In its inaugural Tech Spotlight recognition ceremony, the Technology and Public Purpose Project celebrated three outstanding technologies that represent the best in responsible development and deployment of technology for the public good. 

In the Fall 2020 Newsletter, Director Ash Carter invites you to explore the vast range of Belfer Center work during the past few months. In this issue, see what our experts think the Biden team should prioritize in its first 100 days, step inside a glacier to see climate change in action, learn about technologies that serve public purpose, and read our recommendations for a 21st century Foreign Service and revitalized transatlantic relationship. And there's much more.

Carlos Teixeira graduated in May 2020 with a Master in Public Policy degree from Harvard Kennedy School. A Belfer International and Global Affairs Student Fellow, he reflects here on special moments and experiences at the Kennedy School.

Aysha Valery graduated in May 2020 from Harvard Kennedy School with a Master in Public Policy degree. A Belfer International and Global Affairs Student Fellow, she reflects here on some special moments and experiences while at HKS.

The coronavirus pandemic has slowed the economy, but it hasn’t put dozens of other major global issues on pause. From a rapidly changing Middle East and Brexit to great power rivalry and 2020 election security, Belfer Center scholars have been active in the classroom and out in the field sharing impactful research. This issue of our newsletter, produced before COVID-19 became a full-fledged pandemic, shares highlights from this work.

From safeguarding elections - to engaging with China's cyber officials - to protecting user data, the Center's cyber initiatives are working to protect the public from digital dangers and make this technical arena more accessible. This fall, the Belfer Center named Lauren Zabierek, Maria Barsallo Lynch, and Julia Voo to head three of the Center’s growing cyber-related projects: The Cyber Project, Defending Digital Democracy Project (D3P), and China Cyber Policy Initiative (CCPI), respectively.

Our cover article, “Charting Cyber’s Future,” describes the Belfer Center’s expanding cyber initiatives and our work to protect elections, user data, and vital infrastructure from cyberattacks, explore ways to manage increasing global competition over cyber technology, and reduce international cyber-related conflicts. We also introduce the new directors of our cyber initiatives. Also in this issue, we tell you about Building a 21st Century Congress: Improving Congress’s Science and Technology Expertise, a new report from the Center’s Technology and Public Purpose Project (TAPP). And we describe TAPP SPOTLIGHT, a new recognition program that will highlight technology-related policies, initiatives, and products that demonstrate a commitment to public purpose and protection.

And, there's much more. 

In the Summer 2019 issue of the Belfer Center newsletter, we asked six of our climate experts what actions are needed now to reduce the amount of climate change and related harm to people and ecosystems. We also highlight our Elbe Group of retired U.S. and Russian intelligence and military officers who issued a joint statement in March about steps both governments need to take to improve U.S.-Russian relations. We look at ethics in the intelligence community through the eyes of intelligence officers, policymakers, cyber experts, and others who discussed these issues in a recent Intelligence Project conference. In addition, we describe our recent "Big Tech and Democracy" workshop with congressional staffers, and introduce our new Economic Diplomacy Initiative. And there's much more.

Sharon Wilke, the Belfer Center's Associate Director of Communications, is highlighted in the newsletter's inaugural "Staff Spotlight" feature.