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How Regions Become Innovation Hubs

February 13, 2019

P aul Baker, the senior director of research and strategic innovation at the Center for Advanced Communications Policy, recently co-authored an article entitled “How Regions Become Innovation Hubs” for The Hill Times.

Here's an excerpt:

With an eye toward the upcoming 2019 federal election, public sector officials are looking for new approaches to improve the economic vitality of their economies, the livelihood of their citizens and, not coincidentally, their electoral prospects. Public sector efforts in Canada and the United States include: federal investments in field crop research and innovation, the Canadian Premiers’ 2015-2018 Economic Productivity and Innovation Working Group, the Federal Reserve System’s Investing in America’s Workforce program, and the U.S. National Governors Association’s Good Jobs for All Americans initiative.

A subscription is required to read the full article, which is available here.

T he Center for Advanced Communications Policy is a unit of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Published in: The Hill Times
Knights, Horses, and...Hummus?

February 12, 2019

Richard Utz, a professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology School of Literature, Media, and Communication, was recently quoted in an article entitled “Knights, Horses, and...Hummus?” for Serious Eats.

Here's an excerpt:

When I emailed with Richard Utz, a medievalist who teaches in the School of Literature, Media, and Communications at Georgia Tech, about the role of authenticity in medieval-inspired entertainment, he identified these details as a foundation of credibility on which to build a myth. "To help suspend disbelief about where the [Medieval Times] castle is and how artificial it looks, a 'real' anchor of the 'true' family connection is used to assist audiences at feeling a 'true' alterity,” he wrote. In this way, authenticity itself, in even small doses, becomes a standard feature of fantasy.

Read the full story here.

The School of Literature, Media, and Communication is a unit of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Published in: Serious Eats
The Fight Over High-Tech Supremacy Isn't New. We Just Haven't Learned Our Lesson

February 12, 2019

John Krige, the Kranzberg Professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology School of History and Sociology, recently wrote an article entitled “The Fight Over High-Tech Supremacy Isn't New. We Just Haven't Learned Our Lesson” for Fortune.

Here's an excerpt:

The U.S. is intensifying its competition with China for high-tech supremacy. Just two weeks ago, the Department of Justice released a major indictment against Chinese telecommunications company Huawei for allegedly violating U.S. sanctions against Iran. But that’s just one piece of a much larger puzzle.

Over the last two years, the U.S. has invoked a wide range of instruments to restrict Chinese access to cutting edge technology. Conditions for foreign investment in U.S. based high-tech firms were tightened. It has become more difficult for Chinese graduate students to get visas to study in sensitive fields like robotics. And concerns about China acquiring more advanced A.I. have led to calls for stronger controls on exports of this technology.

Read the full story here.

The School of History and Sociology is a unit of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Published in: Fortune
What Would You Pay For Faster, Smarter Government Data?

February 8, 2019

Mariel Borowitz, a professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, recently wrote a journal article entitled “Government Data, Commercial Cloud: Will Public Access Suffer?” that was published in Science, and featured on public radio's Science Friday program.

Here's an excerpt:

Whether we’re aware of it or not, “the cloud” has changed our lives forever. It’s where we watch movies, share documents, and store passwords. It’s quick, efficient, and we wouldn’t be able to live our fast-paced, internet-connected lives without it.

Now, federal agencies are storing much of their data in the cloud. For example, NASA is trying to make 20 petabytes of data available to the public for free. But to do that, they need some help from a commercial cloud provider—a company like Amazon or Microsoft or Google. But will the government’s policy of open data clash with the business model of Silicon Valley? Mariel Borowitz, Assistant Professor at Georgia Tech and Katya Abazajian, Open Cities Director with the Sunlight Foundation join guest host John Dankosky to discuss the trade offs to faster, smarter government data in the cloud.

Listen to the interview here.

The Sam Nunn School of International Affairs is a unit of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Published in: Science Friday
Apple’s Empty Grandstanding About Privacy

February 6, 2019

Ian Bogost, a professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology School of Literature, Media, and Communication, recently wrote an article entitled “Apple’s Empty Grandstanding About Privacy” for The Atlantic.

Here's an excerpt:

“We at Apple believe that privacy is a fundamental human right,” Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, said in a privacy-conference keynote last year in Brussels. “But we also recognize that not everyone sees things as we do.” Cook was making an impassioned plea to end the technology industry’s collection and sale of user data. “This is surveillance,” he continued. “And these stockpiles of personal data serve only to enrich the companies that collect them.” Cook called for a comprehensive U.S. data-privacy law focused on minimizing data collection, securing that data, and informing users about its nature and use.

Read the full story here . Portions of his article were also quoted in a USA Today article entitled “What if Apple Ran Social Media and Facebook?”

