News + Media

	Audit May 28, 2010 Artificial life: a global good or evil? Kenneth Oye, MIT The Center's series continues with a look at the recent discovery out of the Venter laboratory: artificial life. Is this a global good or evil? Ken Oye, director of the Center's Program on Emerging Technologies and associate professor of political science and engineering systems, discusses the discovery from his MIT office.
	News@E40 May 24, 2010 PEGS participates in Resilient Cities 2010 The Center’s Program on Environmental Governance and Sustainability (PEGS) has been invited to participate in Resilient Cities 2010 held in Bonn, Germany, May 27-31. The conference is the first edition of the annual global forum on urban resiliency and adaptation to climate change and is co-hosted by the Local Governments for Sustainability, the City of Bonn, and the World Mayors Council on Climate Change. PEGS, which is directed by JoAnn Carmin, associate professor of environmental policy and planning at MIT, will be co-hosting with the World Bank a panel discussion on Urban Adaptation Planning and Governance: Challenges to Emerging Wisdom.
	précis May 1, 2010 précis Interview: Ben Ross Schneider Ben Ross Schneider is a professor of political science in the Department of Political Science at MIT. Schneider also co-directs MIT Brazil, which is part of the Center's MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI); the Interdisciplinary Workshop on Institutions and Development (IWID), and the Harvard-MIT Workshop on the Political Economy of Development in Brazil. He discusses with précis opportunities for research-related activities in Brazil, his current and future research agenda on Latin America, and the upcoming presidential elections in Brazil.
	précis May 1, 2010 Buying national security: how America plans and pays for its global role and safety at home By Gordon Adams and Cindy Williams National security budgets are the most dependable reflection of US security policy. Seeing things through the lens of the budget can help decision-makers and ordinary citizens discern the genuine priorities of national leaders from the oftentimes illusory ones portrayed in rhetoric.
	précis May 1, 2010 Not in your backyard: understanding state action against violent non-state actors By Keren Fraiman Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula's (AQAP's) failed attempt to destroy a commercial airliner on Christmas Day has thrust Yemen back into the world spotlight as an important base for jihadist terrorist activity. The bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, apparently received operational guidance in Yemen shortly beforehand, and AQAP leaders there have since claimed responsibility for the attack.
	précis May 1, 2010 Briefings Patricia Gercik, associate director of the MISTI and managing director of the MIT-Japan Program, received an MIT Excellence Award in the category of "Bringing Out the Best: Everyday Leadership throughout MIT"; CIS Senior Fellows include Christian Caryl, George J. Gilboy, and Robert Madsen; The Center welcomed back to MIT Ambassador Barbara Bodine for a Starr Forum on " Yemen: Avoiding the Mistakes and Learning the Lessons of Afghanistan and Iraq; The Center's series Audit of the Conventional Wisdom continues with an analysis of the defense budget; Barry Posen was elected membership to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; Carl Kaysen, MIT's David W. Skinner Professor of Political Economy (Emeritus), passed away on February 8.
	précis May 1, 2010 Activities The Center sponsored a two-day workshop, "MIT Workshop on Theory and Practice in Iraq and Afghanistan" in April; British Foreign Secretary David Miliband visited MIT to deliver the 2010 Karl Taylor Compton Lecture; M. Taylor Fravel is one among 39 outstanding scholars of Asia who was appointed to the newly formed National Asia Research Program; The Center awarded 20 summer study grants this year; David Dolev was honored at the annual Israeli Consulate Israel Independence day celebration.
	précis May 1, 2010 End Notes Endnotes features the professional achievements of our scholars, students, and staff. This includes recent awards, speaking engagements, and publications.
	News@E40 May 1, 2010 Students receive funds for global studies The Center’s Program on Human Rights and Justice recently announced the recipients of its summer internships for students at MIT who wish to study human rights either at the field level or through applied research. This year’s recipients, followed by their summer host organizations, are: Robert J. Crauderueff, Greensboro NAACP, USA; Andrea A. Betancourt, Giral-Brazil, Brazil; Anahita Maghami, Afghanistan Samsortya, USA; and Christophe Chung, UNHCR, Ethiopia. In addition, the Center would like to recognize the winner of a National Security Education Program (NSEP) Boren Fellowship. The recipient, Kyoung Marvin Shin, will use the fellowship for fieldwork in several municipalities in China, analyzing the local politics of clean energy policymaking, development, and deployment. And, just a few weeks ago, the Center announced the recipients of its Summer Study Grants. More details on funding opportunities offered by or facilitated through the Center are available here.
	News@E40 April 23, 2010 Dolev honored by Israeli consulate David Dolev, the coordinator for MIT Israel, was honored at the annual Israeli Consulate Israel independence day celebration for “his remarkable work in supporting strong collaboration between Israel and New England.” The award was given on behalf of the state of Israel and presented by the Consulate General of Israel to New England.