The 37th St. Gallen Symposium was held from 31 May to 2 June 2007 on
the campus of the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland. In the framework of the topic “The Power of
Natural Resources”, a group of entrepreneurs, politicians, scientists and students from around the world
discussed key issues concerning management, the business environment and the interface between economy,
politics and society.
200 years after the industrial revolution took
hold and 30 years after the great oil crisis, the “3 Days in May” focused on natural resources as a
determining factor in global development. With all the existential and economic differences between
the wide range of natural resources from fossil fuels through precious metals to water, in almost all
cases a marked shift is evident in the dynamics of supply and demand, plus a deeper awareness of the
obvious shortage of deposits. Over the medium to long term, what are the implications on the economic,
political and social levels of the present boom in natural resources? Does it concern a long-term change
in the dynamics of supply and demand, or is it a bubble that is set to burst – an event for which the
world should be prepared? With how much resolve can economic players on the one hand and the global
trade and finance system on the other react to further, resource-related shocks? Or does the increasing
scarcity and price of natural resources represent a crucial turning point for pushing through a global
change to sustainability?
With the 37th St. Gallen Symposium, the International
Students’ Committee (ISC) once more created a platform for open, interdisciplinary and intergenerational
dialogue. Regarding the global relevance of the problem with natural resources,
it did
so with the intention of enabling a fundamental discussion and exchange of views on the subject. The
members of the 37th ISC-Team hope that the “3 Days in May” have given participants food for thought
and provided a fresh impetus for their daily entrepreneurial activities.
The
ISC extends its warmest thanks to the outstanding members of the Faculty who enriched the St. Gallen
dialogue with their presentations and ideas. A special word of thanks goes to the chairpersons Lord
Griffiths of Fforestfach and Mark C. Medish, who displayed an impressive wealth of knowledge and expertise
and chaired the “3 Days in May” with much humour and charm.
Thanks also
go to the members of the Board of Trustees of the St. Gallen Foundation for International Studies and
in particular to its chairman Dr. Josef Ackermann, whose enthusiasm and personal commitment significantly
contributed to the success of the 37th St. Gallen Symposium.
The “3 Days
in May” would not have been possible without the outstanding support and tireless efforts of 200 students
of the University of St. Gallen. The ISC express its sincere thanks to them for their major contribution
to the unique atmosphere on the University campus. It also likes to thank the University of St. Gallen
and especially its president, Prof. Dr. Ernst Mohr, for his generosity in allowing the University of
St. Gallen to be host to this event.
Finally the 37th ISC-Team thanks
the members of the circle of benefactors, donators and sponsors whose conceptual and financial support
laid the foundation for the success of the “3 Days in May”, and whose personal commitment was once more
instrumental in realising the ISC idea.
