Welcome to the Stanford - Papua New Guinea Conference on Development! 
 

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a country on the brink of increasingly rapid development. With over 850 known languages, the largest undisturbed rainforest in the region, and most communities continuing to practice subsistence agriculture, PNG is the one of the most biologically and culturally diverse nations in the world. At the same time, it faces one of the fastest growing AIDS epidemics in the world, the challenge of integrating students into a global economy via English education, and the project of preserving traditional languages and environments alongside increasing socio-economic growth. 

How can a country retain its unique cultural traditions and heritage, while becoming increasingly open to international influences and developing technologically, economically and socially? How can public policy in each of these fields help achieve the people’s goals? Most critically, how can the country stave off looming environmental and health dangers and find a sustainable path towards empowered development? 

The Stanford-Papua New Guinea Conference on Development is bringing together academics, diplomats, and activists from PNG, the United States and Australia to discuss these questions and the wider, global issues of sustainable development. Through the case study of PNG, we will explore how the challenges of promoting health initiatives and protecting environmental and economic interests go hand in hand with crafting a stronger government, rooting out corruption, and providing access to higher education. 

Join us in exploring these issues throughout the weekend of February 26-28!

Program:


Friday, Feb. 26

7-8 p.m. (Elliot Programming Center) 
Opening Ceremony and Keynote Address
Hon. James Marabe, PNG Minster of Education
U.N. Ambassador Robert Aisi, & 
Stanford’s Spoken Word Collective 
8-9 p.m. Photo & Research Gallery Exhibits


Saturday, Feb. 27

10-11:30 a.m. (320-105) 
Panel 1: Building a State: Governance, Civil Society, and the Rule of Law 
Robert Aisi, PNG Ambassador to the United Nations
Dr. Francis Fukuyama, Director of Johns Hopkins SAIS' International Development Program
James Laki, Director of PEACE Foundation Melanesia

12-1 p.m. (BCSC and PNG Sculpture Garden)
Roundtable Luncheon with Panelists

1:30-3 p.m. (320-105)
Panel 2: Challenges in Public Health: Infectious Disease and Community Solutions
Dr. Fabian Ndenzako, WHO Representative for The Western Pacific
Dr. Maryanne Tokome-Amu, Founder of the Wapenamanda Primary Health Center, PNG 
Dr. Kerry Pataki, Professor of Medical Anthropology at Portland Community College

3:15-4:45 p.m. (320-105) 
Panel 3: Conservation and Corruption: Toward Environmentally Sustainable Development
Anne Kajir, Environmental Lawyer and Goldman Prize Winner
Dr. Jerry Jacka, Environmental Anthropologist, University of Texas
Gwen Sissiou, Deputy secretary for PNG Dept. of Environment and Conservation

5-6 P.M. Workshops (Geocorner and Humbio)


Sunday, Feb. 28 

11-12:30 a.m. (320-105)
Panel 4: Education as Empowerment: Creating Infrastructure for Universal Access and Achievement
Hon. James Marabe, PNG Minister of Education
Dr. Teng Waninga, Head of the Department of Curriculum & Development at Goroka Univ.
Dr. Kenneth Sumbuk, Pro Vice Chancellor and Linguistics Faculty Member at the Univ. of PNG 

12:30-1 p.m. (Bechtel International Center)
Closing Conversation with Ambassador Evan Paki 

1-3 p.m. (Bechtel International Center) 
Celebration & Papua New Guinea Sing-Sing