The School of Literature, Media, and Communication is a unit of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Published in: The Atlantic
The Genesis of the Apocalypse: Movies of 2018

February 6, 2019

Dina Khapaeva, a professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology School of Modern Languages, recently wrote an article entitled “The Genesis of the Apocalypse: Movies of 2018” for Discover Society.

Here's an excerpt:

Thinking about the similarities between the 2018 movies featured on IMDb list, what stands out, aside from the overall prevalence of violence and horror? Apocalypse is clearly the theme that runs through the most acclaimed movies of the year.

What makes the secular apocalypse so trendy? Could the mounting popularity of the apocalyptic genre in the 2000s be rationalized as an expression of political and social anxieties, such as environmental problems, world peace insecurity, terrorism etc.? However important, these explanations overlook the cultural factors that may explain the fixation on apocalypse of the millions of readers and viewers.

Read the full story here.

The School of Modern Languages is a unit of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Published in: Discover Society
Building Reliable Teams, a Cure for Research Pathologies?

February 5, 2019

John Walsh, a professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology School of Public Policy, recently co-authored an article entitled “Building Reliable Teams, a Cure for Research Pathologies?” for the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Here's an excerpt:

There is increasing concern amongst the scientific community, policymakers and the general public about the unreliability of science. This has been driven by stories of scientific fraud, high profile retractions, failures to reproduce well-known findings and other concerns about pathologies in the science system. Much of this discussion focuses on individual-level deviance and the need for social control. However, science is now primarily a team sport and the organisation of these teams can be a critical source of weakness that increases the likelihood of pathological outcomes. For several years now, we have studied scientific teams as work organisations. This research has led us to consider the structural causes of pathologies in science. In particular, we focus on the division of labour in research teams and how this can generate research pathologies, potentially leading to retracted papers and irreproducible results.

Read the article here.

The School of Public Policy is a unit of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Published in: London School of Economics and Political Science
Membership Spotlight - Michael Terrell

February 4, 2019

Michael Terrell, the associate director of graduate studies for the Georgia Institute of Technology School of Literautre, Media, and Communication, was recently featured in a spotlight by the Association for Graduate Enrollment Management (NAGAP). His work was highlighted because of his excellence in achieving NAGAP's mission, “to support, advance and engage graduate enrollment professionals by promoting integrity, excellence and collaboration through education and professional development.”

Here's an excerpt:

Michael knew he wanted to be in the world of higher education when he was a part of Georgia Southern’s orientation program (SOAR). This is when he recognized his passion for higher education and working with students. Now, as a proactive and supportive resource for graduate students, Michael takes special care in guiding students throughout their graduate careers. He utilizes “an intrusive approach in my day to day graduate advising practices so that support can be proactive rather that reactive and help prevent the student from becoming a statistic.”

Read the full spotlight here.

The School of Literature, Media, and Communication is a unit of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Published in: The Association for Graduate Enrollment Management
Intel Chiefs Contradict Trump on North Korea, ISIS, Iran & Russia

January 29, 2019

Elizabeth Sherwood Randall, a distinguished professor of the practice in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, was interviewed in "Intel Chiefs Contradict Trump on North Korea, ISIS, Iran & Russia" by CNN.

Read an excerpt:

The threats that we face from North Korea, from ISIS, from the climate change are real and what the president has said about them are just not factually accurate. It's very important to base our policies and our actions on the facts and so if we look at the facts as you just shared them with the American people, the clips from the statements that were made this morning, we know the north Koreans are not headed in the direction the president's have said they are heading.

Watch the interview

Published in: CNN
US Doctoral Degrees May Be Losing Their Appeal

January 19, 2019

John Walsh, a professor in the Georgia Institute of Technology School of Public Policy, was recently featured in a VOA article entitled “US Doctoral Degrees May Be Losing Their Appeal.”

Here's an excerpt:

For many people who seek higher education in the United States, the common study period of two to four years is not enough. Luckily, graduate degree programs permit students to continue their education and become even more skilled in a given field.

The highest level of education offered by an American college or university is a doctoral degree, or Ph.D. In science, technology engineering and mathematics, or STEM fields, it takes about five years of additional study to earn a Ph.D. In humanities fields, like history or language, receiving a doctoral degree takes an average of seven years.

Doctoral degree programs are difficult and can be costly, but in the past they have been a path to a well-paying, meaningful career.

A new study, however, finds that the number of people seeking Ph.D.s has decreased. Experts say the structure of the American higher education system could be the cause.

Read the full story here.

The Georgia Institute of Technology School of Public Policy is a unit of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Published in: VOA
A Professor Who Taught a Course on 'Adulting' Says Many People Have the Wrong Idea about Millennials and Social Media

January 17, 2019

Rebekah Fitzsimmons, Brittain Fellow in the Georgia Institute of Technology S chool of Literature, Media, and Communication, was recently featured in a Business Insider article entitled “A Professor Who Taught a Course on 'Adulting' Says Many People Have the Wrong Idea about Millennials and Social Media.”

