recreation-related activities each year.

—NCAA, March 2012

Although sports injuries contribute to fatalities infrequently, the leading cause of death from sports-related injuries is traumatic brain injury. Sports and recreational activities contribute to about 21 percent of all traumatic brain injuries among American children and adolescents.

—American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Dec. 2011

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More Than a Privilege: Should Sports Be a right?At $147 billion per year, the medical costs of obesity are staggering. Introducing more children to active, healthy lifestyles is critical to debt reduction, economic growth, and even national security. So why are we pushing so many children to the sidelines today?Bob Harper Cheryl HealtonMoDEraTor Tom McMillen

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London Calling: what’s our olympic Legacy?As a prelude to the upcoming Olympic Games, our panel considers what we want the Olympic movement to represent and achieve in the US, as well as the ins and outs of Congress tasking the US Olympic Committee with coordinating amateur athletic activity. Michelle Kwan Tom McMillen Jeremy Schaap MoDEraTor Christine Brennan


College Sports at a Crossroads: Entertainment or Education?The NCAA is beset with scandals, anti-trust lawsuits, calls for reform, and manic conference hopping—all signs that college sports has an identity crisis that begs to be resolved. Our panel considers the future of a beloved, embattled American institution.Taylor BranchJoe nocerawallace renfroCraig robinsonMoDEraTor Christine Brennan

Competition: what’s Fair Today?Where we draw that line in sports, and in the general culture, shapes the games we play and the society in which we live. Our panel explores the murky ethical terrain of extreme competition as reflected in sports. Jim Brown Craig robinson MoDEraTor Jeremy Schaap

what is a Legacy worth? Leaving an Impact off the Field and after the BellIn this discussion, a panel will explore the impact and legacy through the lens of three individuals who achieved initial success through athletics, sports, or physical achievement. Did their achievement come with a sense of responsibility as role models, wealthy individuals, and influencers? How does their “inherited legacy” impact their performance, drive, and attitudes toward their own accomplishments? What impact are they leaving now, and how is it similar or different to what gave them their notoriety? What is their legacy worth?David BreashearsJim BrownMichelle KwanMoDEraTor Chris Heilmann

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Girls who participate in athletics report being more content with their lives than girls who do not participate in athletics. Much of the social, educational, and health benefits of sports participation become visible in elementary school years for girls and boys.

—Women’s Sports Foundation, Oct. 2008

Nearly 90 percent of United States adults agree that well-known athletes have a responsibility to be positive role models for young people, and by wide margins agree that the personal conduct of well-known athletes is as important as their athletic accomplishments.

—Journal of Coaching Education, April 2011

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An Accidental Sports Writer: A MemoirA longtime sports columnist for The New York Times interweaves stories from his life and the events he covered to explore the relationships between the games we play and the lives we lead. robert LipsyteInTErvIEwEr Jeremy Schaap

In the Zone: what Does Peak Performance require?What does it mean to perform at the top of your game physically and mentally? A top fitness expert, Paralympic athlete, and research scientist discuss.Bob HarperBonnie St. JohnGregory YepMoDEraTor Jon Frankel

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The cloud, social media, mobile technology, and big data are only pillars for platforms that have the potential to transform our social, educational, political, and economic practices as well as create new kinds of institutions. Do we understand the force of these disruptions? How are they changing the world?

The next Seismic Shift: Understanding Big Data Palantir Technologies was founded in 2004 by a handful of PayPal alumni and Stanford computer scientists. Today its analytics products are widely used by the intelligence, defense, and law enforcement communities as well as some of the world’s leading hedge funds and financial institutions. Join Palantir’s CEO to explore the concept of Big Data and why it matters to you; the privacy, civil liberties, and security concerns raised by the next wave of Internet technologies; and what’s behind the uniquely creative culture of Silicon Valley.Michael LoppInTErvIEwEr Elliot Gerson

