Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy

The Baker Institute was founded in 1993. James Baker envisioned a public policy institute where “statesmen and scholars work[ed] in an atmosphere of intellectual excellence and strict nonpartisanship to develop fresh, informed approaches to policy,” while the idea for a public policy institute on campus came from Rice University political science professor Richard Stoll.{{cite web |title=History of the Baker Institute |url=https://www.bakerinstitute.org/history |access-date=2024-09-09 |publisher=Baker Institute}} In 1994, a ceremony to honor the ground-breaking for the new building brought together four U.S. presidents: Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush. Bush and Ford were present, while Carter and Reagan contributed video messages.{{cite web|url=http://news.rice.edu/1994/10/12/all-former-u-s-presidents-to-participate-in-baker-institute-groundbreaking/|title=All Former U.S. Presidents to Participate in Baker Institute Groundbreaking|website=news.rice.edu}}

In 1994, Ambassador Edward P. Djerejian was selected as the institute's founding director.

The Baker Institute Edward P. Djerejian Center for the Middle East has been involved in conflict resolution projects. The focus of the Center includes the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, the Levant, and women and human rights in the Middle East. Research has focused on the civil war in Syria, security in Afghanistan, U.S. relations in the region, energy in relation to the Middle East, and analysis of the Iran nuclear deal. The program brings together well-known speakers and researchers to offer their insights into the complex challenges facing the Middle East.{{cite web|url=http://bakerinstitute.org/center-for-the-middle-east/about-center-middle-east/ |title=About The Center for the Middle East |publisher=Baker Institute |access-date=2016-06-10}}

The Center for Energy Studies was founded in October 2012 and provides policymakers, corporate leaders, and the public with “data-driven analysis of issues that influence energy markets.” In 2020, the center was ranked the No. 1 energy and resource think tank for the third year in a row by the University of Pennsylvania's Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program's Global Go To Think Tank Index.{{Cite web|url=https://news.rice.edu/2019/01/31/rices-baker-institute-and-its-center-for-energy-studies-continue-to-be-highly-ranked-in-global-think-tank-survey/|title=Rice’s Baker Institute and its Center for Energy Studies continue to be highly ranked in global think tank survey|last=Falk|first=Jeff|date=31 January 2019|website=Rice News|access-date=17 June 2019}}

The China Studies Program examines the landscape of contemporary China.{{cite web|url=http://bakerinstitute.org/china-studies-program/about-china-studies/ |title=About China Studies | Rice University's Baker Institute |publisher=Bakerinstitute.org |access-date=2016-06-10}} The program worked on transcribing public service announcements from various cities in China. The transcripts are available at the Center for Digital Scholarship at Fondren Library at Rice University.

The Drug Policy Program focuses on the implications of the war on drugs and “pursues research and open debate on local and national drug policies based on common sense, driven by human rights interests, and focused on reducing the death, disease, crime. and suffering associated with drug use.”{{cite web|url=http://bakerinstitute.org/drug-policy-program/about-drug-program/ |title=About The Drug Policy Program | Rice University's Baker Institute |publisher=Bakerinstitute.org |access-date=2016-06-10}}

The Center for Health and Biosciences focuses on developing health policy recommendations. Researchers from Rice University and the Texas Medical Center address four major research themes: U.S. health care, global health, public health, and the future of medicine.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bakerinstitute.org/center-for-health-and-biosciences/about-the-center-for-health-and-biosciences/|title=About the Center for Health and Biosciences|website=Baker Institute for Public Policy|access-date=17 June 2019}} Notable staff include Vivian Ho and Peter Hotez.

The International Economics Program focuses particularly on emerging markets, but also on debt, China’s economic growth, and governing the global economy. Policy recommendations are produced on “how global economic trends are developing, and what policies can optimally address the challenges that arise.”{{cite web |url=http://bakerinstitute.org/international-economics-program/about-international-economics/ |title=About The International Economics Program | Rice University's Baker Institute |publisher=Bakerinstitute.org |access-date=2016-06-10}}

The Latin America Initiative has two main projects, the Americas Project and the Vecinos Lecture Series. The initiative focuses on the challenges and opportunities that face the region and “brings together leading stakeholders from government, the private sector, academia, and civil society to exchange their views on pressing issues confronting the region.”{{cite web |url=http://bakerinstitute.org/the-latin-america-initiative-program/about-latin-america-initiative/ |title=About The Latin America Initiative | Rice University's Baker Institute |publisher=Bakerinstitute.org |access-date=2016-06-10}}

The McNair Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation aims to provide policymakers, scholars and the general public with comprehensive analyses of the issues that affect entrepreneurship and innovation at three levels: federal and state policy, municipal ecosystems, and academic entrepreneurship and innovation. The center was founded with a gift of $8 million from Robert McNair and his wife Janice, through the Robert and Janice McNair Foundation.{{cite web |url=http://bakerinstitute.org/mcnair-center-for-entrepreneurship-and-innovation/ |title=The McNair Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Rice University's Baker Institute |publisher=Bakerinstitute.org |access-date=2016-09-02}}

