The "Cool People in the Hot Desert" is an international conference on the new media, hosted by The Burda Center for Innovative Communications. The conference was initiated by its parent organizations and their leaders - Dr. Hubert Burda, Head of Hubert Burda Media in Germany , and Prof. Avishay Braverman, President of Ben Gurion University in Israel - and is chaired by Dr. Joseph Vardi, Chairman of International Technologies.
Inspired by the retreat-like atmosphere of the Negev desert and the lively campuses of Ben Gurion University, the conference is a creative gathering of business entrepreneurs, high tech experts and start-uppers, scholars, practitioners, and policy makers. It is a unique occasion, in which new media suppliers and appliers meet with their supporters and critics, to reflect and exchange information, views and concerns.
The conference aims at encouraging joint international initiatives and start-ups. It is open to all interested persons in the business, academic and professional communities, and at all levels of the private and public sectors.
Second Conference: May 2004
"Iconic Worlds… More Than We Can See" - the 2nd "Cool People in the Hot Desert" International Conference to be held on May 22-24 2004 in Jerusalem and Beer-Sheva.
Visual imaging is more than meets the eye. The quantity and speed of today's pictures, moving images, and mass media is historically unprecedented. Digital imagery has far reaching effects on the way we perceive and process information and events, on how business and commerce is conducted and how science and research is carried out. Visualization technology also brings together various fields and disciplines. It connects media with politics, art with medicine and computers with commerce.
Iconic Worlds is hosted by the Hubert Burda Media Group together with the Burda Center for Innovative Communications at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
Meeting in Israel, a pioneering country in the realm of envisioning scientific knowledge, we will showcase the latest trends in visual imaging. Program highlights will include: presentations and exhibits at several Israeli companies who are at the forefront of innovative imaging technology, as well as discussions at BGU in Beer-Sheeva, a leading academic institution engaged in ground breaking imaging research in various fields.
A select group of media, technology and advertising executives, publishers and editors in chiefs from old and new media, scientists, artists, designers, architects, photographers and government leaders will join us in what promises to be extremely relevant and interesting discussions.
Program 
(PDF, 1mb)
Live Broadcast (Images of War - War of images, 24 May 2004, 9:30-12:00 local time)
Conference Flyer (PDF, 117kb)
Registration
First Conference: May 2000
Conference sponsors
Honorary Advisory Board
Program
Honorary Advisory Board
Chairman: Shimon Peres, Minister of Regional Coorperation, Former Prime-Minister
Prof. Avishay Braverman, President Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Dr. Hubert Burda, Chairman Hubert Burda Media
Dr. Joseph Vardi, Chairman International Technologies
Mr.Gregory Blatt, Director World Economic Forum
Mr. Peter-Mark Droste, Vice President and Managing Director, Compaq Germany
Mr. Amir Hayek, Director General Israel Export Institute
Prof. Elihu Katz, Hebrew University of Jerusalem; University of Pennsylvania
Mr. Len Leader, President AOL Investments
Mr. Albrecht von Mueller, Chairman Think Tools Technologies
Prof. Sheizaf Rafaeli,Graduate School of Business, University of Haifa
Mr. Ariel Sella, Partner Formula Ventures
Mr. Erich Sixt, Chairman of the Board and CEO Sixt Group
Lord Weidenfeld of Chelsea
Mr. Zohar Zisappel, CEO RAD Communication
Program
Sunday, May 14, Jerusalem
Welcome and Greetings
Prof. Avishay Braverman - President, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Dr. Hubert Burda - Chairman, Hubert Burda Media
Dr. Joseph Vardi - Chairman, International Technologies
Moderator: Prof. Dov Shinar - Head, Hubert Burda Center, BenGurion University
Special Address:
"New Media and Social Transition"
Mr. Shimon Peres - Minister of Regional Cooperation
Gala Dinner
Monday, May 15, BGU Campus, Beer Sheva
Opening Statements
Mr Yaakov Terner - Mayor of Beer Sheva
Prof. Avishay Braverman - President, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Dr. Hubert Burda - Chairman, Hubert Burda Media
Dr. Joseph Vardi - Chairman, International Technologies
Moderator: Prof Dov Shinar- Head, Hubert Burda Center, Ben Gurion University
The New Marketplace
Mr. Michael Wolf - Senior Partner, Media & Entertainment Group, Booz, Allen & Hamilton
Mr. Peter-Mark Droste - VP and General Manager, Compaq, Germany
Mr. Albrecht von Muller - Chairman, Think Tools Technologies
Panel
Prof. Derrick de Kerckhove - Director, McLuhan Program, University of Toronto
Mr. Sanford Climan - Managing Director, Entertainment Ventures
Mr. Rob Fixmer - Editor, Interactive Week
Mr. Michael van Swaaij - Managing Director, e-Bay International, AG
Moderator: Mr. Gregory Blatt - Director, World Economic Forum
Start Up Forum-Session 1
Chairman: Dr. Hubert Burda - Chairman, Hubert Burda Media
New Challenges for Business Models
Mr. Len Leader - President, AOL Investments
Right Honorable Lord David Young of Graffham - Chairman, Young Association
Mr. Erich Sixt - Chairman and CEO , Sixt Group
Panel
Mr. Jean Schmetz - CEO, Cyberlab
Mr. Elon Ganor- CEO & Chairman, Vocaltec
Prof. Sheizaf Rafaeli - University of Haifa
Dr. Frank Barnabe - Chairman, Franco Bernabe & C.