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The Evolution of Design As designers become more involved in solving the world’s problems, dealing with complexity becomes paramount. This requires a paradigm shift for the practice of design, moving from thinking about the world in the way that Isaac Newton encouraged us to think about it to the way Charles Darwin thought about it. Embracing a more evolutionary approach to design can do more than enable us to create better products and services. We can use these ideas and principles to tackle some of the most important challenges of our time. Tim BrownInTErvIEwEr James Fallows

Is the US Behind the Mobile revolution? How do mobile, local, and social trends change the way we experience the Internet and the world? Is it happening other places faster? Eric Feng Marissa Mayer Dave MorinTim o’reillyMoDEraTor Jerry Murdock

TraCK FaCTSMore than three-quarters of college presidents (77 percent) report that their institutions now offer online courses, and college presidents predict substantial growth in online learning: 15 percent say most of their current undergraduate students have taken a class online, and 50 percent predict that ten years from now most of their students will take classes online.

–Pew Research, May 2012

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visualizing our Future through the Lens of Big Data With the global population hitting seven billion people, the necessity of cultivating awareness about the impacts of human activities is greater than ever. Today, as technology delivers an explosion of information, and mobile and tablet usage grows worldwide, there is great potential for complex scientific information and big data to be delivered in engaging ways that decision-makers and the public can understand in a “snapshot” and use for problem solving. Join the esteemed panel for a lively discussion about this revolution in data visualization and how it will transform our future.David McConville Ed ParsonsKenji williamsMoDEraTor Linda Tischler

Digital Disruption in the the arab worldTwofour54 is a company that demonstrates that the power of digital media is transforming media consumption in the Arab world—well beyond the remarkable role that social media played throughout the Middle East in recent years. No longer is the conversation about social media connecting people in the Arab world; now the story is how the Arab world is changing the game for media absorption for the region and potentially the entire international market as it develops new strategies for creation and distribution in film, gaming, and online content.noura al Kaabi

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will Technology Disrupt the way we Learn? Part IThe onset of courseware, tablets, and social media sites is being addressed cautiously in some educational environments and ravenously in others. Will mobile devices, iPads, and social platforms truly transform the way students learn and teachers teach? Will new technology platforms revolutionize classrooms across the country?Miles GilburneJoanne weissrandi weingartenMoDEraTor rehema Ellis


will Technology Disrupt the way we Learn? Part II The innovative use of technology for teaching and learning is creating new opportunities in practice and research. The panel will examine the impact of technology on instruction; how technology is serving the individual needs of all learners; and building a knowledge base on learning with technology. Also, we will discuss overcoming impediments to implementing innovative practices and becoming a successful entrepreneur for social benefit.Stacey ChildressKarl wendtMoDEraTor Kathleen McCartney

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Retail giant Walmart feeds more than one million transactions per hour into databases estimated at more than 2.5 petabytes. Facebook’s 750 million users create an average of 90 pieces of content each month. And an average of 294 billion e-mails are sent every day.

–SAS, Sept. 2011

In the G20 countries, the Internet economy will grow at more than 10 percent annually for the next five years. And by 2016, it will reach $4.2 trillion or 5.3 percent of GDP compared to 2010’s $2.3 trillion and 4.1 percent of GDP.

–The Economist, April 2012

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will all This Data Make Us Better?If we combine the data in our physical lives and the data in our online lives—connected by mobile tech highways—are we in fact programming ourselves? Might we use data about ourselves and knowledge about how humans work to make ourselves better? James PowellInTErvIEwEr alexis Madrigal

Knowledge Exchange: Information’s Beautiful FutureIn the decades ahead, our reliance on innovative ways to explain and communicate massive amounts of information will increase exponentially as science, media, and technology expand in myriad directions. Visualizing information will create new ways of learning, communicating, and teaching. The way data can be disseminated can even be inspiring. A premiere architect and renowned designer discuss.Edwin SchlossbergMark wigley MoDEraTor James Powell

