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  • Beijing Set to Begin Search for New Point Man on Cross-Strait Affairs

    August 22, 2022

    Fei-Ling Wang, professor in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, was quoted in the South China Morning Post about who in the Chinese Communist Party might take over the Taiwan Affairs Office.

    An excerpt:

    “Whoever is in charge of the Taiwan Affairs Office, probably, will have a very limited impact on how the policy is made,” said Fei-Ling Wang, an international affairs professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology. “Because, after all, this person usually is many people away from the top leader. He basically carries out orders.”

    Published in: Beijing Set to Begin Search for New Point Man on Cross-Strait Affairs

  • Russia Says It Will Pull out of the International Space Station After 2024

    July 27, 2022

    Mariel Borowitz, INTA

    Published in: Russia Says It Will Pull out of the International Space Station After 2024

  • Constructing a Taxonomy of Implicit Hate Speech Grounded in Social Theory with Diyi Yang and David Muchlinksi

    July 18, 2022

    David Muchlinski, assistant professor in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, joined the Diaries of Social Data Research podcast to discuss a paper he co-authored titled "Latent Hatred: A Benchmark for Understanding Implicit Hate Speech." Muchlinksi, alongside co-author Diyi Yang of the School of Interactive Computing, discussed how their annotation process for the paper took two years and incorporated the human aspect of hate speech into it.

    An excerpt:

    What we understand about some of these groups — especially some of these hate groups — is they're not stupid.... They understand how content moderation policies work, and they understand how to game them. If you continue  doing content moderation based off of explicit references, you will eventually allow hate speech onto your platform in all sorts of disguises.

    Published in: Constructing a Taxonomy of Implicit Hate Speech Grounded in Social Theory with Diyi Yang and David Muchlinksi

  • Phosphorus Bombs: What You Should Know About Russia’s Alleged Use

    July 7, 2022

    Al Jazeera quoted Margaret E. Kosal, an associate professor in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, in the article “Phosphorus Bombs: What You Should Know About Russia’s Alleged Use,” published July 5, 2022.

    In the article, Kosal discussed the effects of munitions.

    An excerpt:

    What is particularly cruel is that the mixture of white phosphorus and rubber contained in the bombs sticks to the victims’ skin. Once in contact with phosphorus, the individual will attempt to knock out the burning spots. However, since phosphorus bombs are mixed with rubber gelatine, the viscous mass sticks to the skin worsening the effect.

    “If some white phosphorus remains embedded in the body, it can re-ignite if re-exposed to air (such as during medical care). It is incredibly nasty, causing debilitatingly painful burns if a person comes into contact with it,” Kosal noted.

    Published in: Phosphorus Bombs: What You Should Know About Russia’s Alleged Use

  • Will Roper on the Future of eVTOL Aircraft in Military and Commercial Applications

    July 7, 2022

    Will Roper, distinguished professor of the practice in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, was interviewed for the article, "Will Roper on the Future of eVTOL Aircraft in Military and Commercial Applications," published July 1, 2022 by evtol.com

    In the article, Roper discusses the potential and challenges of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, one of the technologies Roper worked on as an assistant secretary of the U.S. Air Force for acquisition, technology, and logistics.

    An excerpt:

    From a regulatory perspective, there’s always uncertainty about when there will be comfort in new systems intended for everyday use around populations. But I believe early military adoption and public trust in the military certification process will help accelerate it. These systems have some immediate benefits for a variety of niche operations [in the military]. But as the underlying technology, batteries, etc., get better over time, I think the operational use will expand as well. The faster military flight hours ramp, the faster we’re likely to see civil certification.

    Published in: Will Roper on the Future of eVTOL Aircraft in Military and Commercial Applications

  • Round up: New Mexico awarded DOE grants; senior fellow selected at Savannah River; Triad studies fire alarms

    July 7, 2022

    Margaret E. Kosal, associate professor in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, was mentioned in a story in ExchangeMonitor about her recent appointment as senior fellow in Savannah River National Laboratory's Nonproliferation Applied Science Center.

    The article, Round up: New Mexico Awarded DOE Grants; Senior Fellow Selected at Savannah River; Triad Studies Fire Alarms," was published July 1, 2022.

     

    Published in: Round up: New Mexico awarded DOE grants; senior fellow selected at Savannah River; Triad studies fire alarms

  • The FAA Says SpaceX Can’t Expand Its Texas Launch Site — Yet

    June 13, 2022

    Mariel Borowitz, associate professor in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, talked to Wired about environmental concerns delaying SpaceX's upgrades to its Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas.

    An excerpt:

    “There’s always some chance you’ll have a failure in that first 30 seconds to a minute, where it would be close enough to the ground where you’ll see debris fall. I think it’s a very small chance—and this is what the FAA will quantify—maybe less likely than being hit by lightning. But the chance isn’t zero. What if a rocket blows up and it lands in a wildlife refuge or over someone’s house?” asks Mariel Borowitz, a space policy expert at Georgia Tech.

    Published in: The FAA Says SpaceX Can’t Expand Its Texas Launch Site — Yet

  • Russia's War in Ukraine Is Threatening an Outpost of Cooperation in Space

    May 23, 2022

    External article: NPR

    Mariel Borowitz, associate professor in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, spoke to NPR about how the war in Ukraine has strained relationships about the International Space Station. She also discussed the history of the craft, which was built on international collaboration.

    An excerpt:

    "At the time 'it was in the U.S. national interest to engage with Russia,' says Mariel Borowitz, an associate professor at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at the Georgia Institute of Technology. The joint program kept Russian rocket scientists employed during a moment when Russia faced political and economic instability, she says."

