2016 roundtable topics
Turning Ideas Into Reality.
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Trans-Pacific Entrepreneurship Modern Issues in Education Cultural Conflict & Identity Environmental Sustainability Media and Communication Roundtables are where world-changing ideas are born at TASC. They are a space to debrief, decompress, and deconstruct information gained from field research, site visits, and speakers. Participants share and are exposed to a variety of perspectives, as each Roundtable is comprised of representatives from both the Taiwanese and the American delegations. Roundtables are where you will... |
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specializein one timely and relevant topic, ranging from education reform to trans-Pacific entrepreneurship. Find your niche!
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shareyour unique perspective on the topic, and hear your fellow Roundtable members share theirs.
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SUBMITa proposal for your Impact Project to present at Final Forum, and begin making plans to execute your Project after returning home.
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Trans-pacific entrepreneurship
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Globalization is anything but a modern phenomenon. It is arguably one of the best measurements of change over the course of human history. The same trajectory responsible for the massive migration of homosapiens out of Africa 100,000 years ago also includes McDonalds’ 119-country empire. With geographic location no longer a barrier, business is conducted in real-time. Despite being an ocean apart, Taiwan and the United States continue to have strong economic ties. Unfortunately, along with the rest of the World, the U.S. and Taiwan trade relationship has slowed amidst economic crisis. Innovation and entrepreneurship are arguably the best answers to a crisis jarred with stagnancy. The rise and success of “start-up” ventures supported by non-traditional funding methods are becoming the new norm. With highly-educated and wealthy populations, do Taiwan and the United States have the capacity to be at the helm of an entrepreneurial revolution of sorts?
The Trans-Pacific Entrepreneurship roundtable will first examine the history of globalization, with an emphasis on trade between Taiwan and the United States. Using shared ideas of what “hell” and “heaven” look like, we will redirect our focus towards the future as our generation takes the lead. Is it possible for globalization to shift from a winner-loser system to one that is all-inclusive? Once shared values are established, we will work towards crafting a business that connects our two countries. Roundtable Leaders: Amy Chang |
Further Reading
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MODERN ISSUES IN EDUCATION
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What is the ultimate goal of education? How do classroom instructions affect students' learning? How does the environment and society we live in affect our education system? Such ongoing questions abound in the modern debate on education worldwide. In Taiwan, many criticize the education system for over emphasizing exam scores, academic subjects, and rote memorization. While Taiwan is struggling in the transition to teach its students 21st century skills, critics in the U.S. target the leniency of the education system by blaming incompetent teachers and the lack of a nationally standardized curriculum. It is common knowledge that the U.S. public school system desperately needs improvement, with issues like socioeconomic and racial disparities, or lack of governmental funding for environmental education. Whatever the case, a country's education system is key to its future well-being and global clout.
At this roundtable, we will compare and understand the differences between Taiwanese and American education systems, and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each system. We will also identify specific and pressing issues commonly found in both countries. Finally, we will find innovative and realistic solutions to our selected problems. Roundtable Leaders: Vicky Yi-Hsuan Yeh |
Further Reading
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Cultural Conflict & Identity
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Globalization continues to bring together people of different backgrounds and identities. Understanding differences and treating all people equally is a constant struggle each country and individual battles with. In the U.S., events in Ferguson, MO catapulted racial tensions back into the national spotlight. In Taiwan, increased ties developing with China have strengthened Taiwanese identity, as different usages of language and accent become a factor in defining a sense of "we" and "they." In both countries, the rising voice of the LGBTQ community continues to protest for equality and justice. In the U.S., 37 states have legalized same-sex marriage, but just as in Taiwan, there is still more work to be done.
These are just some of the issues we will explore in this roundtable. We will examine how different modes of expression play a role in understanding our self-identity. We will identify laws that uplift and degrade human personality, and discuss what makes them just or unjust. We will discuss the effect of systematic inequality on self-expression. In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote in his letter from Birmingham jail: “We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people.” In this roundtable, we will ultimately endeavor to identify where “appalling silence” needs breaking, and will find our collective voice to inform a more just, connected, and inclusive world. Roundtable Leaders: Jasmine Wu |
Further Reading
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Environmental sustainability
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"The power of population is indefinitely greater than the power in the earth
to produce subsistence for man." - Thomas Malthus Today, we continue to grapple with sustainability: with the global population projected to grow and surpass 10 billion by the end of the century, energy demand will only rise as commonly used natural resources become increasingly scarce. To address the growing energy challenges, we need to reevaluate our energy consumption as well as develop more efficient means of extracting and recycling energy.
In this Roundtable, we will bridge the gap between understanding energy issues and addressing them with concrete solutions by exploring the possibilities of environmentally sustainable models and analyzing their political, social, and technological implications. Roundtable Leaders: Gary Chu |
Further Reading
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MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION
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In January, attacks on Charlie Hebdo in France sparked international debates over freedom of speech, religion and cultures. Media is a powerful and ever-present force in modern society. In the current hyperactive media climate, we need to step back and reflect: how does the media affect us? How can freedom of expression and the quality of journalism be preserved? In Taiwan, the media is often criticized for lack of international perspective. In the U.S., many believe that the quality of journalism is declining, biases are becoming increasingly pronounced, and the public broadcasting sector is growing weaker and weaker. The days of single-sourced media are coming to an end. In the age of the internet, anyone can become a reporter with the click of button.
In this roundtable, we will explore how media influences our perceptions and actions beyond the conscious. To what degree is technology helping people better communicate? More importantly, how can we use media and communication to promote awareness and mutual understanding? Roundtable Leaders: Jennifer Lin |
Further Reading
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