VC's Open Lecture - 9 March

Dr Ian Goldin, director of the James Martin 21st Century School and Professorial Fellow at the University of Oxford, will deliver a Vice-Chancellor's Open Lecture at UCT on 9 March. Goldin's lecture will be titled Future Shocks and Opportunities: 21st Century Challenges and Choices.

The James Martin 21st Century School is dedicated to formulating new concepts, policies and technologies that will make the future a better place. Its goal is to develop strategies for responding to the most serious issues - armed conflict, cancer therapy, carbon reduction, stem cell research - some of which have the potential to threaten the future of humanity itself.

Goldin was vice-president of the World Bank from 2003 to 2006, prior to that serving as its director of development policy. From 1996 to 2001 he was chief executive and managing director of the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), turning the bank into a leading agent of development in Southern Africa.

He also acted as advisor to the government of President Nelson Mandela.

Goldin has given presentations to audiences all over the world, including the Clinton Global Initiative, Microsoft CEO Summit, and the World Economic Forum's Davos meeting. He has been widely recognised for his contributions to development and research.

His book Globalisation for Development: Trade, Finance, Aid, Migration and Ideas has been described as "essential reading" by Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz.

The lecture takes place in Lecture Theatre 1 in the Wilfred and Jules Kramer Law Building, and starts at 18h00. Those wishing to attend must RSVP by 4 March by email to Zukiswa Dlelembe or on telephone 021 650 3759. Seating will be allocated strictly on a first-come first-served basis.