37th St. Gallen Symposium
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.