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Games, Learning, and SocietyFor the same reason people once referred to the television as the “vast wasteland”, some today consider the world of gaming as frivolous and time wasting. But is it? Arguably, this is the one medium that challenges us to think, problem solve, and collaborate (Interesting: Aren’t these the same skills needed in modern corporate America?). Constance Squire, a senior policy analyst in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy works with countless Federal agencies in applying the art of gaming to their work, discusses her mission, also her passion.Constance Steinkuehler SquireInTErvIEwEr John Seely Brown

The Kinect Effect and Beyond: Evolving the Interface Between Mankind and MachinesWith each turn in the evolution of interactive entertainment has come new capabilities, new ways to delight consumers by translating complex technologies into the simplest and most intuitive experiences. On some level, the video game industry has been the forerunner in bringing new cutting-edge technology to the masses, on-boarding consumers with the latest technologies, tools and experiences. Kinect started as a controller free gaming device, but has gone far beyond its origins to begin to redefine consumer experiences across industries like education, healthcare and retail. We are also seeing a who new ecosystem of connected smart glass devices like your phones, tablets, and PCs becoming more intelligent and interactive with your TV. This session will cover some of today’s key trends and the latest technologies that will reshape the future of content, interactivity and social entertainment.Marc whitten

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Cell phones are by far the most popular device among American adults. Some 85 percent of adults own cell phones, and 90 percent of all adults—including 62 percent of those age 75 and older—live in a household with at least one working cell phone.

–Pew Research Center, May 2012

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Steve Jobs’s Design GeniusWalter Isaacson, acclaimed biographer of Apple’s founder, discusses Job’s brilliant ability to match creativity with technology within a highly disciplined framework of simple yet elegant design. walter IsaacsonMoDEraTor Kurt andersen

The Start-Up of YouWhy should you look at your career as a start-up? because you know how to build your professional network, you take smart risks, and you take advantage of uncertainty. Author and Linked-In Founder Reid Hoffman discusses the enterprising spirit of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and draws lessons for all of us seeking a focused career in an unsteady market. reid HoffmanMoDEraTor Joichi Ito

where Is Knowledge?We live in an age of information that is growing exponentially. Knowledge is no longer in our heads—it is in the “cloud,” on networks. How will we tap into knowledge and wisdom as we move forward through the Internet age? Internet philosopher David Weinberger, author of Rethinking Knowledge: Now That the Facts Aren’t the Facts, Experts Are Everywhere, and the Smartest Person in the Room IS the Room, shows how business, science, education, and the government are learning to use networked knowledge to understand the world and how it works—and work smarter. David weinberger InTErvIEwEr John Seely Brown


The art and Science of Human Inventiveness The best-selling author of Imagine thinks differently than most about how creativity “happens.” Demystifying our notions of who is creative and what constitutes a creative type, Lehrer offers insights through history and contemporary society to the nature of human inventiveness—which, at its core, is really quite scientific. Can you imagine? Jonah Lehrer InTErvIEwEr John Seely Brown

BBC world Service’s “The Forum”: How is Technology Changing the way we Live our LivesMichael GallagherJoichi ItoJulie TaymorMoDEraTor Bridget Kendall

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what Does It Mean to Be a Military Superpower?Mike MullenInTErvIEwEr Steve Inskeep

Does the United States Have a responsibility to Protect?Is the responsibility to protect a driving force in American foreign policy? What are its roots? Should it drive military engagement today? This session will look at historical developments (the Holocaust, Rwanda, and others) as well as current situations (Libya, Syria, Sudan, and elsewhere) and talk about the United States’ moral obligations (and their strategic implications) and how this imperative relates to our identity.Michael abramowitz Stephen L. CarterDele olojedeanne-Marie SlaughterMoDEraTor Jeffrey Goldberg

Technology of war: what Does the war of the Future Look Like?Technology continues to transform military capabilities. Rather than a revolution of military affairs, the US military is evolving as technologies change. Has cyber warfare, remote sensing, drone attacks, unmanned combat vehicles, and the speed of information made the soldier obsolete in an increasingly “antiseptic” theater of war? What does the war of the future look like, and are we equipped to triumph?Mary a. LegereMike McConnellPeter w. SingerJames SteinbergMoDEraTor Steve Inskeep

what Is america’s Future Military role in the world?How do we deal with arms races with China? How do we tackle missile defense with Russia? What kind of military do we build? Should our budget define our role or vice versa? Jane HarmanCraig nixonMichael o’HanlonJames SteinbergMoDEraTor Dina Temple-raston

TraCK FaCTSFifty-four percent of Americans say the United States is the No. 1 military power in the world, down from 64 percent in 2010, with an average of 59 percent since 1993.

—Gallup, March, 2012

The Coast Guard is smaller than the New York City Police Department. —Military.com, March 2012

The total known land area occupied by US bases and facilities is 15,654 square miles—bigger than DC, Massachusetts, and New Jersey combined.

—Business Insider, Oct. 2011

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women in the Military: Embracing opportunities and ChallengesThe face of the US military is changing. Today, women make up more than 14 percent of the nation’s armed forces, and the Department of Defense recently announced its intent to open up over 14,000 combat-related positions to women. What new opportunities do women have in today’s military? How do women succeed in a still predominately male environment? And how have their lives, families, health, and the transition to being veterans been impacted?Paula Broadwellnancy Brown Mary LegereMoDEraTor angela Messer

The Ethics of warFrom Lincoln’s suspension of habeas corpus to FDR’s roundup of Japanese-Americans to Bush II’s secret prisons to Obama’s drone war, our presidents have always claimed military necessity as justification for war measures that others considered unethical or illegal. Can we develop sensible ethical or legal rules to govern the discretion of the commander in chief, or are we stuck having to trust whoever sits in the Oval Office?Stephen L. Carter InTErvIEwEr Leigh G. Hafrey

The Uncertain return: How Is the 21st Century veteran Doing?Not even one percent of the US population has served in the military, but the return of veterans from war has a ripple effect far greater than that one percent. This panel will examine how veterans survive and deal with wounds—physical, emotional, psychological—once they’re home. What is the impact on families? What support structures exist and are they helping vets find employment, health care, etc.? What is the tangible—and intangible—effect of multiple tours?Dawn HalfakerJoe KleinPaul reickhoffMoDEraTor roger Cressey

By 2033, the US will be paying $59 billion a year to its veterans injured in the wars.

—Business Insider, Oct. 2011Over 200,000 telephone calls are made daily through phones connected by 100,000 miles of telephone cable. The Defense Post Office handles about 1,200,000 pieces of mail monthly.

—The Pentagon, March 2012

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The Lost Generation? Economic inequality is more dramatic and pervasive than ever before, and the physical, emotional, and intellectual well-being of many of our kids is at stake. What impact are single parents and young parents with extremely limited resources having on the recession’s most vulnerable generation? What are the local innovations that are bubbling up to shift our course? What is the new research on solutions that warrant our investment?Peter Edelmanann HigdonPaul ToughMoDEraTor anne Mosle

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a Child’s First 2,000 Days: what’s the Brain Got to Do with It?Why are young children the most creative creatures on the planet, and how do they learn more in the first five years of life than during any other five-year period in their lifetimes? Take a visual tour of brain development through the first 2,000 days of a child’s life, and learn about the role we play in developing a child’s mind during this incredible—and consequential—period. Patricia Kuhl

How to Land Your Kid in Therapy: overparenting and Its PerilsBy trying to provide the perfectly happy childhood, a generation of parents may be making it harder for their kids to actually grow up. Learn how our preoccupation with choice, self-esteem, and happiness may be yielding a generation marked by entitlement, materialism, narcissism, and an inability to face the challenges of adult life.Lori GottliebMadeline Levine Polly Young-Eisendrath MoDEraTor Katie Couric

