Room for Discussion Events in April
Dear Room for Discussion Community,
Last month was quite an eventful one for our committee and audience, and we have just as packed and exciting a month coming up. The pace of change in the world shows no sign of slowing down and so neither are we. It has been a challenge at times to keep up with the changing political climate—but at the same time, it shows that our mission of providing students with differing perspectives is more crucial than ever. We hope that our discussions continue to provide you with new insights and encourage you to stay engaged in the issues of today.
Upcoming interviews - What Do We Have in Store for April?
Prof. Sander van der Linden, Disinformation expert at Cambridge
1st of April, 13:00-14:00, RfD Stage
Join us for a conversation with Cambridge psychologist Sander van der Linden as we will discuss the psychology of misinformation in the digital age. How does fake news spread like a virus through our society, why are we so susceptible to believing false information, and, most importantly, how we can 'vaccinate' ourselves against it. From Russian disinformation campaigns to COVID-19 conspiracy theories, we'll explore real-world examples that have shaped our recent history. Whether you're concerned about a loved one who's fallen down the rabbit hole of misinformation or simply want to better understand what makes conspiracy theories so sticky, this talk will not misinform you.
Russell Shorto, American author, historian and journalist
2nd of April, 13:00-14:00, RfD Stage
Russell Shorto is an American author, historian, and journalist renowned for his exploration of Dutch influence on American culture. His best-known book, Amsterdam: A History of the World’s Most Liberal City (2013), examines the city's role in shaping modern liberal thought and global commerce. His latest work, Taking Manhattan: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America (2025), delves into the pivotal events and figures that transformed Manhattan into the cultural and economic powerhouse it is today. Shorto served as the director of the John Adams Institute in Amsterdam from 2008 to 2013, where he fostered cultural exchange between the Netherlands and the U.S., deepening the dialogue between these two influential cultures.
Steve Keen, Economist and Author
9th of April, 13:00-14:00, RfD Stage
Is it time we forget neoclassical economics?
On the 9th of April, Room for Discussion will welcome Steve Keen - outspoken critic of mainstream economics, author of “The New Economics: A Manifesto”, and one of today’s most rebellious economic thinkers.
Keen has made it his mission to dismantle the neoclassical foundations of the discipline. With climate collapse accelerating, inequality deepening, and debt-driven crises recurring, he claims our economic orthodoxy is not just wrong, but dangerous. From his emphasis on non-equilibrium dynamic modeling to jabs at Nobel laureates, Keen’s ideas challenge not only the economics profession but how we imagine the future of society. Expect controversy, polemics, and ultimately a discussion on how Steve Keen would model our world. Is this the future of economics, or a detour into chaos?
Stéphane Duguin, CEO of the CyberPeace Institute
11th of April, 13:00-14:00, RfD Stage
As cyberattacks grow in scale and sophistication, the lines between cybercrime, state-sponsored hacking, and digital warfare are becoming increasingly blurred. How can we protect individuals, businesses, and democratic institutions from the rising tide of cyber threats? Who should be held accountable for cyberattacks, and how can international cooperation enforce digital security?
Join us for a conversation with Stéphane Duguin, CEO of the CyberPeace Institute, an organization dedicated to reducing the harm caused by cyber threats and promoting accountability in cyberspace. With years of experience in cybersecurity, intelligence, and international cooperation, Duguin is at the forefront of the fight for a safer digital world. Don’t miss this chance to gain insights from one of the leading voices in global cyber peace!
Saad Mosheni, CEO of Moby Media Group and author of Radio Free Afghanistan
16th of April, 13:00-14:00, RfD Stage
Saad Mohseni has been called by some the “Rupert Murdoch of Afghanistan,” but his path to success has been anything but conventional. As the founder and CEO of Moby Group, he built Afghanistan’s largest media empire, launching TOLO TV, Arman FM, and a network of digital platforms across Central Asia and the Middle East. In a country where the Taliban has long sought to suppress independent media, Mohseni’s ventures have been a symbol of defiance.
