- Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School

Belfer Center Fall 2022 Newsletter

| Fall 2022

The LEGACY of

ASH CARTER

As tributes and stories poured in following the sudden death of Ash Carter on October 24, it became increasingly clear that his legacy of teaching and serving will live on through the many individuals whose lives he touched during his work in and out of government.
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Also in This Issue

CENTER HIGHLIGHTS

Gen. Milley and Amb. Whyte

Visiting Dignitaries Share Insights

A number of current and former government officials and other dignitaries visited the Center this fall for discussions of critical global issues. Many also shared career insights and advice with students and fellows. 
See photos and event videos »

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

Michael Morell in front of CIA 75 logo

Lessons from 75 Years of the CIA

From the early days of the Cold War to Russia’s war against Ukraine, the Central Intelligence Agency has been a critical instrument of foreign intelligence collection, analysis, and operations. To help unpack the storied history of the CIA, and in honor of the agency’s 75th anniversary, the Intelligence Project hosted a conference of former directors, officers, and scholars to discuss the past, present, and future of the agency. 
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Catherine Wolfram and the cover image of a policy brief.

Explaining the Price Cap on Russia’s Oil

Catherine Wolfram, Visiting Professor and former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Climate and Energy Economics at the Treasury Department, co-authored a Belfer Center policy brief explaining the recent G7 price cap on Russian oil. In an interview, she explains that the novel plan keeps Russian oil on the market, but helps limit revenues Russia gets from the oil trade to use in the war in Ukraine.
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Lami Kim and Seong-ho Sheen

Conference Explores Security Dynamics in Northeast Asia

A Belfer Center conference with the Seoul-based East Asia Institute (EAI) focused on U.S. priorities concerning the region’s security concerns amid other pressing global security challenges. Participants discussed impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war on the region and how to bolster U.S.-ROK cooperation on regional nuclear nonproliferation governance in light of the growing nuclear arsenals in China and North Korea.
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CLIMATE AND ENERGY

Group Photo of ColdHubs Roy Award

Environmental Award Lauds ColdHubs for Innovation in African Agriculture

ColdHubs Limited, a creative partnership based in Nigeria, received the coveted 2022 Roy Family Award for Environmental Partnerships for its innovative use of solar-powered walk-in cold rooms to reduce post-harvest losses for smallholder farmers. This highly replicable cooling solution to reduce food waste and associated greenhouse gas emissions also increases economic opportunity and food security for small farmers.
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Cop 27 Logo on a faded blue background

Stavins Sees Glimmers of Hope from COP27

Following the COP27 climate conference in Egypt, Robert Stavins said the talks were both frustrating and hopeful: frustrating because they did little to accelerate the slow pace of action to reduce carbon emissions, and hopeful because of a reawakened dialogue between the world’s biggest emitters — the U.S. and China — and movement to address climate-related damage to the world’s most vulnerable nations.
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The Future of Green Hydrogen Value Chains Cover agains a blue water-like background.

Two Views on Green Hydrogen: Possibilities and Challenges

The Environment and Natural Resources Program’s Future of Hydrogen project published several papers this year investigating renewable hydrogen production, use, and trade between countries. In the following interview, Senior Fellow Nicola De Blasio and Research Fellow Laima Eicke share their insights on green hydrogen’s growing economic and political momentum. 
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Speakers and audience sit in a circle inside a lavvu-style tent, in Norway.

Indigenous Young Leaders Offer Hope for Arctic

Historically, Indigenous Peoples have been excluded from decision-making processes involving the land and resources on which they depend. In the face of drastic Arctic climate change, the empowerment of these communities has become urgent. In August, the Arctic Initiative co-sponsored workshops aimed at skill-building for young Indigenous leaders from Arctic nations.
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FUTURE LEADERS

Adaobi Ezeokoli and Ozgur Ozkan

Belfer Center Fellows Forge the Future

This fall, the Belfer Center welcomed more than 100 talented pre- and post- doctoral fellows with expertise in issues ranging from national and international security and diplomacy to cyber, technology, climate change and energy policy. Along with selected Belfer Young Leader Student Fellows, these talented individuals with a wide range of backgrounds and experience, contribute valuable fresh ideas to the Center community.
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Omar Razzaz stands oil front of a projector screen speaking to an audience in the foreground.

