Invitation 2011 Alumni Day

Monday, 28 March 2011 15:30

Invitation to: THE ALUMNAE/I AFTERNOON

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Gvishiani Room, IIASA

 

Program (Download as PDF)

IIASA Alumni/ae Day, 2009

Tuesday, 10 August 2010 09:46

October 22, 2009
Alumnae/i, colleagues, friends of IIASA and members of the Board of the IIASA Society spent the 3^rd Alumnae/I Day on October 22, 2009 together, listening to two scientific presentations, participating in discussions, learning about the new IIASA Foundation, and joining almost 100 present colleagues in the evening for the traditional IIASA International Dinner (program of the day).

Holger Rogner, President of the Society, welcomed the participants, thanked IIASA for hosting the 3^rd Alumnae Day and commended the Secretary of the Society for organizing the event. He drew attention to the ongoing effort to keep track of members and requested members to inform the Society about address changes. He also encouraged the members to come forward with ideas and suggestions regarding future activities of the Society.

Detlof von Winterfeldt, Director, welcomed everyone to the 3rd IIASA Alumnae/I day and continued:  "We now have some 6,000 alumnae, of which 1,500 are former YSSPers and I hope that in the next years we continue to strengthen and build the relationship between IIASA and you.

Alumni sounds a bit of like being part of IIASA of the past.  But I want to emphasize that you are very much part of the present and the future IIASA. You are, in many ways, the ambassadors of IIASA and we need your help:

1. Spread the word about IIASA, its exciting new strategic plan and future direction.
2. Help us link to and identify future IIASA researchers, YSSPers, postdocs, and staff.
3. Work with us on perhaps the most ambitious new initiative at IIASA - the IIASA Endowment Fund; more information is available at http://www.iiasa.ac.at/ief/

So thanks again, I welcome you and I hope that you have a wonderful day. See you all at the International Dinner tonight.”

The presentations by Jill Jaeger, “Environmental Change and Forced Migration – a good example of a need for systems analysis”, and Landis MacKellar, “Postmodern thoughts on health system systems modelling”, were followed by lively discussion and questions.

A highlight of the afternoon was the presentation to Peter de Janosi, IIASA's Director from 1990 to 1996, with the certificate designating him the Honorary President of the IIASA Society. In accepting the position, he spoke the following words:

"The honour you have bestowed on me today is very much appreciated. I would like to thank the entire Society Board for selecting me to be the first Honorary President of the IIASA Society.

There are four others to whom I would also like to extend my thanks. First, to Detlof von Winterfeld who so generously agreed to host us this afternoon, and second, to the greatly admired and much loved, Nathan Keyfitz, who was the person who established the Society more than a decade ago. And thank you, Jill Jaeger and Landis MacKellar for the interesting presentations.

I had an old boss who advised me that the best policy when one is honoured is to say “THANK YOU”, and then sit down. But standing here today, and spending a few hours at the Institute, I am prompted to think about the complex and fascinating evolution of this organization which by any measure has now reached middle-age. Much has happened since the tortuous and lengthy negotiations in the late 1960s and early 1970s between the Soviets (Gvishiani) and the US (McGeorge Bundy and Philip Handler) that led to the establishment of IIASA in this beautiful castle the Austrians (Bruno Kreisky) made available. Here we are almost forty years later witnessing a vibrant Institute with a challenging research agenda.

I was present at its creation, and have followed its development closely, first as the person at the Ford Foundation who was monitoring the Foundation grant to IIASA, then as a staff member in the late 1970s, followed by becoming the US Council member in the late 1980s, and Director for six years starting in 1990.  I therefore know it has been a challenging path. Over the years, IIASA had to overcome many difficult hurdles, some financial, some organizational, and some related to leadership. But in the end, IIASA has prevailed and flourished.

This is not the place to review in detail what explains the evident success of IIASA despite all the many problems it had to face before reaching maturity. But there is no doubt in my mind that there are at least three important explanations. First and foremost, IIASA has produced some outstanding, and much needed work that has contributed to our understanding of various urgent social, environmental and economic problems. Second, it has provided a hospitable setting for the learning experience of many. These include not only young researchers participating in the exceptionally effective YSSP program that Roger Levien initiated many years ago, but also more senior staff members who benefited from the unusual interdisciplinary, international setting Laxenburg provides.

We all are aware of these two reasons, that is, IIASA's research work, and educational programs,  but there is a less well known reason as well, namely the alumni body. I firmly believe that the alumni have also contributed to the remarkable success of IIASA. They have, over the years, played active roles as lobbyists in their home countries, as returning staff members and serving on advisory committees, and in many other ways as well.

Much of this happened before the creation of the Society, or any other serious effort to mobilize the alumni. Now imagine how much more the alumni could contribute to IIASA's healthy development, if there were an organized and financed effort to build a cohesive and active alumni network that is kept well-informed and in touch with IIASA.  This can be done only by IIASA, perhaps with the assistance of the National Member Organizations. It will require scarce resources, a dedicated staff, and it will take time. But I am certain that it would be worthwhile.

