Technology to Improve Quality of Life for World's Aging/Disabled Population to Attract Global Audience to Pittsburgh for March 26 Conference

The 2010 Technology for Life and Living (TeLLS) Conference will attract an international audience to Pittsburgh on March 26 to "explore existing and emerging technologies that support clinical practice and consumer-centric care in the home and community" for the world's aging population.

Offered jointly with the 18th Annual Clinical Update in Geriatric Medicine scheduled for March 25-27 at the Omni William Penn Hotel, the conference will include presentations and discussion about currently available and envisioned systems for clinical or personal use, their usability and acceptability to various stakeholders (clinicians, practitioners and consumers), and relevant policy issues.

The TeLLS Conference is co-sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh Institute on Aging and the Quality of Life Technology Center at Carnegie Mellon University. Continuing education credits are available for all professionals, including physicians, nurses, social workers and nursing home administrators.

The Quality of Life Technology Center is a National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center whose mission is to transform lives in a large and growing segment of the population – in Pittsburgh and around the world - people with reduced functional capabilities due to aging or disability.

Keynote speaker for the conference will be Dr. Paul Grundy, Director - IBM Health Transformation, speaking on "The Role of Technology in Patient-Centered Primary Care."

The Clinical Update in Geriatric Medicine is an annual conference presented by The Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society Western Division and The University of Pittsburgh Institute on Aging. This course is designed for family practitioners, internists, geriatricians, and other health care professionals who provide care to older adults.

For a printable brochure on the TeLLS Conference, which includes an agenda and registration information, click on https://ccehs.upmc.edu/courses%5Cbrochure_2380.pdf
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Pitt's GSPIA Hosting International Political Economy Colloquium Starting March 21 - To Be Annual Event

The University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs will host annually an International Political Economy Colloquium (IPEC) to provide a forum for scholars of IPE to present their best new works in progress.

The inaugural event, to be held on March 26, 2010, will bring in 14 scholars from around the country to present papers and discuss the theme of "Globalization and Natural Resources."

The conservation and management of natural resources has been a major concern for nations in the last few decades. Political economists have analyzed how nations handle their natural resources, particularly the way domestic institutions have, counter-intuitively, played a role in limiting how countries use that wealth to boost or sustain economic growth.

These analyses, however, suffer from a serious shortcoming: they neglect the dilemmas created by open economies in managing these globally diminishing resources. In contrast, scholars attending this year's colloquium will try to address this shortcoming and analyze how both international economics and international politics impact natural resources.

For information regarding the colloquium, contact IPEC Chair Nita Rudra at Rudra@pitt.edu.

Participants in the IPEC for 2010 will include:

David Bearce
University of Pittsburgh

Sarah M. Brooks
Ohio State University

Nancy E. Brune
Institute for Security Studies, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

James A. Caporaso
Professor of Political Science

Benjamin J. Cohen
University of California, Santa Barbara

Nathan M. Jensen
Washington University in St. Louis

Marcus J. Kurtz
Ohio State University

Quan Li
Texas A&M University

Sara McLaughlin Mitchell
University of Iowa

Irfan Nooruddin
Ohio State University

Dennis Quinn
Georgetown University

Ronald Rogowski
University of California, Los Angeles

Peter Rosendorff
New York University

Nita Rudra
University of Pittsburgh

Johannes Urpelaine
Columbia University

Bill Keller
University of Pittsburgh

Cameron Thies
University of Iowa READ FULL ARTICLE

Delegation from Seoul, South Korea One of Many Groups Coming to Pittsburgh to Conduct Benchmark Visits in 2010

The Pittsburgh Summit 2009 is now a part of history, but it continues to ignite interest in the Greater Pittsburgh region. No fewer than seven Chambers of Commerce from across the United States have scheduled benchmarking visits to Pittsburgh this year, a number of them choosing to visit because of the global attention the region received as a result of the summit, according to the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce.

Advance teams from Cincinnati, OH and Baton Rouge, LA arrived in town this week for preliminary visits, along with yet another delegation from Korea, this time from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, which is preparing to host the Group of 20 in November.

"Pittsburgh is always a popular destination for regions across the country interested in benchmarking best practices, but the level of interest this year is unprecedented," said Chamber President Barbara McNees. "The enormous publicity the region received due to the G-20 summit has sparked widespread interest in our region’s story of economic, environmental and quality of life transformation."

The visiting chambers will be examining the region's transformation to a diverse economy driven by innovation, with an emphasis on education, transportation, riverfront development, brownfield reclamation, entrepreneurship, and the role of arts and culture in economic development. Each of the chambers will bring dozens of public and private sector leaders from their communities.