Groups Explore Issues from Middle East Reform to Intelligence Use and Abuse

Hundreds of students and others from the greater Harvard community took part in Belfer Center study groups this fall. Focusing on Middle East reform, use and abuse of intelligence, and the origin and potential for the CHIPS and Science Act, these fall groups provided an opportunity for generally small groups to interact over a period of weeks with Belfer Center and visiting experts.
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Three W3D members smiling and holding up tote bags that read "the future of foreign affairs is female."

Student-Focused Events Add Depth to Learning

The Belfer Center is pleased to support a number of events organized by and/or for students at Harvard Kennedy School and the greater Harvard community. Activities this semester ranged from several defense, diplomacy, and development events to the 14th German American Conference and “Ask Me Anything” conversations with current and former members of the U.S. State Department and others in government.
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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Bruce Schneier speaking into a microphone.

Series Explores AI and Cyber Regulations and Practices

Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy Bruce Schneier and Fellow Cathy O’Neil brought a range of speakers to Harvard Kennedy School to discuss how new and emerging technologies can be harnessed to enhance, rather than harm, society. The series expanded the landscape of ‘security’ in ways that were useful and meaningful, said Schneier. “Computer security doesn't end at the keyboard and chair.”
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A mobile phone with social media app icons displayed.

Tech Primer Focuses on Social Media Recommendation Algorithms

Numerous bills recently introduced in Congress are aimed at regulating social media platforms due to their large influence over users’ online and offline experiences and mounting evidence of their harms. This technology primer explores the use of algorithms by social media companies and possible regulatory approaches including alternative algorithm recommendation systems that optimize for human values like fairness, well-being, and factual accuracy.
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Jen Easterly and Lauren Zabierek superimposed on a background of colorful lights.

How to Create a Cyber Culture of Diversity and Belonging

Jen Easterly, CISA Director, and Lauren Zabierek, Director of the Belfer Center's Cyber Project and co-founder of the #ShareTheMicInCyber movement, discuss the importance of diversity and belonging in cybersecurity fields. More focus on diversity and belonging is essential to building better cybersecurity teams and a more secure and resilient nation.
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HONORS AND RECOGNITIONS

President Bacon, Graham Allison, Robert Taubman, and Dean Douglas Elendorf all with scissors primed to cut a crimson ribbon.

Harvard Kennedy School Dedicates the Graham T. Allison Plaza

In October, Harvard University President Lawrence Bacow, Harvard Kennedy School Dean Doug Elmendorf, and Taubman Center CEO Robert Taubman dedicated a plaza on the Kennedy School's campus to Douglas Dillon Professor of Government Graham Allison. Elmendorf lauded Allison, founding Dean of the Kennedy School and former Director of the Belfer Center, for building the Kennedy School and for pushing its mission forward.
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Dara Kay Cohen

Eric Rosenbach has been named to the U.S. Secretary of State’s Advisory Board

John P. Holdren was awarded the National Academy of Science Public Welfare Medal and was named to theNational Acadmies' Polar Research Board.

Dara Kay Cohen (pictured) co-edited and co-authored the introductory essay of a special symposium in the top peer-reviewed political science journal Comparative Politics on a new typology of collective vigilantism.

Daniel Poneman has accepted the Order of the Rising Sun from the Government of Japan.

Laura Diaz Anadon was named a Fellow of St John’s College Cambridge and appointed to the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change

Joe Dunford wearing a medal around his neck posing with Nicholas Greiner, Consul General of Australia to the United States.

