From: Ilona Vinklerova
Date: November 27, 2023
Subject: EPD Newsletter | November 27, 2023


Finals Season is here!

Dear EPD-ers,

We hope you had an amazing long weekend and a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration with your loved ones. As we dive back into the last leg of the semester, we want to wish each of you the best of luck with your finals. The EPD retreat was a fantastic break, and we hope the camaraderie and good times continue to fuel your energy as we approach the end of the semester.

Take a deep breath, stay focused, and remember you've got a supportive EPD community cheering you on. 

Here's to a successful and stress-free finals season!
 This week’s newsletter includes:

  • SIPA events
  • Career Advancement Center Events 
  • Events Happening at Columbia 
  • Recommendation of the Week - Ilya: the AI scientist shaping the world
  • EPD Office Hours

Events at SIPA

New Perspectives on a Changing Climate: Young Voices in Nuclear Energy

When: Tuesday, 28 November 2023 | 6-7:30 pm

Where: Faculty House - Presidential Ballroom



Nuclear energy can be an important tool for addressing global climate change. According to the International Energy Agency, achieving global emissions reduction goals will require nearly doubling, between 2020 and 2050, electricity produced from nuclear reactors. As momentum grows for meaningful climate action, nuclear energy in some corners is experiencing a resurgence of interest.

But trust and confidence in nuclear energy remains low in many sectors, and younger generations and people of color, many of whom are driving the conversation on climate action and climate justice, have questions about nuclear energy. Historical injustices tied to the nuclear sector and open questions on cost, timeliness, and safety loom large.

Please join the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia SIPA and Good Energy Collective for a moderated, in-depth discussion and Q&A addressing these issues. This panel elevates young and diverse voices at the intersection of nuclear energy and climate, addressing the role of the youth voice in global fora, and explores the shifting landscape of nuclear policy and opinion.

Moderator:
Daniel Propp, Senior Special Assistant to the Founding Director, Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia SIPA

Speakers:

  • Kelsy Green, Graduate Student Intern, Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • Victor Ibarra Jr., Nuclear Innovation Analyst, Nuclear Innovation Alliance
  • Cleo Schroer, Senior Policy Analyst, Good Energy Collective

Click here to register 

H.E. Dennis Francis, President of the UN General Assembly: Rebuilding Trust and Reigniting Global Solidarity
 

When: Tuesday, Dec 5, 2023 1 PM – 2 PM

Where: 1501 IAB

How can the global community rebuild trust and reignite global solidarity amid today’s various global crises? H.E. Dennis Francis, President of the UN General Assembly, shares the vision of his presidency on how the United Nations should promote peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability in the 21st century. He will highlight the role of multilateral cooperation in realizing the foundational aims of the UN, as well as in fulfilling the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and tackling the evolving effects of climate change. The President will explore these issues through the lens of human rights as the heart of multilateral cooperation and a key pillar of the UN system, particularly in light of this year’s 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Overall, his intervention will emphasize the actions the world community needs to take today to build a safer, more just, and prosperous future for all.  The talk will be moderated by Professor Daniel Naujoks, Director of UN Studies at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs.  Columbia students, faculty, and staff may attend in person; others please join us virtually. 

Please see the different registration options here. A light lunch will be offered during the event.

The Washington, DC Career Conference 


The Conference is a three-day event consisting of:

  • Welcome Breakfast and "Living in DC" Panel
  • Employer Site Visits: The list of site visits has been announced in SIPA Connect on Monday, November 13 at 12 Noon.
  • Alumni/Student Networking Reception
  • SIPA Alumni Career Chats

Registration for the Washington, DC Career Conference will close on Friday, December 1st on Campus Groups

Registration Fee: $60

Site visit registration opens on Monday, December 4th, at 1:00 p.m. on SIPA Connect.
Over half of the site visit employers are open to offering internships and/or full-time roles to international students.

Events Happening at Columbia 

CCSI's Fall 2023 Int'l Investment Law and Policy Speaker Series


When: Tuesday, November 28, 2023 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM 

Where: Online

Please join the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment for our annual International Investment Law and Policy Speaker Series. The final panel this semester will be on November 28th. The virtual series focuses on the perspective of policymakers on central topics in investment law and policy. The series is sponsored by Arnold & Porter, with media sponsor TDM.

For more details, click here.

Generative AI: Transformation or Hype?  
 

When: Tuesday, November 28, 2023 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Where: Online (Zoom link)

The release of Chat-GPT on November 20, 2022 led many, including a number of Big Tech CEOs and Wall Street, to herald the transformative potential of Generative AI for the global economy. But just as many argue that it is hype and contributing to a Big Tech Bubble. As Charlie Munger of Berkshire Hathaway has quipped, "I think old-fashioned intelligence works pretty well."

This event is part of a series of events on the economic and financial applications of alternative data sponsored by Capital Fund Management (CFM) and Program for Economic Research (PER) at Columbia University’s Department of Economics. There will also be a panel discussion with Dr. Laurent Laloux, Chief Product Officer, CFM, and Maryam Farboodi, John D. Gruber Development Professor at MIT Sloan School of Management. The panel will be moderated by Jose Scheinkman, Charles and Lynn Zhang Professor of Economics at Columbia University.  

For more information, click here.