How we Hope: Lessons from the Gallup Poll Most people in the world believe the future will be better than the present (according the Gallup World Poll). Unfortunately, most people struggle to turn that optimism into hope. Surprising research shows us how all people can think about the future in ways that can help us behave in our best interests. The takeaway from over 100 studies: Psychologically investing in the future makes us more successful at school and work and happier today.Shane Lopez

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How Economics Helps Us Understand and Improve Modern Family LifeEconomic forces shaping family life have undone many of the benefits of traditional marriage. In the wake of this change, a new type of marriage has emerged: one shaped by shared experiences and passions, in which partners are equals sharing the roles of parent and breadwinner. In this session, two economists who are colleagues and coauthors as well as partners and coparents explore how economics can help us understand the deeper forces responsible for these changes in family life and how you can use the principles of economics to help make better decisions in the domestic domain.Betsey StevensonJustin wolfersMoDEraTor David Leonhardt

The Tiger Mother Tells all The Yale professor, author, and outspoken mom talks about her life and family and explains her take on child-rearing—and why the firestorm around her 2011 book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother took her by surprise.amy ChuaInTErvIEwEr Lori Gottlieb

In interviews with parents of close to 9,000 kids, less than half of moms and only a quarter of dads reported taking their child for a walk or playing with them in the yard or park at least once a day.

—National Institute of Health, April 2012

The average American child is exposed to 232.2 minutes of background television per day.

—TIME, April 2012

Nearly 8 million of America’s children live in high-poverty areas—about 1.6 million more since 2000

–Annie E. Casey Foundation, Feb. 2012

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Talking Back to Facebook Should you ban violent video games? When should kids be allowed to use Facebook? Should preteens have cell phones? Does the Internet give kids ADHD? The founder of Common Sense Media discusses his new book, which offers insights and essential tools to help filter content, preserve good relationships with children, and make common-sense, value-driven judgments for kids of all ages.James P. SteyerInTErvIEwEr Scott Stossel

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By some estimates, 30 percent of all people fall on the introvert end of the spectrum.

—TIME, Feb. 2012

Children who are the youngest in their class are more likely than their older classmates to be diagnosed and given medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In fact, the youngest boys were 30 percent more likely than their oldest classmates to get an ADHD diagnosis, and the youngest girls had a 70 percent greater chance.

—CNN March 2012

Gallup interviewed more than 60,000 US women in 2012 and found that non-employed women with young children at home are more likely than women with young children at home who are employed for pay to report experiencing sadness and anger a lot of the day “yesterday.”

—Gallup, May 2012

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ceFrom physics to medicine, frontiers of discovery will expand exponentially in the coming century. Will we find a cure for cancer? Can we find the origins of life? Will we understand the gene? Will computer technology become more intelligent? New applications for genomic discoveries, alongside startling new insight into brain function at the earliest age, foreshadow remarkable advances that will excite and inspire us, but also challenge our sense of morals and personal behavior. This track will explore the innovative technologies and cutting-edge ideas that will revolutionize the way we think about our world and our options.

The Truth about Cancer Four scientists discuss the cure. Introduced by Stanley Tucci for Olive Productions.Donald abrams David agus ralph Moss niven r. narain Shimon Slavin MoDEraTor Michele norris

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Science and our FutureWhy the most expensive, most complicated, and most ambitious science experiment ever is taking place in Geneva, Switzerland and not Geneva, IL, or China, and what that means for the US and the world.Brian Greenerolf-Dieter HeuerMoDEraTor Michael S. Turner

artificial Intelligence: radically Disrupting Genetic Science Most problems in science don’t need Einsteins to solve them. In particular, understanding biological systems is intrinsically complex and will need a vast amount of experimentation. With an almost limitless scientific potential and at a lower cost, artificial intelligence may hold the key to faster discoveries. Computers will soon offer potential for much larger quantities of science through automation. The introduction of automation into manufacturing didn’t initially produce better quality goods, it produced goods much more cheaply. Each step in the computer chess program is nothing special, but the result is.ross D. King

will Technology Make Us Healthier? Leaders on the forefront of technology in medicine discuss the future of health.nicholas a. ChristakisEric Topol MoDEraTor andrew Mcafee