Mohseni’s reputation as a champion for press freedom, women’s rights, and civil society has earned him global recognition, but his work has also sparked controversy. Accused by the Taliban of being an "American agent," and operating in regions where free speech is constantly under threat, Mohseni’s leadership raises difficult questions: Can media truly thrive in such hostile environments? What role does media play in a nation’s rebuilding, and can it survive under authoritarian rule?
Philippe Sands, Barrister and Author in International Law
24th of April, 13:00-14:00, RfD Stage
In an interconnected world, the debate on global justice is more relevant than ever. Philippe Sands, renowned lawyer, author and expert in international law, is a key voice in this debate. He has argued cases before the ICJ, ICC and ECJ among others, was a counsel to Georgia in the ICJ case against Russia. Furthermore, he is central in pushing for the recognition of ecocide as an international crime.
His work explores power, accountability, and the unintended consequences of international law, as seen in his book Lawless World: America and the Making and Breaking of Global Rules.
Join us for a conversation about the evolving world of justice on April 24th from 3-4 PM!
Past interviews - What Happened in March?
Reineke Riemsdijk, Nespresso Sustainability Manager
On the 7th of March, in collaboration with the Amsterdam Career Days, we interviewed Reineke Riemsdijk, the Technical Quality Manager & Sustainability Lead of Nespresso Netherlands about the challenges and opportunities of sustainable business in a competitive world.
With experience spanning sustainability, quality management, and supply chain innovation, Reineke Riemsdijk plays a key role in shaping Nespresso’s ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) goals and integrating them into core operations. The conversation spanned from personal ambitions and values to coffee prices and the company's Coffee Capsule Recycling program and B-corp certification.
Jan Eliasson, former UN Deputy Secretary General
The former Deputy Secretary General and President of the General Assembly of the UN, Jan Eliasson, joined us on a link to figure out the road ahead for the United Nations at a time when increasingly the international project itself is being questioned by some of the world’s mightiest powers.
We started the interview with a look into what skills make up effective diplomacy and why diplomacy is such a crucial aspect of international relations, aided by lessons from Eliasson’s vast experience in mediation. The conversation was then steered into how the United Nations can maintain its humanitarian voice in an increasingly polarised world and whether is has ever been truly effective at this mission. Finally, the scope was broadened to a discussion on the state of international cooperation at large in light of the incumbent American administration and the war in Ukraine.
Kenneth Roth, former Executive Director of Human Rights Watch
Human rights are only as strong as the governments willing to uphold them. This was the main takeaway when we hosted Kenneth Roth, the long-standing former director of Human Rights Watch, on our couches.
With three decades of experience in defending human rights, Mr. Roth, dubbed the ‘Godfather of Human Rights’ joined us in a conversation on how we can push governments to practice what they preach in a world marked by increasing authoritarianism and where even democracies falter. We examined what human rights advocacy looks like in practice, the apparent paradox between international law and sovereign nation states and how naming and shaming help hold governments accountable, and whether it is still the name of the game.
Dr. Jisung Park, Environmental and Labour Economist
Room for Discussion is happy to have hosted Dr. R. Jisung Park, economist and author of Slow Burn, as he unveiled the hidden economic costs of climate change to our audience. Park is an assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania in the School of Social Policy and Practice and the Wharton School’s Department of Business Economics and Public Policy.
Park offers a fresh approach to climate policy, pushing for equity, carbon taxes, and a new understanding of how heat stress impacts vulnerable populations. In our conversation, we also explored how rising temperatures affect productivity, education, and inequality, while challenging common politicised narratives around climate economics. Make sure to check out this interview for a fresh perspective on this ever-more pressing matter.
Student Politics Debate
Rounding the month off, Room for Discussion hosted and moderated the introduction to student politics debate in preparation for Student Council elections later this spring.
From political expression on campus to the future of education and the growing impact of internationalisation, the Central Student Council (CSR) is facing the most pressing questions student politics. These are debates about identity, access, and power—about what kind of university we want to be part of.
This year’s Student Politics Debate, brought these questions and more to the stage. The discussion challenged party representatives with rapid-fire questions, real-time reactions, and questions from students. Hopefully, students walked away from there better informed about how to influence the decisions shaping their study experience.
We hope you are as excited as we are for this next month and look forward to seeing you at one of our events soon.
Sincerely,
The Room for Discussion committee