Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
The Robert and Renée Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs (also known as the Belfer Center) is a research center located within the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Since 2017, the center is led by Director Ash Carter, former US Secretary of Defense and Co-Director Eric Rosenbach, former Assistant Secretary of Defense.[1]
 The Belfer Center | |
| Formation | 1973 |
|---|---|
| Type | Think tank |
| Headquarters | 79 John F. Kennedy Street |
| Location |
|
Director | Ashton Carter |
Parent organization | Harvard Kennedy School |
| Website | www.belfercenter.org |
Belfer was founded in 1973[2] by biochemist Paul M. Doty as the 'Program for Science and International Affairs' within Harvard's Faculty of Arts and Sciences[3] to provide analysis on arms control and nuclear threat reduction. Following a grant from the Ford Foundation, the program was re-established as the Center for Science and International Affairs, becoming the first permanent research center at the newly formed School of Government. In 1997, following further endowment, the center was renamed as the Robert and Renée Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs in honor of Robert A. Belfer, founder of Belco Oil & Gas Corporation.
In 2012, the Stanton Foundation provided funds for a paid Wikipedian in residence at the Belfer Center. This became controversial due to links between the Belfer Center and the Stanton Foundation (the directors of each are a married couple) and public concerns about conflict-of-interest editing on Wikipedia.[4] The center is organized into subgroups with specific areas of focus; for example, an energy technology innovation policy group led by Laura Diaz Anadon.[5][6]
Board members
Center board members include:
- Lewis M. Branscomb, Professor emeritus of Public Policy and Corporate Management
- Albert Carnesale, former Harvard University provost
- Ashton B. Carter, Chair of International Relations, Security & Science faculty, physicist, who served as the 25th United States Secretary of Defense
- John M. Deutch, former Director of Central Intelligence
- John P. Holdren, John Heinz Professor of Environmental Policy
- Joseph Nye, University Distinguished Service Professor
Advisory board
The center has an international advisory board. Members include:[7]
- Michael Chertoff, former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security
- Gregory C. Carr, Boston Technology founder
- Tim Collins, Ripplewood Holdings founder
- Chuck Robbins, CEO of Cisco Systems
- Nathaniel Rothschild, Atticus Capital co-chairman
Past notable members
- Stephen Biddle, theorist setting U.S. counterinsurgency policy
- Pierpaolo Barbieri, author, founder of Ualá
- Paul Volcker, former United States Chairman of the Federal Reserve
References
- "About". Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.
- Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs (BCSIA), International Relations and Security Network (ISN), Zurich
- Bryan Marquard & staff, Obituary: "Paul Doty, 91, presidential adviser on nuclear arms control", Boston Globe, 6 December 2011
- Tim Sampson (14 April 2014). "One of Wikimedia's largest donors accused in paid editing scandal". The Daily Dot.
- Science News Staff (17 October 2011). "Super Science Suggestions: House Panel Lays Out Spending Preferences". Science Magazine. Retrieved Sep 14, 2014.
...Laura Diaz Anadon, a chemical engineer and director of the energy technology innovation policy group at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government....
- Jesse Jenkins (April 6, 2013). "Energy Facts: How Much Water Does Fracking for Shale Gas Consume?". The Energy Collective. Retrieved Sep 14, 2014.
...how much water does shale gas consume per unit of energy produced...a 2010 paper by ...Laura Diaz Anadon... of Harvard’s Belfer Center has data on exactly that question ...
- "International Council". Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.