I wish IIASA and Detlof much success in this and all other efforts. Thank you again for this memorable afternoon."

Before adjourning the event, Linda Kneucker gave a brief summary of the responses of members to the questionnaire that was sent out in 2008:  Despite the frustrating realities of sending emails to those whose addresses are no longer valid, 151 people completed, thoughtfully, the questions posed. 

Most recipients agreed that alumni events were valuable.  Publishing titles of recent works by members was also asked for.  Central, however, is the wish that the members be used as resource persons, helping to provide external contacts: that they be kept up-to-date on IIASA’s research, and many hope for the opportunity to return to the Institute to work.

A most welcome response was sent by 15 people who said that they would be willing to be active in some way in the Society.  Since elections will be held in the Spring, future Board Members may be recruited from this list.

The participants were asked to think about the Society, and to join if they haven’t already, and to make suggestions about future activities.

By 17:30, the alumnae/i had joined present staff members, family and friends for a delicious, as well as lively evening.

Photos from the event are below:

Report: ALUMNI DAY 2006

Tuesday, 10 August 2010 09:53

Report: Alumni/ae Afternoon
IIASA, Raiffa Room
2:00 p.m.  May 23, 2006

There was lively discussion, interesting as well as provocative questions following the talks given by Leen Hordijk (welcome and information about the new energy program at IIASA), Georg Kindermann (Predicting the Potential Biomass Production in Forests and Holger Rogner, Nuclear Energy and Sustainable Development), at the IIASA Alumni/ae Day on May 23, 2006.

The second part of the program was dedicated to alumni ­ especially, how important they are to IIASA. Feedback was requested concerning ideas for the Institute as well as what the IIASA Society could undertake. After an introduction by Tibor Vasko, Aviott John spoke on "Keeping in Touch with IIASA". There were many contributions and suggestions, which will be discussed at the Society Board Meeting at the end of June, as well as with Leen Hordijk when the Society meets with him to talk about future programs that could involve alumni.

For this year's event, invitations were sent directly to former colleagues not only throughout Austria, but in Slovakia, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic, and a few alumni did make a longer journey to join in at the event.

Holding the International Dinner after the program especially for Alumni made it possible for old friends and acquaintances to meet, and catch upon what everyone has been doing.

The Society would like very much to have this be an annual event, and hopes that alumni will keep the institute informed about changes of addresses and emails, so that invitations will reach their destinations.

Alumni Event in Tokyo: 2006

Tuesday, 10 August 2010 10:06

Report: IIASA -  ALUMNI EVENT IN TOKYO

Tuesday, February 28, 2006, 6:30 p.m.

at the residence of the Austrian Ambassador to Japan

 

Dr. Peter Moser, Austrian Ambassador to Japan,  invited all IIASA alumnae/i and close collaborators as well as representatives from (European Union) Embassies to a reception at the Austrian Embassy on the occasion of the IIASA-RITE International Symposium "Global Warming and Sustainable Development", Forty-three guests came to the Embassy residence, among them Professor Yoichi Kaya, Chairman of the Japan Committee for IIASA, and Director-General of the  Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE) as well as Toshimasa Tomoda and Koji Nagano, Tatsuya Hanaoka, Hisao Watanabe, Shyunsuke Mori, Mikiko Kainuma, all of whom are members of the Japan Committee, and Kenji Yamaji, who is the NMO Council Member.

Representatives of the EU Science and Technology group of EU embassies of France, Portugal, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Poland as well as Professor Wolfgang Bentz from Tokyo University joined other distinguished guests, among them alumni who came to Tokyo from Osaka and other places in Japan to be at the gathering.

This was the second time that Ambassador Moser has invited Japanese alumni to the Embassy. Initiated by Meinhard Breiling, President of the IIASA Society when he was in Japan as guest professor, this year’s program was organized by Arnold Obermayr, Cultural Attache of the Austrian Embassy, Hiromi Nasuno, Secretary of the Japan Committee for IIASA, and Linda Kneucker, IIASA Society Secretary.

The program began with a welcome address by Ambassador Moser. Professor Yoichi Kaya, gave a short presentation, and Professor Sten Nilsson, Deputy Director of IIASA, brought IIASA's greetings and presented the Ambassador with a book.  Professor Kenji Yamaji, Tokyo University, IIASA Council Member and Member of The Japan Committee for IIASA; and Professor Misuo Yamada of Chukyo University, an IIASA alumnus also spoke. IIASA's Professor Nebojsa Nakicenovic summarized the major contributions of the scientists who participated in the RITE Symposium.

Before adjourning to the dining room of the embassy residence for a delicious buffet dinner provided by the Embassy, Linda Kneucker presented the Ambassador with a certificate making him the first Honorary Member of the IIASA Society. A selection of photographs has been posted: