Center for International Studies

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A History of Airborne Aircraft-Carriers
Jan/30 Tue 02:00PM–03:30PM

Special IAP Seminar hosted by the MIT Security Studies Program (SSP)

 

Abstract:

Historical account of the US military’s three major attempts at airborne aircraft-carriers along with why they ultimately terminated those programs/experiments. Further, a look at the future of this space and the impact of autonomous agents.

Speaker:

Nate Padgett 

Lieutenant Colonel Padgett is the United States Air Force’s 2023-2024 MIT Security Studies Program Military Fellow. Before coming to MIT, Lt Col Padgett served as the Senior Executive Officer for the Director of Staff, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. He previously commanded the 60th Operations Support Squadron at Travis Air Force Base, California.

 

Sponsor:  MIT Security Studies Program (SSP)

Open to the MIT community
MIT is committed to providing an environment that is accessible to individuals with disabilities. If you need a disability related accommodation to attend or have other questions, please contact us at ssp-info@mit.edu.

Academic Engagement in Public Policy
Jan/26 Fri 01:00PM–04:00PM

This course is for students, researchers, and faculty who want their research and their expertise to have an impact on public policy. By the end of the course you will have:
- a basic understanding of the role of research and evidence within the public policy environment, with a focus on the US Federal Government;
- the ability to identify and prioritize the public policy stakeholders relevant to your research areas; and
- strategies for engaging with policymakers with your research and expertise. 

You will have opportunities to receive feedback from your peers and the instructors after completing two activites in the course: creating a policy ecosystem map to help you determine with whom and when to engage, and creating a policy recommendation document that you could use when interacting with policymakers. 

This course is modeled off the MIT Policy Lab MITx Course: "Tools for Academic Engagement  in Public Policy"

Instructor: Dr. Drew Story, Managing Director of the MIT Policy Lab

Please register
 

KYUDO: Japanese Archery
Jan/13 Sat 01:00PM–05:00PM
Jan/14 Sun 10:00AM–03:30PM

Kyudo, Japanese archery, means the "way of the bow" and was considered the highest discipline of Japanese samurai. Kyudo is based on standing Zen meditation used by Zen Buddhist monks as a means of cultivating self-awareness. Beginners will receive instruction in the basic form of kyudo. Training will take place on the first day (1/13), followed by actual shooting on the second day (1/14) by members of Byakko Kyudo. People are required to come on Saturday to be trained in order to shoot on Sunday. Open to MIT only. Advance sign-up required by January 9 | Limited space | $20 fee for instruction

Linguistic Barriers, Exploitation and Resistance in Haiti
Jan/20 Sat 08:30AM–06:30PM

This conference will achieve a confluence of two streams of commentary about Haiti’s struggle for true independence. More well-known is the discussion of the diverse interventions and influences of the international community – governmental and non-governmental, historical and contemporary – willingly enabled by a venal Haitian elite. A second factor, not as widely recognized but with deep social and political implications, is the systematic devalorization of Kreyòl – a national cultural treasure and the one language spoken by all Haitians and binding the entire nation together. The damage done by the denial of this fundamental facet of Haitian national identity is most dramatically and tragically seen in the educational sector, where it amounts to a violation of basic human rights.

So we will bring together two groups of scholars: academic, governmental, and journalistic experts on the real causes of Haiti’s afflictions, and linguists and educators with deep experience in confronting the “linguistic apartheid” characterizing official activities in Haiti, in the education sector and elsewhere. Our goal is to explore the deep connections between the issue of language-in-education and the larger issues of the economic exploitation and curtailment of sovereignty of Haiti.

At the conclusion of the conference, MIT's Center for International Studies will be hosting a Starr Forum, delivered by Dominique Dupuy, Ambassador of Haiti to UNESCO. For more information on the Starr Forum, please visit this link.

 

AGENDA:

9:00 AM - 9:15 AM

Welcome

9:15 AM - 10:30 AM

Panel 1: Elite domination / capture / closure and linguistic occupation

Moderator: Dominique Dupuy

Speakers: Jean Casimir, Nedgine Paul Deroly, Philippe-Richard Marius

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Break

11:00 AM - 12:15 PM

Panel 2: Educational challenges and opportunities: the long game

Moderator: Marc Prou

Speakers: Renauld Govain, Christine Low, Bertrhude Albert

1:30 PM - 2:45 PM

Panel 3: The “Outer peripheral trap”

Moderator: Nathalie Frédéric Pierre

Speakers: Robert Fatton, Jr, Scott Freeman, Malick Ghachem

2:45 PM - 3:15 PM

Break

3:15 PM - 4:30 PM

Panel 4: Control by the Core (Politics)

Moderator: Marlene Daut

Speakers: Brian Concannon, Jake Johnston, Alex Dupuy

4:30 PM - 4:45 PM

Conclusion

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

Starr Forum featuring Dominique Dupuy, Ambassador of Haiti to UNESCO

Moderator: Michel DeGraff

 

SPONSORS:  MIT Center for International Studies (CIS)MIT Policy LabMIT Institute Community & Equity OfficeMIT-Haiti Initiative

Logistics Contributions to Integrated Deterrence
Jan/22 Mon 11:00AM–12:30PM

Special IAP Seminar hosted by the MIT Security Studies Program (SSP)

 

Abstract:

Logistics investments in force modernization have been low priority for the joint and service in the strategic transition from expeditionary deterrence focused on local and non-state actor threats to integrated deterrence where peer adversaries have the capability to challenge the global status quo. The most significant strategic implication in the increased capability of these actors the degradation of the United States’ multi-domain supremacy where regional access, once a presumption, is now at risk. Based on this strategic evolution, the modernization and investments in logistics capabilities directly influences adversary perceptions of strategic signaling in general and immediate deterrence and offers the ways and means to reinforce allied and partner perceptions through the persistent application of the functions of logistics. 

Speaker:

Marcus Gillett 

Lieutenant Colonel Gillett is the United States Marine Corp’s 2023-2024 MIT Security Studies Program Military Fellow. He has served in a variety of assignments in the Fleet Marine Forces to include: Company Command (2014-2015), Battalion Operations Officer and Executive Officer (2015-2017), and Commanding Officer of 9th Engineer Support Battalion (2021-2023). Lieutenant Colonel Gillett’s B-billet assignments include: Marine Officer Instructor at The Citadel (2011-2014), Commanding Officer, Recruiting Station Fort Lauderdale (2017-2020), and he served as a staff officer at Headquarters Marine Corps (2020-2021). 

 

Sponsor:  MIT Security Studies Program (SSP)

Open to the MIT community
MIT is committed to providing an environment that is accessible to individuals with disabilities. If you need a disability related accommodation to attend or have other questions, please contact us at ssp-info@mit.edu.

MIT Japan Program Ikebana Class
Jan/09 Tue 02:00PM–03:30PM
Come test your skills at Ikebana, the art of Japanese flower arrangment. 
Hiroko Matsuyama, an accomplished instructor of the Ohara School of Ikebana, will show you the basics of this ancient art as you create your own flower arrangement.  We will conduct the ikebana class in-person, but will  comply with MIT's COVID protocol. Space is limited to 12 participants. MIT Japan Program ask people to secure their seats by paying the discounted $10 materials fee by Friday, December 22, 2023.
 
Registration: to register, please please fill out this form to put your name on our list. Participation is first-come, first-served basis. You must pay the $10 materials fee to secure your spot.
 
Selection will be by first come, first-paid basis.
Operation Allies Welcome
Jan/17 Wed 12:00PM–01:30PM

Special IAP Seminar hosted by the MIT Security Studies Program (SSP)

 

Abstract:

Lieutenant Colonel Kristen Dewilde will discuss her experience in the US Air Force with Operation Allies Welcome, which aimed to resettle vulnerable Afghans in the US, many of whom worked with American forces in Afghanistan.

Speaker:

Kristen DeWilde

Lieutenant Colonel DeWilde is the United States Air Force’s 2023-2024 MIT Security Studies Program Military Fellow. Before this assignment, she served multiple operational flight surgeon roles, including Squadron Medical Element and Chief of Aerospace Medicine. Lt Col DeWilde was the commander of the 559 Aerospace Medicine Squadron.