Personalized Medicine is a MythThe promise of the genome and its ethical implications.Ezekiel EmanuelMargaret HamburgEric Topol

our Genes and our addictionsResearchers have long known that tobacco use can be a gateway to harder drugs. But now there is biological proof that the nicotine in tobacco changes the structure of the brain to make smokers more susceptible to drug addiction.amir LevineCheryl Healton Steve Hymannora D. volkowMoDEraTor Scott Stossel

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a Child’s First 2,000 Days: what’s the Brain Got to Do with It? Why are young children the most creative creatures on the planet, and how do they learn more in the first five years of life than during any other five-year period in their life-times? Take a visual tour of brain development through the first 2,000 days of a child’s life, and learn about the role we play in developing a child’s mind during this incredible—and consequential—period. Patricia Kuhl

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TraCK FaCTS35: number of new drugs approved by the FDA in the 2011 fiscal year, an approval rate that was exceeded just once in the past decade.

–TIME, Nov. 2011

One million cancer deaths were prevented in the US since 1990 because of improved prevention programs, better treatments and early tumor detection.

–TIME, Jan. 2012

As the number of elderly Americans surges, the ranks of Parkinson’s patients are expected to double to two million by 2030.

–The New York Times, May 2012

Can we Be Energy Independent?In addition to the global perspective, the United States must establish a comprehensive energy policy. If not, rich US natural resources that can serve as powerful energy sources might not see their full potential. The session will discuss how having “all the arrows in the quiver”—diverse fuel sources, technology innovation, energy efficiency—can meet the energy needs of the Earth’s burgeoning population.Tom FanningPeter orszagMoDEraTor andrew ross Sorkin

Future of Health 2012Building on his #1 New York Times best-selling book The End of Illness, David Agus will show us how shifting our attitude about health to thinking about the body as a complex system has great implications for personal wellness. David agus

Knowledge Exchange: Cracking the Genetic CodeWill biological mapping lead to better diagnoses and treatments of diseases—even prevention? Experts on Parkinson’s discuss the link between the data revolution and health.Brian FiskeJohn Quackenbush

MoDEraTor Chris Kibarian Underwritten by Thomson Reuters

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aspen Ideas Festival opening receptionWeDnesDAy eVeninG, June 27, 6:15–7:30 PM

The Aspen Ideas Festival kicks off its seventh year with a reception in the Doerr-Hosier Center on the Aspen Meadows campus following the festival opening and welcome.

aspen Ideas Festival Second Session receptionsAtuRDAy eVeninG, June 30, 6:15–7:30 PM

This reception includes a wine-tasting experiment designed to answer the question: Do people respond differently when expressing preferences and tastes that are “accepted” versus “against the grain”? Participate in this wine-based experiment and find out what your response says.

sAtuRDAy, June 30

2:00 PM – 5:00 PM (DOORs OPen At 1:30 PM)

BeneDict Music tent

The God ParticleBrian Greenerolf-Dieter HeuerInTErvIEwEr Michele norris

Stanley a. McChrystal on LeadershipInTErvIEwEr Bob Schieffer

In Conversation with Ehud Barak InTErvIEwEr Thomas L. Friedman

why the States are Laboratories for Economic reformMitch DanielsInTErvIEwEr Charlie rose

In Conversation with valerie JarrettInTErvIEwEr Gwen Ifill

In Conversation with Pervez MusharrafInTErvIEwEr David Bradley

In Conversation with Lawrence H. SummersInTErvIEwEr Gillian Tett

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what Fascinates Us about Each other?What is it that most intrigues the US about China and vice-versa? And what role do the arts and culture play in this perhaps better than any other sector? This kick-off session of the US–China Forum on Arts and Culture at the Aspen Ideas Festival picks up where the Forum left off at the end of its first installment last fall in Beijing. vishakha DesaiHu ShuliLi Xiaolinorville SchellDamian woetzelwu Tong

