More than 50 students, faculty members, and practitioners in the global energy, economics, and technology fields attended the Third Annual Mason Energy Symposium on Thursday, April 25, held at George Mason University’s Fairfax Campus. The day-long conference addressed “China’s Belt and Road Initiative—New Silk Road,” and included perspectives from the “European Union World Bank,” India, China, the U.S., and other countries.
The event highlighted research by Schar School of Policy and Government faculty, researchers, and students, who were joined by representatives from Mason’s College of Science and School of Business. Mason’s Center for Energy Science and Policy hosted the conference.
Schar School professor and noted demographer Jack Goldstone delivered a keynote address that framed the discussion of the “Belt and Road Initiative”—which describes China’s objective of furthering regional and international cooperation within Asia, Europe, and Africa—from a historical-to-current perspective.
Joining panelists from think tanks and other universities were Schar School Visiting Research Scholar Omid Shokri and PhD in Public Policy candidate Hong Zhang, who presented recent findings regarding China’s relations with Iran and Turkey and China’s state-owned enterprises.
Schar School PhD in Public Policy candidate Joel Hicks supervised a student poster competition that showcased student interest in energy issues. Schar School PhD in Public Policy candidate Andrew Patterson’s poster was one of the winners.