Ambassador Ziswiler visits Cambridge, Delivers Immigration lecture at MIT.
Ambassador Ziswiler visits Cambridge, Delivers Immigration lecture at MIT.
On April 26, 2007, the Consulate welcomed Ambassador Urs Ziswiler (the Swiss Ambassador in Washington D.C.) to Cambridge to deliver an immigration lecture in preparation for next Monday’s unveiling of the new Human Rights Exhibition at Logan Airport. The Ambassador first attended a welcome luncheon hosted by SHARE at the MIT Faculty Club, where a diverse group of invited guests (including Consulate officials, professors from Harvard, MIT, and Tufts, as well as students from Harvard and MIT) partook in a casual yet vibrant exchanges of ideas. With no time to lose, Ambassador Ziswiler was then whisked off for a goodwill- meeting with MIT Chancellor Phillip Clay, and enjoyed a leisurely tour of the MIT campus.
It was soon time for the lecture, which was well attended by local students, faculty, and community members. The Ambassador spoke about the many immigration and emmigration issues that Europe is currently facing, and presented Switzerland’s approach to alleviating these often difficult situations. He emphasized the pervasive gravity of the problems, and proposed humanitarian solutions. Following the lecture, audience members were given the opportunity to voice their questions and concerns about immigration to Ambassador Ziswiler in a discussion-style format moderated by MIT Human Rights Professor Balakrishnan Rajagopal. The lecture attendees socialized in a casual meet-and-greet reception afterwards, catered with scrumptiously authentic Swiss delicacies!
Crystal Mao, Intern, MIT student
This event took place within the scope of the ThinkSwiss Program. More info: www.ThinkSwiss.org