Read an excerpt here:

Young people are the biggest users of social media in the US.

But that doesn't mean they're on the same platforms as the rest of the US population. And in some cases, they don't even know how to use the social media platforms older people might be more familiar with.

Rebekah Fitzsimmons, and English professor at Georgia Tech, learned that the hard way in 2016 when she taught a class called "Adulting: Coming of Age in 21st Century America," which looked at notions of adulthood throughout history.

While her course had students use historical texts and digital media to define what it meant to be an adult, Fitzsimmons hit a road block when she realized some of her students didn't know the first thing about how to use Twitter.

Read the full story here.

Georgia Institute of Technology School of Literature, Media, and Communication is a unit of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Published in: Business Insider
Experts: Georgia Man’s White House Plot seems ‘Fantastical’ but Serious

January 17, 2019

Margaret Kosal, associate professor in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, was cited in the AJC article “Experts: Georgia man’s White House plot seems ‘fantastical’ but serious.”

Read an excerpt:

However ill prepared he was, the intent detailed in the criminal complaint is troubling, said Georgia Tech professor Margaret Kosal, who has long studied terrorism and advised the federal government on defense issues.

“In the course of trying to get to accomplish a fantastical plot, somebody can get hurt,” Kosal told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “The FBI is forced to take all of them seriously, and that is what they should do.”

Read the full article.

Published in: AJC
Government Shutdown has Hidden Costs, Long-term Consequences

January 17, 2019

Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, a distinguished professor of the practice in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, has written a co-op article on The Hill titled “Government shutdown has hidden costs, long-term consequences”

Read an excerpt:

In addition to all of the immediate pain being felt by many public servants and contractors who are struggling to pay their bills — whether they are expected to work without pay or required to stay home from work without pay — there are pernicious, long-term consequences to this treatment of the federal workforce that we need to focus on. Most important, this shutdown undoubtedly will reinforce a discouraging trend: More and more workers are leaving the civil service and diplomatic corps. For example, for fiscal year 2018, which ended on Sept. 30, career civilian retirements were up 24 percent from the previous year. And they are not being replaced. Only 6 percent of federal workers are under age 30.

Read the full article.

Published in: The Hill
Trump is Totally Cavalier About His Use of Personal Technology

January 13, 2019

Ian Bogost, a professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology School of Literature, Media, and Communication, recently wrote an article entitled “Trump Is Totally Cavalier About His Use of Personal Technology” for The Atlantic.

Here's an excerpt:

Trump has repeatedly proved himself a hypocrite when it comes to information security. Trump uses a smartphone without appropriate security features, potentially exposing his communications to surveillance or hacking. Another phone, which Trump uses to post to Twitter, should be swapped out regularly, according to White House information-technology practices, an arrangement Trump considers “too inconvenient.” Ivanka Trump also used a private email account to conduct official White House business—and Donald Trump defended her actions.

Read the full story here.

The School of Literature, Media, and Communication is a unit of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Published in: The Atlantic
How to Shine in Indonesian Science? Game the System

January 8, 2019

Diana Hicks, a professor in the Georgia Institute of Technology School of Public Policy, was recently featured in a Science article entitled “How to Shine in Indonesian Science? Game the System.”

Here's an excerpt:

Last July, when Indonesia’s Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education (RISTEK) here honored eight researchers, along with institutions and journals, for their exceptional contributions to science, observers noticed something odd. Many of the laureates were relatively unknown academics from second-tier universities; underdogs had apparently become leaders.

It didn’t take curious scientists long to figure out why. The honors went to top scorers in Indonesia’s Science and Technology Index (SINTA), a system introduced in early 2017 to measure research performance. Critics showed that several winners had inflated their SINTA score by publishing large numbers of papers in low-quality journals, citing their own work excessively, or forming networks of scientists who cited each other.

Read the full story here.

The Georgia Institute of Technology School of Public Policy is a unit of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Published in: Science
A College Professor Who Taught a Course on 'Adulting' Says Millennials Don't Consider Themselves Adults until a Milestone They're Delaying Longer than Ever

January 7, 2019

Rebekah Fitzsimmons, Brittain Fellow in the Georgia Institute of Technology S chool of Literature, Media, and Communication, was recently featured in a Business Insider article entitled “A College Professor Who Taught a Course on 'Adulting' Says Millennials Don't Consider Themselves Adults until a Milestone They're Delaying Longer than Ever.”

Read an excerpt here:

Early on, the professor learned that her students — who comprised the youngest members of the millennial generation — didn't consider themselves adults. That gave way to one of the main themes of the class: that adulthood starts later for young people today than ever before.