The city visits begin in April with the arrival of a delegation from Kansas City, MO. Later the same month the Nashville, TN Chamber will arrive. The Lexington and Louisville, KY chambers are expected to bring a group numbering several hundred in May, followed by visitors from Dubuque, IA. The Mobile and Cincinnati chambers will be here during separate visits in June, and the full Baton Rouge delegation will arrive in September.

The Greater Pittsburgh Chamber is an affiliate of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, which co-chaired The Pittsburgh G-20 Partnership with Allegheny County, the City of Pittsburgh, and VisitPittsburgh. With the support of about 100 for profit and not-for-profit organizations, including GlobalPittsburgh, the Partnership welcomed leaders from the G-20 countries in September 2009 and more than 3,000 journalists from around the world.

Resulting news coverage featured Pittsburgh’s transformation story in almost 7,000 print, broadcast, and online stories in the United States alone. READ FULL ARTICLE

Pittsburgh Attorney David Murdoch Exemplifies Citizen Diplomacy in Receiving Top German Honor for Improving Transatlantic Relations

Pittsburgh attorney David A. Murdoch, Esq., on Monday received the Cross of the Order of Merit (Bundesverdienstkreuz), the highest tribute the Federal Republic of Germany can pay to an individual, whether German or foreign.

Murdoch, a partner at K&L Gates, chairman of the board of directors of the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh and Honorary Consul for Germany in Pittsburgh since 2002, received the honor at a luncheon in Pittsburgh for his work in strengthening German-American relations from Dr. Horst Freitag, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in New York.

"If you have one great take-away from this event, let it be that you witnessed and learned how private citizens make a difference in international and intercultural matters without becoming professional diplomats or government employees," Murdoch told the audience of several hundred people. "Engagement and service in community activities and organizations, which have been so essential in my life, will become even more important in this century."

Murdoch said the region's great strengths, which attracted the world's attention during last September's G-20 Summit, will continue to lead to economic renewal and global growth.

"In Western Pennsylvania, I see a great synergy working together among education, business and nonprofit organizations," he said. "Education, business and the non-profits are the brains, brawn and heart of our next regional Renaissance."

Recalling his life-changing visit to Germany in the weeks after the building of the Berlin Wall in 1961, Murdoch said, "Berliners were shocked that the East German government was building a Wall to restrain their own citizens from leaving. As a 19-year-old, I learned, in a dramatic way, the importance of our freedoms of speech, travel and assembly -- all of which were being denied to East Berliners and East Germans."

The event was sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, in collaboration with the Pittsburgh Eric M. Warburg Chapter of the American Council on Germany.
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GlobalPittsburgh Open House Scheduled for Afternoon of Sunday, March 21, 2010 - Bring Your Friends & Family!

GlobalPittsburgh will host an open house for host families, members and friends on Sunday March 21, 2010 from 1-5 p.m. in our new offices in Centre City Tower, 650 Smithfield Street, Suite 1180, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.

Come learn more about GlobalPittsburgh (formerly Pittsburgh Council for International Visitors). Snacks, beverages, entertainment & prizes!

FREE, but registration is required for building security list.

Please call 412-392-4513 or send email to tcbuell@versopartners.com to let us know you're coming.

Check our website at www.globalpittsburgh.org

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Happy Chinese New Year! 恭喜发财 - Organization of Chinese Americans to Host Chinese New Year Banquet Feb. 27

The Pittsburgh Chapter of the Organization of Chinese Americans will host its Annual Chinese New Year's Banquet on Feb. 27, 2010 at the Syria Shriners Center in Cheswick, PA.

The OCA Annual Chinese New Year Banquet is one of the largest Chinese
events in Pittsburgh, and features live performances, prizes & raffles and a 12-course Chinese dinner. Child care is available.

Tickets are $50 for OCA members and $60 for non-members. For information, call 724-309-5942.

CLICK HERE to view the banquet flyer.

CLICK HERE to view the banquet menu.

CLICK HERE to view the printable reservation form.

For more information about the OCA, go to www.ocapghpa.org.
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David Murdoch to Receive Germany's Highest Civilian Honor for Work Strengthening U.S.-German Relations

Pittsburgh attorney David A. Murdoch, Esq., will receive the Cross of the Order of Merit (Bundesverdienstkreuz), the highest tribute the Federal Republic of Germany can pay to an individual, whether German or foreign, at a luncheon ceremony in Pittsburgh on Feb. 22, 2010.

Murdoch, a partner at K&L Gates and chairman of the board of directors of the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh and Honorary Consul for Germany in Pittsburgh, will receive the honor for his work in strengthening German-American relations from Dr. Horst Freitag, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in New York.

Freitag will be speaking on the topic of "The U.S. and the EU: From Pittsburgh to the G-20 Summits in 2010" at the Duquesne Club beginning at noon on Feb. 22.