    Published in: Russia's War in Ukraine Is Threatening an Outpost of Cooperation in Space

  • China's Children of the 70s Come to the Fore as Next Generation of Leaders Starts to Emerge

    May 23, 2022

    External article: South China Morning Post

    Professor Fei-Ling Wang talked to the South China Morning Post about how people born in the 1970s are beginning to see more power in the Chinese Communist Party as President Xi Jinping gets closer to determining a successor.

    An except:

    "Professor Fei-Ling Wang of Georgia Institute of Technology’s Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, said Xi had taken a 'much more personal' approach to succession planning compared to his predecessors, and 'personal loyalty to him seems to override other qualities.'"

    Published in: China's Children of the 70s Come to the Fore as Next Generation of Leaders Starts to Emerge

  • Facing the Future: This Is Not Your Father’s Cold War

    May 17, 2022

    External article: WKXL

    Adam Stulberg, Sam Nunn Professor and Chair in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, talked to WKXL: New Hampshire's Talk Radio about the war in Ukraine.

    An excerpt:

    "One of the most profound elements of this war — and it really is a war of choice by Russia in its invasion of Ukraine — is that it's emblematic of a changing international system that has been undergoing change for a number of years now."

    Published in: Facing the Future: This Is Not Your Father’s Cold War

  • Space Policy Edition: How Russia's Invasion of Ukraine Has Changed Space, With Mariel Borowitz

    May 6, 2022

    Mariel Borowitz, associate professor in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, spoke on The Planetary Society's podcast, Planetary Radio, to discuss the space policy implications of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

    An excerpt:

    "I think if you look at the situation today, we don't have that same demand to try and engage with Russia [on collaboration in space]... I think it's just becoming less and less tenable to have this kind of close cooperation."

    Published in: Space Policy Edition: How Russia's Invasion of Ukraine Has Changed Space, With Mariel Borowitz

  • Losses, Morale and Counterattacks Stymie Russia’s Donbas Offensive

    April 18, 2022

    Robert Bell, distinguished professor of the practice in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, was interviewed for the piece, 'Losses, Morale and Counterattacks Stymie Russia’s Donbas Offensive', which aired on April 18, 2022 in The Moscow Times.

    An excerpt:

    Ukrainians remain in heavily fortified positions to the west of the line of contact with separatist forces that has been in place since 2015, explained Bell. 

    “The plan of the Russians is to bring pincer movements down from the north and up from the south in an attempt to encircle Ukrainian forces and get beyond the line of contact,” he said.

    Published in: Losses, Morale and Counterattacks Stymie Russia’s Donbas Offensive

  • Blinken: We Cannot Confirm the Use of Chemical Weapons in Ukraine

    April 12, 2022

    Margaret E. Kosal, an associate professor in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, was interviewed for the article, 'Blinken: We Cannot Confirm the Use of Chemical Weapons in Ukraine' which was published on April 12, 2022 on Voice of America.

    An excerpt:

    First of all, you need to get evidence. One type of weapon that could conceivably have been used, and which is often used in urban warfare, is white phosphorus. White phosphorus is not a chemical weapon. It is used primarily as a smoke generating agent, which can also be used as a military incendiary. Phosphorus can cause burns and harm people if used accidentally or intentionally. It does not apply to chemical weapons, but falls under the existing ban on the use of indiscriminate weapons against civilians. And this, in any case, qualifies as a war crime,’ says Kosal.

    Published in: Blinken: We Cannot Confirm the Use of Chemical Weapons in Ukraine

  • Moral Outrage in Europe Forcing Decisions That Were Unbelievable a Month Ago, Says Professor

    April 7, 2022

    Robert Bell, distinguished professor of the practice in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, was interviewed for the piece, 'Moral Outrage in Europe Forcing Decisions That Were Unbelievable a Month Ago, Says Professor', which aired on April 7, 2022 on CNBC.

    An excerpt:

    Well, I think the trend line is good here. Its not going to happen overnight but its clear that there's a sensitivity and a sense of moral outrage in Europe that is forcing decisions that were unbelievable just a month ago.

    Published in: Moral Outrage in Europe Forcing Decisions That Were Unbelievable a Month Ago, Says Professor

  • Will Summit Provoke Putin?

    March 24, 2022

    Robert Bell, distinguished professor of the practice in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, appeared on "Arnab Goswami on The Debate" on March 24. The show appeared on Republic World.

    Where this [situation] should go is the direction the United Nations called for... an immediate ceasefire coupled with the beginnings of a complete withdrawal of Russian forces, back to their start lines on Feb. 24. That's also the position that the 30 heads of state of NATO endorsed this morning, meeting in Brussels.

    Published in: Will Summit Provoke Putin?

  • Ex-Supreme Allied Commander of NATO Forces Discusses the State of War in Ukraine

    March 22, 2022

    Gen. Philip Breedlove, distinguished professor of the practice in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, was interviewed for the piece, 'Ex-Supreme Allied Commander of NATO Forces Discusses the State of War in Ukraine', posted March 22, 2022 on NPR.org.

    An excerpt:

    Well, I think that the way they use this particular missile in this conflict - it really is just that they're trying to make a statement. They've had no real tactical effect on the battlefield that any other missile - you know, we have sort of stopped tracking it, but we're well over 900 missiles fired so far in this conflict. And one more really is not a tactical effect on the battlefield. I think they're just trying to get the world's attention that we're willing to escalate this business here.

    Published in: Ex-Supreme Allied Commander of NATO Forces Discusses the State of War in Ukraine