Past Programs
In addition to sponsoring conferences to foster a dialogue on issues concerning the Pacific Rim, the Pacific Century Institute also supports various research projects and other organizations that work within the region. These include:
The Pacific Century Institute sponsored SARUS programs to promote peace between neighboring countries with a history of conflict by bringing together an equal number of university students from both countries for a month of physically and mentally demanding service. Students learned to reflect, work as a team, share insights, and negotiate conflict productively. By implementing student exchange programs – proven success in Cambodia and Vietnam and now expanded to Bangladesh and Myanmar, they are committed to creating a world beyond borders. They continue to inspire future leaders, creating community and economic connections, and addressing social issues that span borders.
Focusing on the crucial role that the Mekong River can have on Vietnam and its neighbors, the conference on Sustainable Use of Mekong Resources aimed at providing a multi-dimensional, multiperspective forum involving diverse stakeholders, with an open crosscutting approach incorporating national perspectives and regional vision.
In the past decade and more, various studies and scientific discussions took place to analyze and find responses to such challenges. One of the most contentious debates in both countervailing arguments and urgent topicality is the impact of hydropower dams - direct or indirect - on the riparian areas, especially the downstream areas of Cambodia and the Mekong River Delta in Vietnam.
The Mekong panel sessions included three topics:
- Hydropower on the Mekong: issues and conflicting interests
- Environment and climate change in the Mekong River Basin
- Various growth and development scenarios for the Mekong River Basin: implications for the livelihood of riparian communities and countries concerned
The timeliness of the conference organized at the height of the severe drought intensified broad public and expert interest. The conference was a great success in substance, organization and impact.
Pacific Century Institute participated as a Silver Sponsor of the Tri Viet University Project Green University Conference, Dr. Lloyd Armstrong's participation was highly applauded and we hope that his links with the Tri Viet Project. http://triviet.edu.vn
The project is aimed at the underlying, long-held sentiments by the public, the media and the educational systems of Korea, Japan and the United States. The project is chaired by two members of the PCI Director of Research Chung-In Moon and a member of the PCI Board of Directors - Richard Halloran.
The Pacific Century Institute awarded the Nautilus Institute a grant to support their work on financing of the DPRK energy infrastructure. PCI has joined Nautilus in support of its work with the DPRK and other partners in an effort to identify options for rehabilitating the country's dilapidated power grid.
The Pacific Basin Institute at Pomona College was developed to act as a guide and interpreter between East Asia's cultures and policies and those of the United States. PBI was founded in 1979 by Frank Gibney and Maurice Mitchell. The organization sponsors major conferences, maintains an extensive film and video archive and organizes seminars and lectures on various items of interest.
The Aurora Police train Korean officers for two week sessions at the Asian Pacific Development Center in Aurora, while officers from Colorado travel to Korea to train at the National Police Agency.
SARUS Program
The Pacific Century Institute sponsored SARUS programs to promote peace between neighboring countries with a history of conflict by bringing together an equal number of university students from both countries for a month of physically and mentally demanding service. Students learned to reflect, work as a team, share insights, and negotiate conflict productively. By implementing student exchange programs – proven success in Cambodia and Vietnam and now expanded to Bangladesh and Myanmar, they are committed to creating a world beyond borders. They continue to inspire future leaders, creating community and economic connections, and addressing social issues that span borders.
Mekong River Conference
The Pacific Century Institute sponsored Mekong River Conference held in Can Tho City, Vietnam on April 22nd and 23rd, 2016. The conference was attended by national and international experts, scholars and researchers from Norway, U.S., France, China, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia; representatives of local and international social and non-governmental organizations, research institutes, universities and businesses in the country.Focusing on the crucial role that the Mekong River can have on Vietnam and its neighbors, the conference on Sustainable Use of Mekong Resources aimed at providing a multi-dimensional, multiperspective forum involving diverse stakeholders, with an open crosscutting approach incorporating national perspectives and regional vision.
In the past decade and more, various studies and scientific discussions took place to analyze and find responses to such challenges. One of the most contentious debates in both countervailing arguments and urgent topicality is the impact of hydropower dams - direct or indirect - on the riparian areas, especially the downstream areas of Cambodia and the Mekong River Delta in Vietnam.
The Mekong panel sessions included three topics:
- Hydropower on the Mekong: issues and conflicting interests
- Environment and climate change in the Mekong River Basin
- Various growth and development scenarios for the Mekong River Basin: implications for the livelihood of riparian communities and countries concerned
The timeliness of the conference organized at the height of the severe drought intensified broad public and expert interest. The conference was a great success in substance, organization and impact.
Tri Viet International University Project
Pacific Century Institute participated as a Silver Sponsor of the Tri Viet University Project Green University Conference, Dr. Lloyd Armstrong's participation was highly applauded and we hope that his links with the Tri Viet Project. http://triviet.edu.vn
Korea-Japan Research Project
The Pacific Century Institute began a research project on relations between Koreans and Japanese in fall of 2000. This project is intended to develop recommendations for the improvement of relations between these two peoples. A report and a set of recommendations is expected to be completed prior to the 2002 World Cup competition being held jointly in Korea and Japan.The project is aimed at the underlying, long-held sentiments by the public, the media and the educational systems of Korea, Japan and the United States. The project is chaired by two members of the PCI Director of Research Chung-In Moon and a member of the PCI Board of Directors - Richard Halloran.
The DPRK Energy Infrastructure
The Pacific Century Institute awarded the Nautilus Institute a grant to support their work on financing of the DPRK energy infrastructure. PCI has joined Nautilus in support of its work with the DPRK and other partners in an effort to identify options for rehabilitating the country's dilapidated power grid.Pacific Basin Institute
The Pacific Basin Institute at Pomona College was developed to act as a guide and interpreter between East Asia's cultures and policies and those of the United States. PBI was founded in 1979 by Frank Gibney and Maurice Mitchell. The organization sponsors major conferences, maintains an extensive film and video archive and organizes seminars and lectures on various items of interest.U.S. - DPRK Scientific Engagement Consortium
The Pacific Century Institute helped support the U.S. Civilian Research & Development Foundation (CRDF Global) for their engagement as Secretariat for the U.S. – DPRK Scientific Engagement Consortium. CRDF Global is an NGO created by the U.S. Congress that specializes in building global science engagements, helped to found the U.S.-DPRK Scientific Engagement Consortium with colleagues from Syracuse University, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Pacific Century Institute (PCI), and the DPRK State Academy of Sciences (SAOS). This involved scientists and officials from other organizations and universities, including the Carter Center, Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University, University of Georgia, and the University of Missouri.Korean Police Exchange
The Pacific Century Institute helped support the Korean Police Exchange between the Aurora Police Department in Colorado and the Songnam Chungbu Police in Kyonggi-do, Korea. This unique exchange program was developed to enhance the relationship between Americans and Koreans as well as between the various American and Asian-American communities in Aurora.The Aurora Police train Korean officers for two week sessions at the Asian Pacific Development Center in Aurora, while officers from Colorado travel to Korea to train at the National Police Agency.