2024 Director's Letter
Over 2024, we have made great progress in fulfilling our dual mission of creating policy-relevant research and training the next generation of leaders and scholars. We have done so together, and against the backdrop of a rapidly shifting and often unpredictable global landscape. The geopolitical environment is at its most uncertain since the end of the Cold War. War and upheaval continue to roil the Middle East. The outcome of the war in Ukraine hangs in the balance, and with it, the future of European security and the role of the United States as a Transatlantic power. Asia remains a growth center for the world, but with geopolitical tensions that could upset the march of progress. Policy decisions and technological advances that will further shape the energy transition, the evolution of warfare, and the competition between great powers all continue to unfold at astounding speed.
Our scholars, staff, fellows, and students at the Belfer Center see the chance to work on these very issues as both an opportunity and an imperative.
I am proud of what we have done to advance vigorous scholarship and innovative thinking and to train young leaders to shape the future. Over the course of this past year, we at Belfer have launched and continued considerable work in the areas of what we call the “Belfer Overlap:” a strategic concept that underscores where the major drivers of our world today intersect. This framework— which highlights the intersection of a changing global order, technological change, and the energy transition—has guided our scholarship and programming. It embraces so much of what Belfer Center leaders and scholars have advanced over the decades, from policy ideas on nuclear arms control to cooperation across geopolitical divides in the Arctic. The Belfer Overlap also drives us to launch new efforts, as we did in 2024 with two programs: our Emerging Technology, Scientific Advancement, and Global Policy Program and our Middle Powers Project. These efforts demonstrate how the Center is both able and willing to chart new paths to ensure that we are pushing new boundaries and adopting new lenses through which to consider the world.
As we build new work streams for our research and training, we will also continue to reinvest in our legacy areas, including nuclear nonproliferation, energy policy, and transatlantic relations. Strengthening these foundations is essential to sustaining the Center’s impact in the years to come. We will also address operational challenges, such as securing new funding sources and recruiting exceptional talent, to ensure that the Center is positioned for sustainable growth.
Building on this vision, we have strengthened our partnerships and collaborations across Harvard and beyond, drawing together voices and expertise from diverse disciplines. We welcomed new staff members and faculty members, whose expertise and dedication have enriched our work and strengthened our ability to deliver on our mission. Another remarkable cohort of senior fellows, fellows, and visiting scholars also joined us during the year, ranging from doctoral students to senior military and intelligence officers to former presidents and cabinet ministers. All these individuals—along with the Harvard Kennedy School’s exceptional and highly international students—bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the Belfer Center, further enriching our work and strengthening our vibrant intellectual community. Please see the Center highlights section of this report to learn more details of our new programs and new colleagues.
The Center itself underwent a thoughtful transformation. A new website, launched this year, further reflects our ongoing commitment to effectively communicate our mission and amplify the impact of our work. In creating this new platform for our work, we thought hard about how best to reach those most likely to benefit from our work. Similarly, this Annual Report is a new innovation, geared toward offering a new mode of presenting the “Best of Belfer 2024.”
This year, we also recognize the retirements of several valued members of our community who have contributed significantly to the Belfer Center’s work over many years: Guy Keeley is retiring after 27 years at Harvard, Sharon Wilke retired in September after 21 years at the Belfer Center, and Paul Sherman will retire in January after 16 years at Harvard. Their efforts have played an important role in advancing the Center’s mission, and we wish them well as they move into the next chapter of their lives.
One of the most significant highlights of this year was celebrating the Belfer Center’s 50th anniversary. This milestone was marked by a two-day dinner and conference in May, which brought together over 300 Belfer alumni and some of the world’s most prominent scholars, policymakers, and practitioners—almost all of them Belfer alumni themselves. It was a welcome moment to reflect on the remarkable legacy we have built and to engage in forward-looking conversations about the challenges and opportunities that will define the next 50 years. This celebration was a powerful reminder of the enduring relevance of the Center’s mission and the strength of our global community. You can see some highlights from the 50th celebration here:
Belfer Center 50th Anniversary Reunion and Conference
As we look ahead to 2025, we are committed to building on the foundation that generations have built here at the Belfer Center. The world is not slowing down—technological breakthroughs, geopolitical tensions, and existential challenges such as climate change demand that we not only respond, but lead. We will expand our presence in the "Belfer Overlap," tackling issues at the intersections of science, technology, and public policy with the goal of ensuring our continued leadership in an increasingly complex global environment. These are the thought spaces where Belfer has the people, ideas, and standing to drive meaningful impact and shape the future of policy and innovation.
As we enter 2025, a year likely to be marked by continued global uncertainty and transformation, I remain deeply grateful for the dedication and talent of our staff, fellows, and faculty. It is through this shared effort that we advance policy-relevant scholarship, convene diverse viewpoints, and train the leaders who will shape a better future.
Thank you for being an essential part of this incredible journey. Together, I am confident that we will continue to make a lasting impact in the year ahead and beyond.
Warm regards,
Meghan L. O’Sullivan
Director, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs