Policy Impact | FSI

Policy Impact | FSI
Policy Impact
Policy Impact
At FSI, our scholars don't just study pressing global challenges, they make a difference in the world.
Monthly Policy Roundup
Get key takeaways on pressing policy issues from FSI scholars.
Policy Roundup
World-Class Research, Public Impact
At FSI, we aspire not only to study global problems, but also to solve them. Our work reaches those who have the ability to make change in several ways: we provide policy advice through Congressional testimony; we engage policymakers in person and in small groups; we form research-policy partnerships with governments; we host public events to share research with policy actors in Washington, D.C., Silicon Valley, and around the world; and we engage with news and social media in order to inform the public debate.
We also know that impact requires policymakers capable of affecting change. That's why we train policymakers in the U.S. and worldwide, and prepare the next generation of policymakers through undergraduate programs as well as our Master's in International Policy.
Finally, many FSI scholars have been policymakers themselves, making an impact in the field and then bringing real-world experience with them to strengthen FSI's work.
There is a benefit to researching and studying policy here at Stanford – it affords us a unique perspective because of the distance from D.C., and allows us to take a longer view on current world affairs. Below are a few examples of how we are building the bridges to ensure our research flows to policy professionals all around the world.
I appreciate your interest in our work. Please reach out to us if you'd like to learn more or connect with an FSI scholar.
Sincerely,
Colin Kahl
Director of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies
Under Secretary of Defense for Policy at the U.S. Department of Defense, 2021-2023
National Security Advisor to the Vice President, 2014-2017
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East, 2009-2011
Congressional Testimony
Setting Safe Regulatory Boundaries on AI in Healthcare
Stanford Health Policy's Michelle Mello testified about opportunities to advance American health care through the use of AI technologies.
AI in Healthcare
Shared Threats: Indo-Pacific Alliances and Burden Sharing
While greater alliance burden sharing is necessary given the strategic threat environment in the Indo-Pacific, increasing allied defense spending alone is neither the most impactful nor the most strategic path forward, argues Mastro.
INDO-PACIFIC
United States Nuclear Strategy and Policy
Rose Gottemoeller addresses the Senate Committee on Armed Services on investing in emerging non-nuclear technologies and the necessity of engaging with both Russia and China on arms control.
Nuclear Policy
Platform Transparency and the Impact of Social Media
Daphne Keller and Nathaniel Persily testified before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary to the Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law on how company secrecy threatens broader democratic values and structures.
Platform Transparency
Watch Congressional testimonies by FSI experts.
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Engaging Policymakers
EU High Representative Josep Borrell Calls for Collective Global Action in Gaza and Ukraine
Borrell emphasized the need for EU countries to adapt to the changing geopolitical landscape and increase their strategic responsibility, whether in responding to Russian aggression in Ukraine, the crisis in Gaza, or competition with China.
EU
Barack Obama Calls for More Action to Counter Disinformation
The former president was the keynote speaker at "Challenges to Democracy in the Digital Information Realm," a symposium on disinformation and its effects on democracy hosted by the Cyber Policy Center and Obama Foundation.
Obama on Disinformation
Deputy Secretary of Defense Meets with Students and Faculty
A visit from Kathleen Hicks of the Department of Defense gave the Gordian Knot Center a prime opportunity to showcase how it's working to build an innovative workforce that can help solve the nation’s most pressing national security challenges.
National Security Innovations
Slovak President Optimistic about Democracy, but Warns about Russian Misinformation
During a visit to FSI, Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová reminded the Stanford community that the stakes of the war in Ukraine are high and will impact democracies far beyond Eastern and Central Europe.
Slovakia
Stanford Scholars Assemble for Discussion on Technology Governance and Regulation
Led by former Prime Minister of New Zealand Rt. Hon. Dame Jacinda Ardern, a delegation from the Christchurch Call joined Stanford scholars to discuss how to address the challenges posed by emerging technologies.
