Dear Friends,
I recently completed two years as director, and I believe we are now in the place we need to be going forward. Despite much work still to do (and money to raise) to ensure the long-term health of the Center, we are confirming our reputation as a primary locus for cross-cutting interdisciplinary projects that support fellows, research networks, and advances on significant, if wicked, social science problems.
The class of 2015-16 is the first in a long time that approaches optimum size, with nearly 40 fellows plus several visiting scholars (unfunded partners of significant accomplishment) and research affiliates (tied to one of our on-ongoing projects). It is the first that integrates fellows entering through the standard independent applicant process and those requiring double vetting – from CASBS and from the research networks that support them. We can report that the independent and project-based fellows interact seamlessly. They stimulate and learn from each other. For example, the presence of the Berggruen fellows means that far more of us are now aware of the contributions of Confucius and Mencius! And several individual fellows enhanced the workshops initiated by the Berggruen Institute on such topics as “humans and technology” and “hierarchy and equality.” The Mindset Scholars Network continues to bring its combination of psychological insight, primary research, and policy intervention to bear on our collective discussions. In return, they benefit from the questions and challenges our fellows pose to them.
The experiment is going well, and will continue — indeed extend — to the 2016-17 class with the addition of cyber, climate change, and causal inference fellows. The first two are supported in partnership with Stanford programs and centers and the third with the assistance of an individual donor. Once again we will have five Berggruen and one Mindset Scholars Network fellow.
We also have learned the value of the workshop/research network model for engaging former fellows. The 2015-16 class now has completed its tenure at CASBS, but several from this class and the preceding class have stimulated new potential projects or joined ongoing discussions. Former fellows from even longer ago are playing lead roles in other working groups and generating ideas for future projects.
Other experiments with the class of 2015-16 also have proven fruitful. The Berggruen fellows help in our continuing efforts to internationalize. One of them, Yi Huah Jiang, former premier of Taiwan, initiated a process that, starting in 2017-18, guarantees that the Taiwanese government will fund a CASBS fellow selected from one of its institutions. We will report details of this relationship soon.
Our decision to offer opportunities for fellows to learn how to extend the reach of their work to wider publics and policy makers has been popular. This spring former New York Times editor Glenn Kramon, editor of our ongoing "Future of Work and Workers" project, conducted a new workshop on op-ed writing, with at least one successful placement already. We also hope to continue the exploration, begun this year, of having a fellow drawn from the policy world.
One significant change in the CASBS culture is the establishment of strong partnerships with external organizations. Among the most important are those with other Stanford units. The moat that once figuratively surrounded the Center is well and truly filled in now. The Clinical Excellent Research Center not only co-locates with us for the next few years but has been managing a series of conversations involving its and our fellows. We successfully co-applied with the Woods Institute for the Environment for a Hewlett Foundation grant to support two 2016-17 fellows. The Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, the Graduate School of Business, and the Hoover Institution joined with the Dean of Research to help support the summer institute on Organizations and their Effectiveness, led by former fellows Bob Gibbons and Woody Powell. The Stanford Law School and CASBS co-hosted the World Justice Project research consortium. The McCoy Family Center for Ethics in Society is a frequent collaborator on programs and workshops. In addition, we are currently in the process of developing other joint projects with the Stanford Neurosciences Institute, Bio-X, the Graduate School of Education, Freeman Spogli Institute, Clayman Institute, and the Handa Center for Human Rights and International Justice.
CASBS also is becoming increasingly appreciated in the larger community. We are far more engaged than ever before with Silicon Valley’s — and the Bay Area’s — leading thinkers on technology, government, and society. Our thrice yearly symposium series, the renewal of our newsletter, enhancements of our web and social media presence, our partnership with The Long Now Foundation, and our annual co-branded event with the Social Science Research Council in New York bring new friends and fresh ideas to the hill. In 2016-17 we inaugurate the Bob Scott lecture, funded by friends of Bob in honor of his 80th birthday, as well as some new outreach programs.
CASBS now has momentum, and I look forward to working with you to ensure that momentum continues and increases.
