Maxwell School News and Commentary
Lender Fellows Research the Impact of AI-Controlled Weapons
Travis Mason ’06 Serves as Chief Policy Officer for Autonomous Aviation Systems Developer
He says his Maxwell education, particularly in political science and policy studies, provided a foundation in the multifaceted problem solving involved in his work. “Maxwell taught me how to widen my policy and regulatory aperture,” he says, “because that’s what creates success when certifying autonomous technologies in and outside aviation.”
See related: Autonomous Systems
Gadarian Speaks to France 24 About Trump and the 2024 Presidential Race
"DeSantis would most benefit from Trump dropping out of the race but he seems to have calculated that they have many of the same potential voters so doesn't want to alienate them," says Shana Gadarian, professor and chair of political science.
See related: Crime & Violence, Federal, Political Parties, U.S. Elections, United States
Wilson Discusses Why Wildfire Smoke is No Longer Solely a West Coast Problem in The Hill
"Before this week, it was easy for those of us in the East to think that suffocating wildfire smoke was solely a West Coast problem. But no longer. The smoke clouding our skies, scratching our throats and watering our eyes shows we’re all Westerners now," writes Robert Wilson, associate professor of geography and the environment.
See related: Canada, Climate Change, Natural Disasters, United States, Wildfires
Harrington Meyer Quoted in Bloomberg Article on Grandparents and the Childcare Crisis
“For a lot of families, grandparent care is the gold standard,” says University Professor Madonna Harrington Meyer, who notes that grandparents are often far more flexible than other childminders; they’ll watch your kid for free, for long or short periods of time, on little notice. They will even do it when your child is sick.
See related: Child & Elder Care, United States
Future Facing: Maxwell Scholars Respond to the Rapid Rise of AI and Autonomous Systems
Amid the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, Maxwell scholars are gathering critical data, designing policy and informing future leaders.
See related: Autonomous Systems, Data Privacy, Ethics, Student Experience
McFate Weighs In on North Korea’s Failed Military Reconnaissance Satellite Launch in The Independent
Sean McFate, adjunct professor in Maxwell's Washington programs, says the North's satellite launch is mostly for "domestic political consumption" and unlikely to have a substantial impact. "Kim’s autocracy is legitimized by the 'enduring threat' of the U.S., and this demonstration shows he’s fulfilling his social contract with North Koreans."
See related: Defense & Security, East Asia, International Affairs
Huber Discusses His Book, “Climate Change as Class War” on Future Histories Podcast
"So if we can pair climate decarbonization with more increased secure access to people's basic material needs, you could start to build a much broader popular base," says Matthew Huber, professor of geography and the environment.
See related: Climate Change, United States
Murrett Talks to the Daily Beast About North Korea’s Missile Tech Advances
“North Korea’s recent development and initial testing of a long-range solid-fuel ICBM does represent a significant step forward in its ongoing development of potentially nuclear-capable delivery vehicles,” says Vice Adm. Robert Murrett (Ret.), professor of practice of public administration and international affairs.
See related: Conflict, East Asia, International Affairs, U.S. National Security
Shi Article on Putting Teachers on School Boards Published in Education Next
Ying Shi, assistant professor of public administration and international affairs, and John G. Singleton of the University of Rochester, investigated what happens when educators are elected to school boards. "Despite raising teachers’ salaries, electing an educator to a school board does not translate into improved outcomes for students and has negative impacts on charter schools."
See related: Elections, State & Local, U.S. Education, United States