After a yearlong process of surveys, focus groups, and analyses, the Mershon Center for International Security Studies is launching its strategic plan for 2019 through 2023, “Interdisciplinary Knowledge for a More Secure World" (pdf).
The plan sets a new mission for the Mershon Center -- to advance interdisciplinary and collaborative approaches to international, national, and human security -- as well as three new goals:
- Produce interdisciplinary and collaborative research.
- Build an inclusive and engaged intellectual community.
- Connect our research to current challenges in international, national, and human security.
To attain these goals, the center has created three research clusters, or common substantive themes, that can be tackled across disciplines, each led by three Mershon affiliates from at least two different disciplines. The research clusters include:
The center is also reviving its postdoctoral fellows program, employing new models for events to encourage dialogue, and creating shared collaborative space. Finally, as part of a land-grant university, Mershon will emphasize research and events that focus on substantive problems and policy-oriented initiatives in international, national, and human security.