The final WoWTalk session of the 2023 will be held on:
December 6th 2023, 4:00 - 5:00 pm in the Lehman Auditorium (B1220) of Science and Engineering Hall (SEH).
More details on the WoWTALK (What’s Our Work) Series can be found below the speaker information.
After the talks there will be an opportunity to chat and network with your colleagues. Everyone is welcome! Students and postdocs are particularly encouraged to attend!
The End of Londongrad? The impact of Beneficial Ownership Transparency on Offshore Investment in UK Property
Property in the United Kingdom is commonly reported as a destination for corrupt and criminal wealth, to the extent that the capital earned the nickname “Londongrad,” referring to the large influx of money from Russian oligarchs into the city. Investment in high-value property markets are often made via shell companies based in tax havens, preserving the anonymity of the ultimate buyer and making it harder for journalists, law enforcement and tax authorities to track down illicit wealth. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, we study the impact of the introduction of a policy in the UK intended to eliminate the anonymous ownership of property by requiring offshore companies to file their ultimate beneficial owners on public register. We find that new purchases and sales by companies based in tax havens fell substantially following government announcements that the policy would be introduced that year, and further declines following the establishment of a public register of ownership. While the policy has effectively led the offshore market to stall, between between £46-80 billion worth of UK real estate is still owned by companies based in tax havens, most of which have yet to comply with their reporting obligations.
Tackling the energy sector’s pressing technological and workforce
needs requires a multi-pronged approach. I will discuss our research
at the intersection of energy conversion materials and additive
manufacturing as well as large-scale district energy systems with
integrated renewable power and storage. From engineering materials
to convert waste heat into electricity to simulating urban
communities with combined heat and power, renewable generation,
and electricity and thermal storage, we will explore how new
technologies can improve the way we use energy.
What You See is Not What You Perceive: Mechanisms of Selective Attention
Attentional selection is a mechanism by which incoming sensory information is prioritized for further, detailed and more effective, processing. Given that attended information is privileged by the sensory system, understanding and predicting what information is granted prioritization becomes an important endeavor. I will share recent behavioral and neuroimaging data collected in my lab to highlight mechanisms by which our sensory system prioritizes visual and auditory information.
What are WoW TALKS?
The WoW TALK (What’s Our Work) Series brings together colleagues and students from a variety of disciplines to present new research and share ideas. These short, TED-style talks (15 minutes each) are designed to introduce members of the GW community to current and exciting research projects, to initiate discussion, collaborate, share expertise, and to promote research performed at GW.
These talks are an opportunity to gain awareness of the different kinds of important work being done at GW, and can open the door for future collaboration opportunities. They are targeted to an educated lay-audience in order to be accessible to graduate students and colleagues from other fields.
All WoW TALK sessions are held in person in Science and Engineering Hall B1220.
To be considered to speak at a future session, complete the volunteer form here. For any other enquiries, please contact us at ccasres@gwu.edu.
Save the Date!
Future WoW talk dates for academic year 2023/34 are listed below.
January 31st 2024
4:00 - 5:00 pm
Lehman Auditorium, SEH
March 6th 2024
4:00 - 5:00 pm
Lehman Auditorium, SEH
May 1st 2024
4:00 - 5:00 pm
Lehman Auditorium, SEH
Please reserve these dates in your calendar for intellectually stimulating talks and networking with your colleagues!