 

Sponsor:  MIT Security Studies Program (SSP)

Open to the MIT community
MIT is committed to providing an environment that is accessible to individuals with disabilities. If you need a disability related accommodation to attend or have other questions, please contact us at ssp-info@mit.edu.

Starr Forum: Haiti: Linguistic barriers, exploitation and resistance
Jan/20 Sat 05:00PM–06:30PM

Speaker: Dominique Dupuy, Ambassador of Haiti to UNESCO.

Moderator: Michel DeGraff, MIT professor of linguistics, director of MIT-Haiti Initiative, founding member of Akademi Kreyòl Ayisyen.

This Starr Forum will be at the conclusion of a day-long conference on linguistic barriers, exploitation and resistance in Haiti. For more information on the conference, please visit this link.

SPONSORS:  MIT Center for International Studies (CIS), MIT Policy Lab, MIT Institute Community & Equity Office, MIT-Haiti Initiative

Free & open to the public.

MIT is committed to providing an environment that is accessible to individuals with disabilities. If you need a disability related accommodation to attend or have other questions, please contact us at starrforum@mit.edu.

Sign up for Starr Forum emails to get notified about upcoming events.

A full listing of Starr Forums is available here.

The evolution of naval warfare through ship design
Jan/23 Tue 02:00PM–03:30PM

Special IAP Seminar hosted by the MIT Security Studies Program (SSP)

 

Abstract:

This presentation will walk the audience through the impacts made by technological advancement on war at sea, using examples from history to illustrate the transformation from the age of sail into the US’ current fleet and beyond.

Speaker:

Alan Janigian 

Lieutenant Commander Janigian is a United States Navy 2023-2024 MIT Security Studies Program Military Fellow. LCDR Janigian reported first to USS CINCINNATI (LCS 20) before LCS Crew 214 transferred to USS MANCHESTER (LCS 14). While on MANCHESTER he qualified as Tactical Action Officer and earned the 2020 Mine Division 12 Tactician of the Year Award. Successfully completing his tour as Combat Systems Officer, he fleeted up and currently serves as the Operations Officer.

 

Sponsor:  MIT Security Studies Program (SSP)

Open to the MIT community
MIT is committed to providing an environment that is accessible to individuals with disabilities. If you need a disability related accommodation to attend or have other questions, please contact us at ssp-info@mit.edu.

Understanding America’s History- US Army’s Historical Program 2030
Jan/24 Wed 10:00AM–11:30AM

Special IAP Seminar hosted by the MIT Security Studies Program (SSP)

 

Abstract:

Colonel Karl Sondermann, US Army Logistics Officer and a trained active-duty Army Unit Historian will present a talk on recent US Army efforts to improve historical mindedness across our force while also better connecting with the American public. During his 20 year career, COL Sondermann has been empowered by Army leaders to pursue his graduate degree in Historic Preservation, selected as the Arlington National Cemetery Military Historian and Operations Officer, and encouraged to volunteer with numerous historic organizations; all while serving on active duty and using his experience to implement various historic initiatives to professionally develop his Soldiers. As we approach our nation’s semiquincentennial (250th) anniversary, this talk will provide career insights and reasons why modernizing how US Army Historians record, educate, and promote our nation’s history can help the US Military reverse current losses in public trust and confidence.

Speaker:

Karl Sondermann 

Colonel Sondermann is the United States Army's 2023-2024 MIT Security Studies Program Military Fellow. Prior to his arrival at MIT, he was assigned the J4- Director of Logistics, Special Operations Command Central at MacDill AFB, FL. Previous non-command assignments include deployments to Iraq for 15 months in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, a deployment to Afghanistan for 9 months in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, a deployment to Kuwait for 9 months in support of Operation Spartan Shield, two EUCOM assignments to Germany for 5 years, and a three-year assignment as the Operations Officer/Military Historian at Arlington National Cemetery.

 

Sponsor:  MIT Security Studies Program (SSP)

Open to the MIT community
MIT is committed to providing an environment that is accessible to individuals with disabilities. If you need a disability related accommodation to attend or have other questions, please contact us at ssp-info@mit.edu.