Mark Zachary Taylor and Lawrence Rubin, associate professors in the Ivan Allen College Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, attended the 2016 Minerva meeting and program review, which was held from September 14 - 15 in Washington, D.C.

The Minerva Research Initiative, started by former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in 2008, seeks to build deeper understanding of the social, cultural, and political dynamics that shape regions of strategic interest around the world.

The annual Minerva meeting and program review features panels of scholars, defense policy-makers, and military operations personnel who discuss ongoing research and reflect on the impact of the Minerva Initiative.