Moderator: Prof. William Uricchio - MIT Comparative Media Program
Start-Up Forum - Session 2
Chairman: Mr. Ariel Sella - Partner, Formula Ventures
Tuesday, May 16, Beer Sheva
Start Up Forum - Session 3
Chairman: Mr. Amir Hayek - Director General - Israel Export Institute
The War for Talent
Mr. Gerhard Geiger - VP Communications and Peripherals, Infineon Technologies AG
Dr. Ram Banin - CEO, TLSI Systems, California
Panel
Ms. Anat Bernstein-Reich - VP Finance and Corporate Development, Acrossworld
Mr. Omar Salach - Chairman & CEO , Century Investment Group, Jordan
Mr. Ami Erel - Chairman & CEO, Elron Ltd.
Mr. Emmanuel Perez - General Manager, Compaq Israel
Mr. Shai Beilis - Managing Partner, Formula Ventures
Moderator: Prof. Martin Elton New York University, Burda Scholar, BGU
New Media, New Politics, New Social Order
Chairman: Dr. Hubert Burda - Chairman, Hubert Burda Media
Round Table
Mr. Martin Peretz - Editor, New Republic
Prof. Dorothy Zinberg -Science, Technology and Public Policy Program, Harvard University
Prof. Elihu Katz - Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania; Hebrew University
Prof. Derrick de Kerckhove - Director, McLuhan Program, University of Toronto
International Academic Seminar: New Media, New Society, New Culture
Greetings:
Prof. Avishay Braverman - President, Ben-Gurion University
Dr. Hubert Burda - Chairman, Hubert Burda Media
Prof. Martin Elton, Burda Scholar
Prof. Ron Burnett, Burda Scholar
Round Table 1: New Media and Cultural Change
Chairman: Dr. Ron Burnett - President, Emily Carr College, Vancouver;
Panel
Prof. Izumi Aizu - Principal, Asia Network
Prof. Christopher Harper - Chair, Roy H. Park School of Communications Ithaca College
Prof. Elihu Katz - Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania; Hebrew University
Prof. Derrick de Kerckhove - Director, McLuhan Program, University of Toronto
Wednesday, May 17
Round Table 2 - New Media and Social Reorganization: Promise and Performance
Chairman: Prof. Tom Horan - Executive Director, Claremont Graduate University Research Center
Panel
Mr. Mario Almeida - Editor, Gazeta Mercantil, Sao Paulo
Prof. Sheizaf Refaeli - Graduate School of Business,University of Haifa
Prof. William Uricchio - MIT Comparative Media Program
Prof. Dorothy Zinberg - Science, Technology and Public Policy Program, Harvard University
Round Table 3 - New Media, New Communities?
Chairman: Mr. Mike Dahan - Department of Political Science, Hebrew University
Panel
Prof. Martin Elton - New York University, BGU Burda Scholar
Mr. Rob Fixmer - Editor, Interactive Week
Dr. David Levi -Faur- Department of Political Science, University of Haifa
Prof. Dov Shinar - Head, Hubert Burda Center, Ben Gurion University
