Arab Spring - 10 years on

From the bustling streets of Moscow to the corridors of power in the Kremlin, Russia stands at a critical crossroads. Recent events have cast a shadow over the nation, leaving citizens and observers alike questioning the future of democracy and governance. As part of our ongoing election series, in this episode of What Matters Today we delve deep into the heart of one of the most consequential events in contemporary Russian politics: the recent election.  Join us as we unravel the complexities, explore the implications, and seek to understand what lies ahead for Russia and the world."Our guest today is Dr. Vassily Klimentov, Faculty Lead, Applied Research Projects, Conflict, Peace, & Security Track here at the Institute

On 29 December, following the conflict between Israel and Hamas, South Africa appealed to the International Court of Justice under the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Last month, the International Court of Justice ordered a series of provisional measures against Israel. In this episode, we delve into the recent ruling and explore a series of critical questions surrounding this landmark decision. Our guest today is Nico Krisch, Professor of International Law, and Head of the International Law Department at the Geneva Graduate Institute.

The main United Nations agency responsible for aid to Palestinians, also known as UNRWA, is in the eye of the storm, as an unprecedented humanitarian disaster unfolds in the Gaza Strip. Some employees of UNRWA are accused by Israel of having been involved in the Hamas attacks of 7 October, 2023. Since these allegations were made public by the agency itself, several Western countries, led by the USA, have suspended their funding. Our guest for this episode is Riccardo Bocco, Emeritus Professor in Anthropology and Sociology at the Geneva Graduate Institute

Dans cet épisode de "What Matters Today", Jérôme Duberry, directeur exécutif du Tech Hub, interviewe la professeure Lyse Langlois, directrice générale de l'Observatoire international sur les impacts sociétaux de l'intelligence artificielle et du numérique (OBVIA) à l'Université de Laval. Ils explorent le thème de l'éthique au cœur de l'intelligence artificielle, basé sur le dernier rapport publié par l'OBVIA. Lyse Langlois souligne l'importance de l'éthique appliquée et de la responsabilité collective dans un contexte d'évolution rapide de l'intelligence artificielle, mettant en garde contre une approche de checklist qui pourrait détourner l'éthique vers une simple formalité. Elle préconise des cours d'éthique obligatoires et le développement de la compétence éthique comme une aptitude, favorisant la délibération et la sensibilisation continue pour guider l'évolution de l'éthique de l'IA. Plus d'infos sur: - l'Institut: graduateinstitute.ch - l'OBVIA: https://observatoire-ia.ulaval.ca

Welcome to another episode of What Matters Today. In today's episode, we unravel the intricate world of cybersecurity. We will delve into the various categories of hackers and explore the common cyber threats faced by non-profits. We will also look into the ever-evolving role of artificial intelligence in both cyber attacks and defense. Stay tuned for insights into how AI is transforming the cybersecurity game and discover the best practices to fortify your digital defenses. Today’s episode is hosted by Jerome Duberry - who is the Managing Director of the Tech Hub here at the Institute, and is also an academic advisor for the Institute’s Executive Education Programme. Jerome’s guest today is Adrian Ogee, CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER at the CyberPeace Institute.

Welcome to What Matters Today. In today’s episode, we are taking a deep dive into the world of sustainable IT. Topics covered in this episode include the Sustainable IT Charter, which the Geneva Graduate Institute signed in June, joining 443 other organizations in doing so. We will also take a glimpse into sustainable IT initiatives at the Institute, as well as uncovering best practices for greening our digital footprint. We hope you enjoy this conversation at the intersection of technology and sustainability. Hosting today’s episode is Jérome Dubérry, who is the Managing Director of the Tech Hub here at the Institute, and is also an academic advisor for the Institute’s Executive Education Programme. Jérôme’s guest include Johan Den Arend, Head of IT at the Institute and Ivan Mariblanca Flinch, founder and CEO of Canopé, a Swiss startup that measures the environmental footprint of organizations’ IT systems among other services.

In this episode of What Matters Today, we turn our focus to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, a topic that has captured international attention. Photo credit: Momen Faiz / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP As we navigate the complexities of this conflict, we aim to provide you with a deeper understanding of the historical context, the root causes, the latest developments, and discuss potential pathways to peace. Our guest today is Riccardo Bocco, Emeritus Professor of Political Sociology at the Department of Anthropology and Sociology at the Geneva Graduate Institute.

Last week’s NATO summit in Vilnius achieved its primary goals which were to reach an agreement that Sweden could join the alliance, and to strengthen support for Ukraine. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed frustration that there was no clear path to membership. Joe Biden, in an interview with CNN on the eve of the summit said that Ukraine cannot join NATO while the country was at war. In addition, Ben Wallace, the UK defence secretary, said that “whether we like it or not, people want to see a bit of gratitude”, when asked about Zelenskiy's frustration. All of this creates the impression that NATO is not entirely united. In this episode we will examine some of these points and discuss how expansion impacts NATO. Our guest today is Professor Jussi Hanhimäki who is Professor of International History and Politics, and Chair of the Department of International History and Politics here at the Geneva Graduate Institute. Intro Credits: DW News

The death of 17-year-old French-Algerian Nahel Merzouk, killed by a police officer on 27 June in Nanterre, France sparked urban riots across France. Things seem to be calming down, however tension definitely persists. In ths episode we look at the factors behind these riots and how France’s colonial past plays an important part in all of this. We also discuss what needs to be done to help prevent a similar situation from happening again. My guest today is Professor Mohamed Mahmoud MOHAMEDOU, who is Deputy Director of the Geneva Graduate Institute, as well as Professor of International History and Politics and Director of Executive Education here at the Institute. Intro Credits: Daily Mail

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere nowadays. This special edition episode of What Matters Today examines how AI is being used on a daily basis, the issues of AI governance and ethics, and of course, ChatGPT. This episode is moderated by Dr. Jérome Duberry, Managing Director of the Geneva Graduate Institute's Tech Hub; Academic Advisor, Executive Education; and Senior Researcher at the Institute. Our guests for this episode are Anne Lee Steele (Researcher and Community Manager, The Turing Way, Alan Turing Institute), Léo Laugier (Postdoctoral Researcher, Distributed Information Systems Laboratory at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL)), Anna Leander (Professor of International Relations and Political Science, Geneva Graduate Institute) and Samuel Smith (Master student, Geneva Graduate Institute)