The decentralization of employment has accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, with many employees in the science and technology sectors shifting from work at central industry-specific hubs to remote work environments. This process is expected to continue after the pandemic subsides, and could be further boosted by the expansion of high-speed internet availability planned under the Biden administration. The ability to work from almost anywhere in the country — or the world — could drastically change where the technology sector’s workforce is sourced from and placed, and how, offering myriad challenges as well as opportunities.

At this event, Baker Institute Director Ambassador Edward P. Djerejian will deliver welcome remarks and Rice University President David W. Leebron will moderate the discussion. Antonio Neri, CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise — which recently relocated its global corporate headquarters to North Houston — will discuss the decentralization of the science and technology sectors and its impact on the diversity and sourcing, training and housing of the technology workforce of the future.

This event is part of the Civic Scientist Lecture Series, which is sponsored by the Baker Institute Science and Technology Policy Program with generous support from Benjamin and Winifer Cheng. Additional support is provided by Rice University’s George R. Brown School of Engineering and Wiess School of Natural Sciences and by grants from the Kavli Foundation and the National Science Foundation (Grant No. 2042854).

Agenda

Noon — Welcome Remarks
12:10 pm — Presentation
12:25 pm — Q&A

Registration

This webinar is free, but registration is required. Please click here to register. If you are unable to attend, a recording will be available on this page after the event.