all Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs stories

Panel: Technology alone can't protect kids online

404132862 — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 10:53:56 -0500

For science adviser, dogged work against global perils

404132862 — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 08:56:21 -0500

John P. Holdren named President-elect Obama’s Science Advisor

404132862 — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 12:13:59 -0500

President-elect Barack Obama today announced that he has selected Harvard’s John P. Holdren to serve as Assistant to the President for Science and Technology in the new administration. The post, popularly known as “the President’s science advisor,” also includes directorship of the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President and requires Senate confirmation.

Obama chooses Harvard physicist

404132862 — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 11:52:06 -0500

A strong voice on CO2 as science adviser

404132862 — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 11:53:32 -0500

John Holdren to advise Obama on science, reports say

404132862 — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 11:55:34 -0500

Harvard launches major initiative to help design international climate agreements

50443248 — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 09:54:08 -0400

Harvard University announced in early July a two-year project to help identify key design elements of a future international agreement on climate change, drawing on the ideas of leading thinkers from academia, private industry, government, and advocacy organizations, both in the industrialized world and in developing countries.

Past, present of flu pandemics examined

50443248 — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 12:25:53 -0400

The global response to bioterrorism and AIDS is increasing health system capacity in a way also useful if avian flu strikes, according to experts attending an interdisciplinary conference on Asian flus.

The bad news, however, is that vast disparities in health care systems still persist and, despite the expanding capacity in recent years, bird flu could still have a devastating impact.

"I think of what happens if avian flu comes to Lesotho. The mortality and morbidity would just be devastating," said Jim Kim, who heads Harvard Medical School's Department of Social Medicine and serves as the Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Professor of Health and Human Rights in the Harvard School of Public Health.

Harvard scientists contribute to National Academy terrorism report

70652986 — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 05:23:03 -0400

A report by the National Academy of Sciences presents dozens of recommendations in nine main areas to counter terrorism: nuclear and radiological threats, human and agricultural health systems, toxic chemicals and explosive materials, information technology, energy systems, transportation systems, cities and fixed infrastructure, the response of people to terrorism, and complex and interdependent systems. Many Harvard researchers contributed to the report. Among the many recommendations, the committee highlighted seven for immediate action and seven more that require urgent research. They urged immediately improvement in the control and protection of nuclear weapons and material, ensuring adequate supply and distribution of vaccines, and increasing security for transportation systems, especially shipping containers and transport of toxic or flammable materials. They also called for increased security for energy systems, improved effectiveness of air ventilation systems, improved communications for emergency response personnel, and the selection of trusted spokespeople. The areas identified as urgent research needs were developing vaccines and treatments for hard-to-treat and incurable illnesses, a flexible and adaptive power grid, enhancing computer security, developing better technology for emergency personnel, advancing engineering standards for blast-resistant and fire-resistant buildings, developing sensor and surveillance systems and creating new methods and standards for air filtration and decontamination.

New report highlights safe, secure method for managing spent nuclear fuel

70652986 — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 07:09:37 -0400

A joint Harvard University/University of Tokyo team of nuclear energy, nonproliferation, and waste management experts concludes in a new study that technologies are available to store spent nuclear fuel from hundreds of nuclear power plants around the world safely and securely for decades to come. To overcome political obstacles that have limited options for storage of spent nuclear fuel, the report urges a new, more democratic, more flexible, and more transparent approach to managing such material. The new study, Interim Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel: A Safe, Flexible, and Cost-Effective Near-Term Approach to Spent Fuel Management, addresses the technical, economic, safety, security, and political issues surrounding storage of spent nuclear fuel in both the United States and Japan.

Light weapons are most common in today's small wars

70652986 — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 05:10:15 -0400

In the 1990s, approximately 4 million soldiers and civilians were killed by small arms in the internecine conflicts of the developing world. More people, in other words, were killed in that decade in war by small arms than by major weapon systems, according to a Harvard research report. Likewise, millions have been wounded, displaced from their homes, and reduced to hunger by civil wars fueled by small arms. Economic development efforts have been undermined, medical costs increased, and improvements to living standards denied. The easy availability of small arms assists drug trafficking, terrorism, organized crime, and much more. Portable, cheap, and readily procured, small arms are supremely destructive. A Brazilian-made assault rifle can fire 700 rounds a minute. It is estimated that as many as 500 million small arms may currently be in circulation in the developing world.