CRO Spotlight Series: Edward Fishwick  
 

When: Wednesday, November 29, 2023 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Where: Faculty House, 64 Morningside Dr., New York, NY 10027 Room/Area: Garden Room 2  
   
Edward Fishwick, Chief Risk Officer, a member of the Global Executive Committee, and Head of the Risk and Quantitative Analysis Group, BlackRock  Ed Fishwick is the Chief Risk Officer, a member of the Global Executive Committee, and Head of the Risk and Quantitative Analysis Group of BlackRock. He is responsible for the investment and enterprise risk of BlackRock. He is also the Chair of BlackRock's Enterprise Risk Management Committee.  Prior to taking on his current responsibilities in 2022, Mr. Fishwick served as the Global Co-Head of the Risk and Quantitative Analysis Group in London for 15 years. 

For more information, please visit here.

Career Advancement Center Events

The Cohen Group Employer Information Session


When/Time: Tuesday, November 28, 2023 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm 

Where: IAB 411

Dress Code: Business Casual

Work Authorization Requirement: All Work Authorizations Accepted

Join The Cohen Group for an in-person information session discussing internship and full-time opportunities. The Cohen Group provides global business consulting services and advice on tactical and strategic opportunities in virtually every market.

For more information, CLICK HERE.

Career Chat with Kristen Grennan, Director Of Strategic Communications, Mayor's Public Engagement Unit 


When/Time: Thursday, November 30, 2023 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Where: IAB 405

Dress Code: Business Casual

Work Authorization Requirement: All Work Authorizations Accepted

Join SIPA alum Kristen Grennan, the Director of Strategic Communications at the Mayor's Public Engagement Unit, for a career chat covering her time at SIPA, her path to the Mayor's Office, and her current role. Bring questions for Q&A.

For more information, CLICK HERE.

Career Chat with Zach He, Head of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at Kodai Capital Management

When/Time: Friday, December 1, 2023 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm 

Where: IAB 409

Dress Code: Business Casual

Work Authorization Requirement: All Work Authorizations Accepted

Zach He is currently Head of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at Kodai Capital Management, a hedge fund with a focus on technology industries. At Kodai, Zach oversees data-driven idea generation and leads strategic initiatives to implement AI in the fundamental research process. Previously, Zach worked at Citadel Global Equities, where he led the data efforts in the firm’s technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) practice, and played a key role in launching and scaling of the firm’s data science and analytical capabilities. Zach is an advisory board member at Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs. He received a bachelor’s degree in economics and mathematics-statistics from Columbia College. Please bring questions for Q&A.

For more information, CLICK HERE.

Pursuing a PhD Program 

When/Time: Monday, December 4, 2023 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Where: Virtual

Dress Code: Casual

Work Authorization Requirement: All Work Authorizations Accepted
Considering doctoral studies?  A panel of distinguished PhD educators will discuss the details and nuances of the application process, and answer questions.  Topics of focus: Differences among PhD programs, particularly in the U.S., Selecting the programs best suited to your goals, What you can do while at SIPA (or as a recent grad), and Understanding real-world criteria for getting in and getting funding.

For more information, CLICK HERE.

Get Hired!: Demystifying the Hiring Process at USAID/BHA (Hybrid) Event

When/Time: Wednesday, December 6, 2023 @ 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm 

Where: Virtual

Dress Code: Casual

Work Authorization Requirement: All Work Authorizations Accepted
Navigating the hiring process for positions in the U.S. Government should not be daunting. Join  the U.S Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) for an informative and engaging hybrid event that aims to demystify the hiring process!  From understanding the different ways to get hired, completing the application process, to resume tips, we want to clarify the various steps in BHA’s hiring process. 

In the midst of the current buzz in the AI and OpenAI spheres, we wanted to recommend a thought-provoking video featuring Ilya Sutskever, a prominent AI scientist instrumental in the development of ChatGPT.

For more information, CLICK HERE.

Recommendation of the Week

Ilya: the AI scientist shaping the world

In this insightful interview, Ilya reflects on his founding vision and values, sharing his personal philosophy and making intriguing predictions about the technology that is already shaping our world. Filmed between 2016 and 2019, these conversations with filmmaker Tonje Hessen Schei provide a unique glimpse into the mind behind the chat language model.

With tensions rising in the world of AI and OpenAI, this video offers valuable insights. To delve into this conversation and gain a deeper understanding of the evolving landscape, click here ​​​​​​​to watch.
 

EPD Office Hours 

José Antonio Ocampo, EPD Co-Director
jao2128@columbia.edu
Sign up online for office hours: https://tinyurl.com/officehours-ocampo

 
Eugenia (Jenny) McGill, EPD Co-Director & EPD Workshop Director
em419@columbia.edu
Sign up online for office hours: https://tinyurl.com/mcgill-oh

 
Ilona Vinklerova, Concentration Manager
iv2105@sipa.columbia.edu
Sign up online for office hours: https://sipa.campusgroups.com/meetings/1060915/IlonaOH_Fall2023 

 
Paras Abbasi (MPA/EPD), Program Assistant
pa2643@columbia.edu
Email for appointment

 
Orcun Dogmazer (MIA/EPD), Program Assistant
od2263@columbia.edu
Email for appointment

Your favorite PAs,

Paras and Orcun