Gen. Joseph F. Dunford (ret.) (pictured) has been awarded the Order of Australia

Linda Bilmes was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Academy of Public Administration for a 3-year term.

Jacqueline (Jill) Hazelton won the APSA Foreign Policy section Best Book Award for 2021-2022 for Bullets Not Ballots: Success in Counterinsurgency Warfare.
 

HOT OFF THE PRESSES

Yellow IS Journal Cover Fall 2022

International Security Journal Highlights

The fall issue of the journal International Security includes a number of thought-provoking articles on a range of security issues. Highlighted pieces focus on global policing and politics of extradition, when military innovation harms combat effectiveness, how much risk the U.S. should run in the South China Sea, China’s party-state capitalism and international backlash, and uncovering the invisible in maritime security.
Read more »



Podcasts

Environmental Insights

by Robert N. Stavins

This monthly, conversational-style podcast covers topics ranging from the power of youth climate activists to global methane policies to COP27. Over the past semester, host Robert Stavins (Harvard Project on Climate Agreements) has interviewed a myriad of experts, including Daniel Jacob, Ray Kopp, Michael Greenstone, and Jeff Holmstead.

Cyber.RAR

by Sophie Faaborg-Andersen, Winnona DeSombre, Bethan Saunders, Danielle Levin, Grace Park

Cyber.RAR is a monthly podcast series hosted by six Harvard Kennedy School students. In this podcast, they uncover why the U.S. government struggles to build basic cyber infrastructure​​, explore how to regulate offensive cyber capabilities, debate the meaning and merits of “hacktivism,” and laugh with each other along the way. 

EVENTS IN PHOTOS


BELFER CENTER NEWSLETTER  |  Fall 2022

Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
79 John F. Kennedy Street
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belfer_center@hks.harvard.edu
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Communications Newsletter Team
Editor: Sharon Wilke, Associate Director of Communications
Designer/Multimedia: Benn Craig, Multimedia Producer
Digital Outreach: Liz Hoveland, Digital Communications Coordinator

Communications Team
Shannon Felton Spence, Director of Global Communications and Strategy
Ada Ezeokoli, Communications Fellow
Liza Xiao, Communications Intern

Belfer Center Leadership
Eric Rosenbach
, Belfer Center Co-Director
Natalie Colbert, Belfer Center Executive Director
Lauren Zabierek, Acting Executive Director (Fall, 2022)

Acknowledgments
The Communications Office would like to thank the following staff members for their special assistance in producing this newsletter: Mariana Budjeryn, Sam HimmelmanLiz Hanlon, Amritha Jayanti, Susan Lynch, Erika Manouselis, Matt Parent, John Park, and Maria Robson Morrow, and Liza Xiao.

Banner Image: (from top left) Ash Carter KSG faculty portrait, 1985 (Martha Stewart); Then Belfer Center Director Ash Carter and Michèle Flournoy at a book launch party, 1993 (Martha Stewart); Professor Ash Carter talks to a student after class, 1985 (Martha Stewart); Ash Carter and then Secretary of Defense Bill Perry (left) listen to a Ukrainian general speak, 1996 (Department of Defense); Then Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Ash Carter, speaks during the presentation of the MRAP all terrain vehicle at the Pentagon, 2009 (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP); Then Secretary of Defense Ash Carter speaks with President Obama, 2015 (Senior Master Sgt. Adrian Cadiz/DoD); Belfer Center Director Ash Carter and then Technology and Public Purpose Project Director Laura Manley walk the halls of the U.S. Capitol building, 2019 (Benn Craig); Ash Carter speaks with students after class, 2018 (Jessica Scranton); Ash Carter HKS faculty portrait, 2018 (Martha Stewart).

All photos and graphics by Belfer Center unless otherwise noted.

 

For more information on this publication: Belfer Communications Office
For Academic Citation: Wilke, Sharon, ed. Belfer Center Fall 2022 Newsletter. Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School Fall 2022.

Editor