RfD | February: 🇨🇳 China, 🎙️ Interviewing, and ⚡ Energy
To our Room for Discussion Community,
We hope that you can look back on a warm holiday season and restful winter break and that you arrived well in the new year, whether back to university or work. 2024 will hold a lot in store for us. This newsletter will update you on the exciting events Room for Discussion will host in February and look back at some highlights from January and last year.
Enjoy the read!
Future Interviews
What’s coming up in February? 💰📹🏭
Bert Hofman -- 6th of February, 14:00-15:00, E-Hall, Roeterseiland (English)
Over the past decades, China’s economy has been ever-rising, with double-digit GDP growth every year. However, recent reporting seems to suggest that the Chinese economic miracle is going bust. Problems in the real estate market, a slow Covid-19 recovery, and geopolitical tension is combining in unpredictable ways to challenge China’s economy - so what will China do? And how will the rest of the world respond?
On February 6th, 14:00-15:00, Room for Discussion will host Bert Hofman. He is the former World Bank’s Chief Economist of East Asia and the Pacific and Country Director for China, which makes him well placed to speak about China’s economic and geopolitical future. Be there or be square!
Twan Huys -- 14th of February, 13:00-14:00, E-Hall, Roeterseiland (English)
What do the Dalai Lama, Bill Gates and Johan Cruiff have in common? All have them have been interviewed by Twan Huys, the most prominent interviewer and journalist in the Netherlands. He has seen the political and social environment change tremendously over the last decades and has talked to some of the most prominent makers and shakers of our current world to make sense of it.
To get his unique perspective on the world around us, join us in the E-Hall on February 14th, 13:00 - 14:00!
Room for Discussion is thrilled to welcome Twan Huys, host of College Tour and Buitenhof. He has interviewed countless of famous guest, held Dutch politicians accountable and shaped the public debate in The Netherlands like no one else. Now he is here to share his perspective on how the public climate has changed and where we go from here. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity!
Cindy Kroon -- 29th of February, 13:00-14:00, E-Hall, Roeterseiland (English)
On February 29th, from 13:00-14:00, Room for Discussion will host Cindy Kroon, the CCO of Vattenfall NL.
Access to renewable energy is essential for dealing with the Climate Crisis. However, there are still a lot of obstacles in Europe’s path to fossil freedom, and getting there is not yet a sure thing. Vattenfall is a huge player in European renewable energy, and has 2 million clients in the Netherlands alone.
Join us if you’re interested in a discussion on sustainability, the energy transition, and renewables!
Past Interviews: What happened in the past months?
December
6th of December, 13:00-14:00, E-Hall, Roeterseiland (English)
Two weeks after the shocking PVV landslide win in the Dutch Election RfD hosted Cas Mudde, the prominent scholar on the far right. There, he discussed the causes of the far-right popularity, the effects of their wins, and where to go from now.
7th of December, 13:00-14:00, E-Hall, Roeterseiland (English)
In December, we welcomed former Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the European Union, former Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, and former acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Tom de Bruijn. We spoke about the place of the Netherlands in the European Union and the broader Euro-Atlantic community, the gap between policymakers and the public, and what it's like to be in the room where decisions are made. It was an engaging conversation with a man who was intimately involved in European and Dutch politics & diplomacy for decades, including in the negotiations on behalf of the Netherlands for the 2007 Treaty of Lisbon as well as the 2014 European Union--Ukraine Association Agreement.
8th of December, 13:00-14:00, E-Hall, Roeterseiland (English)
On Friday, December 8th, Room for Discussion was thrilled to welcome Mike Kuehnel, CEO of Flow Traders. The conversation we had spanned his career journey, the evolving landscape of cryptocurrencies for retail investors and public institutions, the pivotal role of data in finance, and the importance of market regulation. This interview effectively bridged the gap between academic theory and the dynamic world of finance, actively involving students in a dialogue that reflected real-world applications. For anyone keen on understanding the nuances of trading and quantitative finance, this interview is a compelling watch, offering valuable insights and perspectives.
11th of December, 13:00-14:00, E-Hall, Roeterseiland (English)
Last month, we also welcomed Derk Sauer who founded the English-language Moscow Times in 1992 as one of the few independently-operated Russian media outlets. We had an insightful exchange about his seemingly unquenchable passion to be near the action from his that led him from his youth in Amsterdam to Northern Ireland during the Troubles and Russia just after the fall of the Soviet Union. We explored how the recently-repatriated Dutchman was able to navigate his adopted home country's thorny media landscape and the role that independent journalism will play in Russia in the years to come.
January
24th of January, 18:00-19:30, E-Hall, Roeterseiland (English)
Room for Discussion's first event of the new year was a panel discussion which was organized in collaboration with Rostra Economica. During the a lively (and funny!) debate with Penny Sheets Thiebaut, a professor at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Lizan Nijkrake, an independent journalist, and Kees Haasnoot, lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Business, we explored the challenges academia and journalism face in today's world. In view of the rise of social media and polarization, is there still room for insightful, persuasive and responsible journalism and research? And what does that have to do with grandmas? Enjoy the discussion to find out!
26th of January, 13:00-14:00, E-Hall, Roeterseiland (English)
On January 26th, Georgios Papacostantinou, the former Greek Minister of Finance during the Euro Crisis, came to Room for Discussion! The engaging conversation we had delved into the complexities of the crisis, exploring both domestic missteps and the role of international institutions in the unfolding events. We also explored the future prospects of Europe, drawing from Papacostantinou's unique insights and experiences. The conversation was rich with insider stories and reflective moments, providing a deeper understanding of the intricate interplay between politics and economics. Room for Discussion had the pleasure of offering a rare glimpse into the heart of one of Europe's most challenging periods, and we truly believe this interview is an essential watch for anyone, regardless of their academic inclination!
In 2024, we will celebrate Room for Discussion's 15th birthday! We are thrilled to honor this milestone with many of great events and interviews with you. Stay tuned for that. But for now, we wish you a great month ahead and can’t wait to seeing you all at our next interview!
All the best, Room for Discussion Team