Mark A. Nordenberg, Esq., Chancellor and CEO of the University of Pittsburgh and board member of the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, will serve as master of ceremonies for this special luncheon event.

The event is sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, in collaboration with the Pittsburgh Eric M. Warburg Chapter of the American Council on Germany.

The Pittsburgh G-20 Summit and the upcoming G-20 summits in Ontario and Seoul address major global challenges - economic recovery, energy sustainability, and environmental issues - through partnerships on multiple levels. The transatlantic alliance is crucial in defining the way forward. How are Europe and the U.S. working together on the recovery of the global economy? What are our shared goals in promoting energy sustainability and effectively tackling climate change? Freitag will address these issues and more.

From 2007-2008, Freitag was a Visiting Fellow with the Brookings Institution's Center on the United States and Europe. Previously, Dr. Freitag served as the Commissioner for Near and Middle East Affairs in the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin. Dr. Freitag's extensive diplomatic career has taken him to postings in Tegucigalpa, Washington, and Ramallah.

Costs:

$45 Council Members* and Partners
$60 Non-Council Members
$360 Table of eight
*There is no additional charge for those members with full or flex LDG Subscriptions. No refunds for cancellations made after Friday, February 19th. Please advise in advance of any dietary restrictions. REGISTER NOW

Live Webcast Link
Use this link to watch the live webcast. Online viewers will be able to submit questions during the Q & A period. The webcast will begin at 12:45.

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Penn State Greater Allegheny Signs Agreement with University in Vietnam to Train Business Faculty

Penn State Greater Allegheny and Duy Tan University in Da Nang, Vietnam, have signed an agreement for academic collaboration to train about 100 faculty members from Duy Tan University to deliver 24 business courses. This training will occur over the course of four years, beginning this summer.

From the 2010-11 academic year, Penn State Greater Allegheny, which is located in McKeesport, PA, also will send two faculty members to Duy Tan University every semester for at least two weeks to model and monitor the teaching of these courses with the trained faculty and Duy Tan students. During the first year, the summer train-the-trainer sessions will be held at Penn State at Greater Allegheny.

"Penn State Greater Allegheny is happy to take this precedent-setting step with Duy Tan University," said Penn State Greater Allegheny Chancellor Curtiss E. Porter. "Establishing this program meets the needs of both institutions in expanding our international initiatives. Our agreement extends the internationalizing of Penn State and also extends the international capacity of Duy Tan University. Penn State business faculty teach at a world-class standard. Duy Tan faculty will benefit from this widely respected experience. Duy Tan students will be the effective beneficiaries of this joint effort."

Vice provost and director of academic affairs at Duy Tan University, Bao Le Nguyen, and director of academic affairs at Penn State Greater Allegheny, Kurt Torell, were the key individuals who created this partnership. Both expect this agreement, which was signed on Jan. 17, to serve as a model for future relationships.

"Penn State Greater Allegheny looks forward to this long and beneficial relationship that that will reinforce the global emphasis and the future development of both of our Universities," Torell said.

"As we move into the next decade, the need for international relationships among all institutions of national interest will only increase. People, trade and educational interests will become increasingly interdependent and global," Porter said. "We appreciate being a part of this new development with Duy Tan University." READ FULL ARTICLE

International Bridge Awards to Honor Leaders in Energy, Life Sciences & Education; Embassy & Consulate Officials from 50 Countries Invited

The GlobalPittsburgh International Bridge Awards reception on the evening of April 21, 2010 will bring together the area’s leaders in the fields of energy, environmental design & innovation, education, high technology, life sciences and advanced manufacturing to honor corporations, organizations and individuals whose efforts have succeeded in building bridges of understanding and communication between the Pittsburgh Region and other parts of the world.

We have invited Embassy and Consulate representatives from 50 countries as we highlight the continuing economic and environmental transformation that led to Pittsburgh’s selection as host of the G-20 Summit 2009 and as North American host city for World Environment Day 2010 on June 5 by the United Nations Environment Programme.

In addition to honoring this year’s winners, this gala event will feature booths and interactive displays highlighting the Region’s leading companies and organizations in the fields of energy, environmental and education. This will be an outstanding networking event. You will not want to miss it!

The International Bridge Awards reception is the centerpiece of the GlobalPittsburgh Energy, Life Sciences and Education Showcase, a two-day series of presentations, panel discussions and tours highlighting the Greater Pittsburgh Region’s leadership and centers of excellence for the invited dignitaries from 50 countries.

Reservations are $95 per person for gourmet hors d'oeuvres and cash bar. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For details go to www.globalpittsburgh.org or call 412-392-4513. READ FULL ARTICLE