Prof. Andrea L . Baldini

Research Area: Aesthetics, Philosophy, Ethics, Political Philosophy, Public Art, Visual Culture, Dialogical Art, New Genre Public Art, Art Theory, Civil Society and the Public Sphere

Brief introduction: As the Changjiang Scholar Distinguished Professor at Peking University, I specialize in interdisciplinary research that spans aesthetics, cultural studies, intellectual property law, and visual culture. My focus is on how creativity can infuse political and social value into everyday practices, particularly through street art, graffiti, and public art.

I am the founding Editor-in-Chief of the East Asian Journal of Philosophy (EAJP) and hold two doctorates—one in Philosophy from Temple University and another in Text Sciences from the University of Siena. I have authored three monographs, including A Philosophy Guide to Street Art and the Law (Brill), and my work is widely published in leading journals such as Philosophy Compass, Contemporary Aesthetics, Estetika, The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, and The Journal of Visual Culture.

In addition to my own publications, I serve as a guest editor, scientific committee member, and sit on several editorial boards, including the Bloomsbury History of Modern Aesthetics series. Over the years, I have been recognized with multiple accolades, including the Top Paper in Urban Communication award from the National Communication Association (NCA) and the Nordev Prize from Temple University.

My career has taken me to various prestigious institutions, including roles as a Fulbright Fellow at Temple University, International Exchange Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies of Nanjing University, and Visiting Scholar at both Padua University and CIEBA – School of Fine Arts at the University of Lisbon.

SpeechTitle: Copyright and Cultural Heritage: Balancing Protection and Accessibility in Ancient Chinese and Italian Art

Abstract: This paper examines the dual role of copyright in the preservation and dissemination of cultural heritage, focusing on ancient Chinese paintings and Italian masterpieces. While copyright laws aim to protect cultural artifacts, excessive regulation can hinder their accessibility and creative reinterpretation, risking their relevance in contemporary society. Drawing parallels between Italy's restrictive Cultural Heritage Code and potential challenges in China, the study highlights the economic and cultural drawbacks of overregulation, such as stifled innovation and reduced public engagement. Through case studies, including Italy's legal battles over iconic works like the Vitruvian Man, the paper argues for a balanced approach that prioritizes open access and creative engagement. The findings underscore the importance of treating cultural heritage as a public good, aligned with international frameworks like Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The paper concludes with actionable recommendations: preserving accessibility, encouraging creative reuse, and educating stakeholders to foster a dynamic cultural dialogue. These insights aim to inform policymakers and cultural institutions on safeguarding heritage while ensuring its continued evolution and global appreciation.

Prof. Huaping Sun

University of Science and Technology Beijing, China

Research Area: Energy economy and Environmental Management, Digital economy and sustainable development, industrial organization and global value chains

Brief introduction: He presided over a number of key projects of the National Social Science Fund and projects of the National Science Fund. He has published many papers in academic journals at home and abroad. Deputy Secretary-General and standing member of the Resource Economy Research Committee of China Society of Natural Resources, Executive director of the Energy Economy and Management Branch of China "Double Law" Research Society, standing member of the Energy Resources System Committee of China Systems Engineering Society, Executive director of the National Input-Output and Big Data Research Society, National Natural Science Foundation communication review expert, etc. He is the author of China Finance Review International, Journal of Digital Economy, Green and Low-Carbon Economy, Carbon Editorial board members or youth editorial board members of journals such as Footprint, China Population, Resources and Environment. He has been successively selected as a Clarivate Global Highly Cited Scientist, the world's top 2% top scientist of Stanford University, and Elsevier China Highly Cited Scholar.

Speech Title: Exploring the effect of Geopolitical Risks on Energy Efficiency

Abstract: This study explores the captivating relationship between energy efficiency and the ever-changing geopolitical risk landscape in 40 countries from 1985 to 2022. The research employs a novel measure of geopolitical risk, addresses endogeneity issues in the energy efficiency measure, analyzes different time variations, and investigates various income levels: First, study shows that geopolitical factors significantly increase energy inefficiency, suggesting that political conflicts and regulatory changes disrupt energy production and investment, causing inefficient resource allocation, increased costs, and infrastructure delays. Second, analysis shows that geopolitical risk increases energy inefficiency more in low-income countries than in high-income ones. 

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Prof. Cherian George

Hong Kong Baptist University, China

Brief introduction: Prof. George’s professional life has been devoted to journalism practice, education, research and advocacy. A native of Singapore, he worked as a journalist for the Straits Times, including three years as its art and photo editor, before moving to academia. His academic research centres on freedom of expression, and hate propaganda. His civic involvements include founding What’s Up, a monthly current affairs newspaper for Singapore schoolchildren, published since 2003. Prof. George received his Ph.D. in Communication from Stanford University. He has a Masters from Columbia University’s School of Journalism and a B.A. in Social and Political Sciences from Cambridge University.

Prof. Thomas David DuBois

Beijing Normal University, China

Brief introduction: Holding degrees from Chicago and UCLA, my professional career has taken me to Wash U St. Louis, the National University of Singapore and the Australian National University. Altogether, I’ve spent over a decade in China, including time in Shandong, Tianjin, Inner Mongolia, Sichuan and Shanghai.

I took up my current position at Beijing Normal University in 2019 and hold concurrent professorships at universities in Shandong and Hebei.