Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy

10/20/2026

Fifteen years after the 2011 uprising and nearly two years after the fall of the Assad regime, long-term Syrian refugee integration faces growing domestic political constraints in Türkiye, the world’s largest host state for displaced Syrians. A new brief by Kelsey Norman and Beyza Yildirim for the Edward P. Djerejian Center for the Middle East considers economic and legal pathways forward.

Nearly two years after the fall of the Assad regime, long-term Syrian refugee integration faces growing domestic constraints in Türkiye. A new brief by Kelsey Norman and Beyza Yildirim for the Edward P. Djerejian Center for the Middle East considers economic and legal pathways forward.

10/20/2026

Women have long contributed to scientific discovery and innovation, yet barriers to representation persist across many fields and leadership roles.

On Nov. 2, we will host “Joni Sue Lane Lecture Series — Exploring Space: A Conversation with Astronaut Ellen Ochoa,” featuring former NASA astronaut Ellen Ochoa. The first Latina to travel to space, Ochoa flew four space shuttle missions before becoming the first Hispanic director of the Johnson Space Center.

Drawing on her career in research, spaceflight, and leadership, Ochoa will reflect on the evolving role of women in science, the barriers that remain, and the importance of expanding opportunities for future generations.

Register here: https://bit.ly/4yooSpx

10/19/2026

In a new commentary, Gilead Sher outlines how international leaders can advance proposals for Gaza’s future and Israel’s national security. He highlights the upcoming G20 foreign ministers’ meeting as an opportunity to begin Gaza’s political transition while developing a comprehensive framework for a durable Israeli-Palestinian settlement.

In this commentary, Gilead Sher outlines how international leaders can advance proposals for Gaza’s future and Israel’s national security. He highlights the upcoming G20 foreign ministers’ meeting as an opportunity to begin Gaza’s political transition while developing a comprehensive framewo...

10/15/2026

As U.S. public diplomacy and global aid programs scale back in Africa, how might China’s aid programs and economic influence be perceived there?

On Oct. 30, join us for a discussion with Dr. Maria Repnikova, a leading expert on China’s propaganda and strategic communications, who will discuss findings from her new book, “Competing for Soft Power: China’s Image-Making in Africa.” Drawing on research across Africa, she will examine how China uses media, health initiatives and economic partnerships to shape its image and build influence, as well as the successes and limitations of these efforts.

Reserve your spot today: https://bit.ly/3VhusuX

10/13/2026

The global humanitarian system is in crisis as funding declines and demand for aid rises. Humanitarian organizations face growing pressure to do more with fewer resources.

This October, we will host Ciarán Donnelly, senior vice president for Crisis Response, Recovery & Development at the International Rescue Committee, for a discussion on the challenges facing humanitarian aid and the reforms needed to strengthen its effectiveness and impact.

Registration is now open. Reserve your seat today: https://bit.ly/46TeIkj

10/13/2026

From the Strait of Hormuz to Texas power markets and Argentina’s Vaca Mu**ta, “Energy Insights 2026” examines the forces reshaping global energy security.

The third annual edition from the Center for Energy Studies brings together 26 articles from fellows, nonresident scholars, and other experts covering oil markets and fuel supply chains, critical minerals, Latin America, U.S. power markets, energy security in Asia and Europe, and the future of plastics recycling.

Together, the articles explore how geopolitics, markets, technology, and supply chains are shaping energy security across regions and commodities.

Read the full collection: https://bit.ly/4hRcWoU

This year’s edition of “Energy Insights” features 26 articles by Center for Energy Studies fellows and other experts examining key developments in global energy security. Topics include oil markets, critical minerals, power demand, regional energy dynamics, and plastics recycling, with analysi...

10/09/2026

Israel’s Oct. 27 election comes at a consequential moment for Arab citizens of Israel and for the country’s broader political future.

On Oct. 19, we will host “Israel, Arab Israelis, Palestinians: What Is Their Future Together?” featuring Mohammad Darawshe, director of strategy at the Center for Shared Society at Givat Haviva, in conversation with Baker Institute Director David Satterfield.

The discussion will consider how Arab citizens of Israel may approach the upcoming election, the concerns shaping their political choices, and the prospects for Arab-Jewish political partnership. Darawshe and Satterfield will also address the implications of the war in Gaza, settler violence in the West Bank, and developments in Lebanon and Iran.

Register here: https://bit.ly/4y38pXd

10/08/2026

Traditional privacy safeguards are lagging behind consumer health apps. In a new Center for Health Policy brief, Stephanie T. Schmidt and Heidi Russell write that regulatory obligations should follow data wherever it travels — focusing on functions and outcomes over product architecture. They offer recommendations for updating federal and state oversight as health data increasingly moves across different platforms and services.

A new Center for Health Policy brief by Stephanie T. Schmidt and Heidi Russell explores health data governance beyond HIPAA — including how modern apps and wearables collect health information — and considers ways to update oversight.

10/07/2026

From $3.4 billion in 2022 to an estimated $66 billion in 2026, Texas data center investment is scaling rapidly. In a new Center for Tax and Budget Policy working paper, John W. Diamond, Joyce Beebe, and Sarah Phillips analyze state and project data to outline the industry’s potential effects on Texas’ tax base.

Read more:

From $3.4 billion in 2022 to $66 billion in 2026, Texas data center investment is expanding. A new working paper analyzes the industry’s rapid growth and expanding impacts on the state’s tax base.

10/02/2026

The war between the United States and Iran continues to escalate, as analysts assess Iran’s strategy toward the conflict and its broader regional goals.
According to Edward P. Djerejian Center for the Middle East’s fellow Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Iran has adopted a strategy of sustained confrontation and continued offense toward the United States, with the goal of fundamentally changing how Washington approaches Tehran and the Middle East.

Read Tabaar’s full article in Foreign Affairs:

Tehran’s strategy to drive America out of the Middle East.