There is a prosperous future that awaits us, yet a shift in mindset is required for it to be realized. While the recent financial crisis has prompted reassessments of our economic models, it should not overshadow the fact that enormous progress has been achieved in the past few decades. There is a strong case to be made for optimism, given the eradication of diseases and the drastic improvements made in life expectancy, infant mortality, and economic development. These achievements should be celebrated and should serve as a reminder that individuals and nations can mobilize resources to rise above complex and systemic challenges. This session will make an informed case for why CGI members should be optimistic about exciting societal and technological advancements, and will explore how these advancements will lead to an expanding world of possibilities for generations to come.
Moderator:
Chelsea Clinton, Board Member, William J. Clinton Foundation and Clinton Global Initiative
Participants:
Jack Andraka, Student, North County High School; Cancer Researcher, John Hopkins University School of Medicine
Gregory Lucier, Chairman and CEO, Life Technologies
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Finance Minister, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Billy Parish, President, Mosaic
Luis A. Ubiñas, President, Ford Foundation
