A new initiative of LBNL is the Institute for Globally Transformative Technologies; from a certain perspective, the work of this institute appears to be focused on providing essential services to the world’s poor. But given the history of the key actors, it is reasonable to be concerned that this initiative, rather than challenging the exercise of multinational power at the heart of global poverty, exists to deploy this power toward strategic ends. — Synbiowatch
Aug 8, 2012 by BerkeleyLab: The last installment of the “Summer Series of Conversations” took place Wednesday, August 1, with guest Shashi Buluswar, the executive director of the LBNL Institute for Globally Transformative Technologies (LIGTT). The Institute seeks to foster the discovery, development and deployment of a generation of low-carbon, affordable technologies that will advance sustainable methods to fight global poverty. The event, was hosted by Public Affairs Head Jeff Miller.
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http://www.ligtt.org/people/sh
Shashi Buluswar joins LIGTT from Dalberg Global Development Advisors, an organization which gives strategic advice to governments, the UN, NGOs and foundations on issues such as economic development, health, agriculture, climate change, education and post-conflict reconstruction. Over the past year, he has worked with the LBNL team to shape the idea of LIGTT.
In recent years, Shashi has worked with the UN’s Peacekeeping Department to restructure global operations, with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to launch large-scale agricultural development programs in Africa and Asia, with the US government on post-conflict development in Afghanistan, with several multinational corporations to improve their social responsibility agendas, and dozens of NGOs fighting for human rights, health, education, and economic empowerment. Shashi also teaches International Development at UC Berkeley, and is currently writing a textbook on the topic.