Telling our Stories through FilmA galvanizing film can often represent a culture’s collective eye. How are Chinese and American filmmakers addressing the heroes, citizens, and values of our societies through documentary and feature films? Join noted directors from the United States and China as they discuss their work and how it is received by a global audience. Fan LixinLu ChuanLouie Psihoyos

reimagining SpaceUrbanism is in resurgence—as cities are getting bigger and denser, how do we reinvent public spaces? And how do we differ in the United States and China in planning and implementing development and the creation of community? Elizabeth Dillerou ningMoDEraTor Philip Kennicott

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The Message of our MusicMusic has globalized rapidly in the digital era—do we still hear each other’s cultures?Elliot Goldenthalwu TongMoDEraTor alan Fletcher

SPEaKEr SaLonTelling a Good StoryHow are Chinese and American journalists balancing activism and information in the pursuit of the next story? And what is journalism’s role in society?James FallowsHu ShuliLiu XinMoDEraTor orville Schell

FILM: City of Life and DeathThe first big-budget fiction film by the Chinese to deal with this seminal event in their modern history, City of Life and Death is a visceral, heartbreaking portrait of life during wartime and the Rape of Nanking.Lu ChuanMoDEraTor Melissa Chiu

FILM: Last Train HomeEvery spring, China’s cities are plunged into chaos as 130 million migrant workers journey to their home villages for the New Year’s holiday. Last Train Home documents the mass exodus, which is the world’s largest human migration—an epic spectacle that reveals a country tragically caught between its rural past and industrial future.Fan LixinMoDEraTor Jim Fallows

arT: CoaL+ICECOAL+ICE is a documentary photography exhibition that visually narrates the complex chain of consequences that are triggered by mankind’s use of fossil fuels.David Breashearsorville Schell

us-chinA forum on the ARts and cultuRe

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Today’s Bold Solutions from Tomorrow’s LeadersWill the next generation of 21st century leaders be able to address and solve the myriad and complex—often known as “wicked”—problems created by those of us from the 20th century? Problems of hunger, health, education, communication, wealth disparity, access, prejudice, democracy? We think so.

Let us introduce you to some of them.

Across the week, the Aspen Ideas Festival welcomes recent high school students, graduate students, and young business leaders to our stage—an impressive cadre of young innovators, thinkers, and doers—to offer their ideas about what we can do to tackle serious problems. They will present bold and very real solutions.

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Ideas for the Future: art, Media, and raceFour young pioneers deliver a high-speed download from the frontier of their fields. From detonating the conventions of the museum world to examining Mexican food as a cultural vector to creating the post-blog future of political media, the ideas presented in this session are one step ahead of the national conversation.Gustavo arellanoadam Lerneramanda MichelMatt ThompsonMoDEraTor alexis Madrigal

Ideas for the Future: work, Food, and CitiesFour visionary thinkers share ideas from the forefront of job creation, food systems, and architecture. Through two short presentations and one lively dialogue, this session will lead you on a surprising path of discovery that begins in seemingly familiar territory and ends up in wholly surprising places.allison CarruthLeila JanahGeoff Manaughnicola TwilleyMoDEraTor alexis Madrigal

Designs for the Future: Kids and robots, Superior Medical Devices, Politics for EverymanStanford’s acclaimed d. school inspired 50 teams of graduate students to pitch projects at Aspen Ideas Festival. And the winners are…

SparkTruck Jason ChuaKathayoon KhalilEugene Korsunskiyaaron Peck

CompactCathMyung Sun ChoiDaniel HongDavid Jankanaama StauberKatherine Steele

SocialTeethElaine Chang

CombatIvKevin ChiJacob FrenzSeth normanMatthew Tilleard

2012 aspen ideas program guide

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