Delegation
Congressman Ro Khanna Addresses Intersection of America's Economy and U.S.-China Geopolitical Challenges
The congressman joined Michael McFaul and Amy Zegart for a discussion co-hosted with the Hoover Institution on American economic resiliency in the face of U.S. competition with China.
U.S.-China Competition
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Research-Policy Initiatives
Electricity Markets E-Learning at the Oregon Public Utility Commission
The Program on Energy and Sustainable Development worked with the Oregon Public Utility Commission on a pilot program to explore e-learning for regulators.
E-Learning
Stanford Next Asia Policy Lab Engages Washington Stakeholders
Lab members recently shared data-driven insights into U.S.-China tensions, public attitudes toward China, and racial dynamics in Asia with policy and academic communities in Washington, DC.
Policy Lab
Conference Tackles Trends in China’s Economy, Tech, and Politics
Where is China’s economy headed and what are the implications for the rest of the world? Over 20 expert panelists weighed in over two days of discussions during the inaugural SCCEI China Conference.
Conference
Key Findings from Stanford Event with Youth Online Safety Leaders & Federal Task Force
Youth online health and safety leaders urged action, shared accountability and a nuanced approach to empower and protect young people online.
Online Safety
Policy Relevant Research
AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material
Researchers at the Cyber Policy Center examined how educators, platform staff, law enforcement officers, U.S. legislators, and victims are thinking about and responding to AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
CSAM
Foreign Aid Sanctions Set Back Decades of Progress on Maternal, Child Mortality
Researchers analyzed three decades of sanctions on foreign aid to assess their impact on health. They hope the work can help government officials better understand and address how foreign policy decisions affect the well-being of local populations.
FOREIGN AID
Track 2 Diplomacy Effort on U.S.-China Scholarly Exchange
A new report explains the benefits of U.S.-China scholarly cooperation to the two societies and the world at large, identifies the obstacles to greater exchanges, and outlines practical strategies for overcoming these challenges.
Scholarly Exchange
Wastewater-based Disease Surveillance for Public Health Action
Produced at the request of CDC, this report reviews the usefulness of community-level wastewater surveillance during the pandemic and assesses its potential value for control and prevention of infectious diseases beyond COVID-19.
wastewater
See all of our policy-relevant white papers and reports.
See all publications
Students and Alumni
Lisa Einstein to Lead Artificial Intelligence Efforts at CISA
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has named MIP alumna Lisa Einstein as its first chief artificial intelligence officer.
CISA
Organizations Led by Former CDDRL Fellows Recognized with 2022 Nobel Peace Prize
Ukraine’s Center for Civil Liberties, led by alumna Oleksandra Matviichuk, and Memorial in Russia, which was led by alumnae Anna Dobrovolskaya and Tonya Lokshina, were both named as Nobel laureates.
Nobel Peace Prize
Stanford Summer Fellowship Crafts Next Generation of Global Leaders
The Summer Fellows Program reconvened in person for the first time since 2019, bringing budding leaders together with the world’s most influential democracy scholars.
Summer Fellows
On Track to Bring Clean, Affordable Energy to Businesses in the Yucatan
As part of FSI's Policy Change Studio, four master's students have partnered with the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory to connect businesses in the Yucatan Peninsula with reliable, inexpensive, and clean energy.
Clean Energy in the Yucatan
From CISAC Classrooms to the Halls of Congress
Geo Saba, legislative director for Congressman Ro Khanna, credits his time as a CISAC Honors student for enabling him to make a policy impact with his career.
Alumnus in Congress
Improving Living Conditions in Niger
The Niger State Government adopted a policy proposal from Master's students Elani Owen and Mariann Varga aimed at increasing government accountability in the city of Suleja.
Improving Conditions in Niger
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opportunities for students
Policymaker-Academics
FSI is home to many scholars who served in government, the military, and international organizations such as NATO and the United Nations.
Meet Colin Kahl
Scholars in the Media
FSI's experts engage with news, print, and social media in order to inform the public debate.
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