News + Media

	Audit April 2, 2010 Why is the defense budget so big? Benjamin Friedman, MIT The Center's Audit of the Conventional Wisdom series continues with an analysis of the defense budget—the largest since World War II. Is it a rational response to the threats and the dangers that the United States faces—or not? Benjamin Friedman is a PhD student at the MIT Department of Political Science. He is a member of the Center's Security Studies Program and is a research fellow in defense and homeland security studies at the Cato Institute.
	News@E40 April 1, 2010 SSP summer courses, sign-up now The Center's Security Studies Program is offering two courses during the 2010 summer session for professional studies. From Technology to Innovation: Putting Ideas to Work, offered July 12-15, explores innovations in both public and private organizations, and identifies best practices. Pandemics and Bioterrorism: From Realistic Threats to Effective Policies, offered July 26-28, looks at the challenges public health, law enforcement, and national security agencies face in ensuring biosecurity.
	News@E40 March 8, 2010 Grants for research in Brazil The MIT-Brazil Program welcomes applications from any discipline for travel grants to Brazil. These grants are open to all advanced graduate students who are working on their dissertations, especially students who have not had many opportunities to conduct research in Brazil. Applications should be submitted by March 29, 2010. More Information
	News@E40 February 24, 2010 Williams addresses Senate Budget Committee On February 23, Cindy Williams testified before the Senate Budget Committee at a hearing, "Defense Budget and War Costs: An Independent Outlook." In her written statement, she points out that contrary to conventional wisdom, past increases in defense spending do not necessarily augur future growth. Williams was joined at the witness table by Lieutenant General Paul K. Van Riper, (USMC, Ret.) and by Gordon Adams. Williams and Adams co-authored the book Buying National Security: How America Plans and Pays for Its Global Role and Safety at Home, published last month by Routledge.
	News Release February 9, 2010 Carl Kaysen, 89, MIT Professor Emeritus and national security expert Carl Kaysen, MIT’s David W. Skinner Professor of Political Economy (Emeritus), passed away on February 8. His contributions to intellectual life were immense, as was his influence on national policy. He will be sorely missed.
	News@E40 February 9, 2010 Kaysen, 89, MIT Professor Emeritus Carl Kaysen, MIT’s David W. Skinner Professor of Political Economy (Emeritus) and beloved member of the Center's Security Studies Program, passed away on February 8. His contributions to intellectual life were immense, as was his influence on national policy. A national security expert, Kaysen had an illustrious career: he was professor of economics at Harvard University, deputy special assistant for National Security Affairs to President John F. Kennedy, director of the Institute of Advanced Study at Princeton, vice chairman and director of research for the Sloan commission on higher education, and director of MIT’s Program in Science, Technology, and Society. He also chaired the Committee on International Security Studies of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. News Story
	News Release February 1, 2010 Gercik receives MIT award for 'bringing out the best' Patricia Gercik, associate director of the MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI) and managing director of the MIT-Japan Program, has received an MIT Excellence Award in the category of “Bringing Out the Best: Everyday Leadership throughout MIT.”
	News@E40 February 1, 2010 CIS summer study grant Doctoral students in international affairs may receive up to $3000 in summer support for dissertation research on a broad range of global issues. Grants may be requested either for fieldwork and/or archival research, or for home-based research and write-up. The main criteria for determining awards will be the importance of the research question and the quality of the research proposal; and the strength of the letter of support. The deadline for applications is Monday, March 1, 2010. More Information
	News@E40 February 1, 2010 Gercik wins award Patricia Gercik, associate director of the MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI) and managing director of the MIT-Japan Program, has received an MIT Excellence Award in the category of “Bringing Out the Best: Everyday Leadership throughout MIT.” Gercik joined MIT more than 25 years ago to help develop what was then a fledgling program in Japanese studies at MIT. That program—now known as MIT-Japan—marks the genesis of applied international studies at MIT and is a cornerstone of the ten (and counting) country programs of MISTI. Press Release
	Analysis + Opinion January 21, 2010 Tokyo and Washington celebrate their alliance — too soon Richard J. SamuelsForeign Policy The U.S.-Japan security alliance just had its golden anniversary -- but it isn't time to break out the bubbly just yet.