Laura Cianciolo, who earned her Master of Public Affairs at the Watson Institute in 2024, credits her Watson-acquired expertise in statistics, econometrics, data visualization, problem-solving skills and interdisciplinary problem-solving with empowering her to conduct more sophisticated and meaningful research.
Deborah Gordon recently co-authored the article "Two Carbon Co-Conspirators Need to Be Stopped to Tackle Climate Change," emphasizing the need to cut CO2 and methane emissions simultaneously to meet global climate targets faster.
New International and Public Affairs (IAPA) Departmental Undergraduate Group (DUG) leaders Oluwanifemi Adetunji and Jordan Lac plan to increase the sense of cohesiveness and community within IAPA.
Tyler Jost's new book, "Bureaucracies at War: The Institutional Origins of Miscalculation," examines how national security institutions influence leaders' conflict decisions and why some provide better counsel than others.
Brown University's Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs underwent a leadership change for the first time in eight years on July 1, 2024.
Michael Kennedy co-authored a paper for the American Behavioral Scientist journal titled, "Articulations of StrongMen: A Knowledge Cultural Sociology of Recognizing Autocratic Practices in Russian, Turkish, and Global Regimes," which explores how the concept of StrongMen distracts from deeper causes and effects of autocratic governance.
Brown University’s Master of Public Affairs Program recently welcomed its latest class to its rigorous one-year program. The new students bring their diverse life experiences and interests to a vibrant and dynamic learning community, where they will apply their learning to address pressing societal challenges, preparing them to be global leaders in public affairs.
Researchers at the Watson Institute's Climate Solutions Lab were awarded a $100,000 grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation to support planning for a new Center on Clean Energy and Society (CES).
These not-for-credit study groups provide an opportunity for students to delve deeply into topics and apply theory and research to real world challenges. Enrollment in each group is limited to 25 students.
Eric Patashnik recently co-authored a paper titled "Affluence and the Demand-side for Policy Improvements: Exploring Elite Beliefs About Vulnerability to Societal Problems" that was published in the journal The Forum.
Watson's Graduate Program in Development (GPD) fieldwork opportunities informed Rehan Rafay Jamil's research focus. Jamil says the ability to cross traditional academic boundaries encouraged by the GPD improved his research, while the program's financial backing allowed him to do critical fieldwork.
The William R. Rhodes Center hosted 'The Political Economy of Finance Summer School' from June 17-21, organized by Mark Blyth and Benjamin Braun, to train young political economists and connect them with leading scholars. The program drew participants from 25 institutions across 16 countries.
Anindita Adhikari, who earned her Ph.D. in sociology from Brown University in 2024, found the dialogues and debates she engaged in about global challenges across traditional academic disciplinary barriers through Watson's Graduate Program in Development have made her a better researcher and colleague.
At this year's Master of Public Affairs Policy in Action Symposium, graduating MPA students presented on a wide range of policy issues from a variety of perspectives, in each case informed by the hands-on experience they gained working with an external organization.
With their terms ending, five Watson postdoctoral fellows and one postdoctoral research associate look to continue their academic careers armed with new skills acquired in the Watson Institute's unique and robust intellectual environment.
Reid Pauly recently published a paper titled "Damned If They Do, Damned If They Don't: The Assurance Dilemma in International Coercion," examining how the credibility of assurances, not just threats, influences the success of coercive demands, using the Iranian nuclear negotiations as a case study.
This year, five Watson research proposals were awarded a total of $100,000 in Birkelund Funds. The funds support faculty research, especially in the early stages, and encourage student engagement in research.
Paige Censale, a first-year student and member of the Resumed Undergraduate Education community, depicts the lives of immigrants, refugees and others through compassionate and informed documentary filmmaking.