"In previous generations, that maybe happened a little bit sooner, a little bit younger, and there were clear demarcations for, hey, that person's a grown-up," Fitzsimmons told Business Insider.

Read the full story here.

Georgia Institute of Technology School of Literature, Media, and Communication is a unit of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Published in: Business Insider
How Science Changed Sci-Fi about Mars

January 2, 2019

Lisa Yaszek, a professor in the Georgia Institute of Technology School of Literature, Media, and Communication, was recently featured in a Vice video entitled “How Science Changed Sci-Fi about Mars.”

W atch the full video here.

The Georgia Institute of Technology School of Public Policy is a unit of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Published in: Vice
How to Balance Security, Sustainability and Profit in International Space Policy

December 28, 2018

“How to Balance Security, Sustainability and Profit in International Space Policy” featured the work of Mariel Borowitz, assistant professor in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, in a special Q&A. Global Atlanta, December 28, 2018.

Excerpt:

Global Atlanta: What are the most pressing challenges in international space policy for the U.S. right now, and what precipitated the Trump administration’s decision to launch a Space Force branch of the armed services by 2020? Is such a force needed, and if so, how should this force integrate with the rest of the military?

Dr. Mariel Borowitz: In the national security arena, one of the most pressing international space policy challenges is ensuring the sustainable use of outer space. The United States relies on space assets for civil and military communications, weather forecasts, military surveillance and reconnaissance, navigation and even international banking (which uses the timing signal of the GPS system).

There are currently more than 1,800 active satellites in orbit and more than 20,000 pieces of debris large enough to destroy a satellite in a collision. Furthermore, the United States, China, and Russia all have the capability to purposefully damage or destroy satellites in orbit. With such a large reliance on space, the U.S. has a large interest in ensuring that its assets are not subject to intentional or unintentional damage.

Read Full Article

Published in: Global Atlanta
Fantastic Beasts and Muggles: Antihumanism in Rowling’s Wizarding World

December 26, 2018

Dina Khapaeva, professor in the School of Modern Languages, wrote the article “Fantastic Beasts and Muggles: Antihumanism in Rowling’s Wizarding World” featured in the LA Review of Books, December 26, 2018.

Excerpt:

Death remains the most important theme of Fantastic Beasts, much as it was in the Harry Potter series and as Rowling has emphasized herself on several occasions. An avid awaiting of the apocalypse, which looms large in the second installment of Fantastic Beasts, can be seen as an expression of the fascination with death of humanity.

The Harry Potter franchise’s enormous success may indeed rest in part on its articulation of a deep scorn for humanity and the denigration of humans. But this is not a psychological reaction of millions of fans that could be explained away by masochism, sadism, or suppressed desires. It is a cultural trend that offers antihumanism as a popular commodity. We would do well to read the books and view the movies with a critical eye on what is being suggested about the value of human life.

Read Full Article

Published in: LA Review of Books
Specialized Skills Are Crucial in Science. But They May Not Lead to a Tenure-Track Job.

December 20, 2018

A paper co-authored by John P. Walsh, professor of public policy, was cited, and Walsh was quoted, in the article “Specialized Skills Are Crucial in Science. But They May Not Lead to a Tenure-Track Job.” Chronicle of Higher Education, December 20 (* subscription required).

Published in: Chronicle of Higher Education

Recent Press Coverage

How Regions Become Innovation Hubs

Knights, Horses, and...Hummus?

The Fight Over High-Tech Supremacy Isn't New. We Just Haven't Learned Our Lesson

What Would You Pay For Faster, Smarter Government Data?

Apple’s Empty Grandstanding About Privacy

The Genesis of the Apocalypse: Movies of 2018

Building Reliable Teams, a Cure for Research Pathologies?

Membership Spotlight - Michael Terrell

Intel Chiefs Contradict Trump on North Korea, ISIS, Iran & Russia

US Doctoral Degrees May Be Losing Their Appeal

A Professor Who Taught a Course on 'Adulting' Says Many People Have the Wrong Idea about Millennials and Social Media

Experts: Georgia Man’s White House Plot seems ‘Fantastical’ but Serious

Government Shutdown has Hidden Costs, Long-term Consequences

Trump is Totally Cavalier About His Use of Personal Technology

How to Shine in Indonesian Science? Game the System

A College Professor Who Taught a Course on 'Adulting' Says Millennials Don't Consider Themselves Adults until a Milestone They're Delaying Longer than Ever

How Science Changed Sci-Fi about Mars

How to Balance Security, Sustainability and Profit in International Space Policy

Fantastic Beasts and Muggles: Antihumanism in Rowling’s Wizarding World

Specialized Skills Are Crucial in Science. But They May Not Lead to a Tenure-Track Job.

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