The Political Science Distinguished Speaker Series is designed to bring together faculty, students, local business leaders, state economic officials, and, most importantly, MIT technology and policy thinkers. The emphasis for the first forum, co-hosted by Political Science Department and the newly commissioned Production in the Innovative Economy (PIE) group, is "Rebuilding the American Economy." Several leading MIT faculty will review a series of manufacturing topics, after which Ron Bloom, former Senior Counselor to the President, will speak. Nobel laureate and MIT economist Robert Solow will lead a short closing discussion.