The Mexico Center works to create policy research on issues that affect the Mexico and the United States. The center's research agenda currently focuses on eight major issues: trade, energy, telecommunications, health care, infrastructure, education, human mobility, and the administration of justice/security.{{cite web|url=http://bakerinstitute.org/mexico-center/about-the-mexico-center/ |title=About the Mexico Center | Rice University's Baker Institute |publisher=Bakerinstitute.org |access-date=2016-06-10}}

The Presidential Elections program focuses on nonpartisan analysis of presidential elections.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bakerinstitute.org/presidential-elections-program/|title=Presidential Elections Program|website=Baker Institute for Public Policy|access-date=17 June 2019}}

The Religion Policy Program studies the effects of religion on politics in America and around the world on several topics, including voting patterns, the role of faith-based organizations, conflict resolution, and religious fundamentalism in the Middle East.{{cite web|url=http://bakerinstitute.org/religion-policy-program/about-religion-polcy/ |title=About The Religion Policy Program | Rice University's Baker Institute |publisher=Bakerinstitute.org |access-date=2016-06-10}}

The International Space Medicine Summit brings together “leading physicians, space biomedical scientists, engineers, astronauts and cosmonauts from the space-faring nations for high-level discussions about the research needed to prevent and/or mitigate the medical and biomedical challenges spacefarers experience in long-duration spaceflight.”{{cite web |url=http://bakerinstitute.org/space-policy-program/about-space-policy/ |title=About The Space Policy Program | Rice University's Baker Institute |publisher=Bakerinstitute.org |access-date=2016-06-10}} Notable staff have included Neal F. Lane and the late George W.S. Abbey.

The Science and Technology Policy Program focuses on issues that include “space, health, medicine, energy and the environment, national and domestic security, science education, and the public’s understanding and trust of science.”{{cite web|url=http://bakerinstitute.org/science-technology/about-the-science-technology-program/ |title=About The Science & Technology Program | Rice University's Baker Institute |publisher=Bakerinstitute.org |access-date=2016-06-10}} Notable staff include Robert Bazell, Neal F. Lane, Kristin R.W. Matthews, and Robert Curl.

The Iraq Study Group was supported by the Baker Institute and co-chaired by James Baker. It was a bipartisan panel with the mandate to "conduct a forward-looking, independent assessment of the current and prospective situation on the ground in Iraq, its impact on the surrounding region, and consequences for U.S. interests."{{Cite web|url=https://www.usip.org/publications/2009/03/iraq-study-group|title=Iraq Study Group|website=United States Institute of Peace|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310041921/https://www.usip.org/publications/2009/03/iraq-study-group|archive-date=2017-03-10|url-status=dead|access-date=17 June 2019}} The group produced the Iraq Study Group Report in 2006.

Students secure their internships independently of the institute but with support from experts and staff members. The mission of the program is to “offer Rice University undergraduate students hands-on experience in the world of public policy research and analysis in our nation's capital.”{{cite web |url=http://bakerinstitute.org/students/jesse-jones-leadership-center-summer-in-dc-policy-research-internship-program/ |title=Jesse Jones Leadership Center Summer In D.C. Policy Research Internship Program | Rice University's Baker Institute |publisher=Bakerinstitute.org |date=2016-01-31 |access-date=2016-06-10}} The program was founded in 2004. Since its inception, it has funded 141 student summer internships at government offices, think tanks, and nonprofits in Washington, D.C. .

Undergraduates from Rice and other U.S. universities can apply for a two-week summer space policy program which “combines visits to Russian space facilities with tours of cultural and historical sites in and around the Moscow Oblast region” as well as working in teams “to develop simulated interplanetary space missions” with students from Bauman Moscow State Technical University.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bakerinstitute.org/students/moscow-summer-intern-program/|title=Moscow Summer Intern Program|website=Baker Institute for Public Policy|access-date=17 June 2019}}

In 2002, a group of students began the Baker Institute Student Forum with the goal of “increasing students’ interest in exploring and contributing to the resolution of pressing policy issues.” The forum holds an annual student policy competition in which students analyze policy issues and offer recommendations on a specified topic. The Baker Institute also publishes the Rice Journal of Public policy, which is the “undergraduate journal of scholarship in domestic and international public policy.”{{Cite web|url=http://bisf.bakerinstitute.org/rjpp-about|title=About|website=Baker Institute Student Forum|access-date=17 June 2019}}

The Master of Global Affairs Program is a 2-year professional master’s degree program developed by the Baker Institute and Rice’s School of Social Sciences. The program faculty come from both the School of Social Sciences and the Baker Institute.{{cite web |title=Faculty Directory |url=https://www.bakerinstitute.org/baker-institute-social-sciences-launch-masters-in-global-affairs-program/ |website=Master of Global Affairs |publisher=Rice University |access-date=17 June 2019}}

The Master of Energy Economics Program is a 12-month professional master’s program in energy economics developed by the Baker Institute and Rice’s Economics Department.{{cite web |title=About the Program |url=https://economics.rice.edu/graduate-program/MEECON/about-program |website=Rice Economics |publisher=Rice University |access-date=17 June 2019}}

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• {{Official website|http://bakerinstitute.org/}}

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