{"692938":{"#nid":"692938","#data":{"type":"news","title":"AI \u0026 Society Events to Examine Real-World Trade Offs Behind AI","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EArtificial intelligence may operate in the digital world, but it leaves a massive and very real physical and societal footprint. What does AI\u2019s rapid growth mean for the future of humanity? How can it be steered towards a more prosperous future for all?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts will host a series of four events, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/ai-society\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EAI \u0026amp; Society Series\u003C\/a\u003E, to bring together scholars, practitioners, industry leaders, and the Georgia Tech community to explore some of the most consequential questions surrounding artificial intelligence and their potential solutions. Through the interdisciplinary lens of the liberal arts, the series will examine AI\u0027s physical infrastructure, its influence on research and discovery, its evolving role in human relationships, and its impact on creativity and creative industries.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cConsidering technology from a humanistic perspective has never been more necessary,\u201d said Amanda Murdie, dean of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. \u201cAI has so much potential to be positive and transformational, but we should prioritize understanding and mitigating the challenges it creates in its wake.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe next event in the series will be \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/events\/item\/692376\/academic-research-future-discovery\u0022\u003EAI and Academic Research: The Future of Discovery\u003C\/a\u003E\u201d on Nov. 4 at 6:30 - 9 p.m. in the Georgia Tech Hotel \u0026amp; Conference Center \u2013 Grand Ballrooms. The panel will explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the landscape of higher education and scholarly inquiry.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPanelists include Sebastian Porsdam Mann, Assistant Professor, CeBIL, University of Copenhagen; Sarah H. Salter, Director of the Writing Program \u0026amp; Professor of Pedagogy, Emory University; and Dan Reiter, Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Political Science, Emory University.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/sebastian-porsdam-mann-8b5092b1\/\u0022\u003EPorsdam Mann\u003C\/a\u003E is an assistant professor at the University of Copenhagen\u2019s Center for Advanced Studies in Bioscience Innovation Law. With training spanning philosophy, neuroscience, applied ethics, and international human rights law, his research examines how emerging technologies can advance scientific progress while navigating ethical and regulatory challenges. His work has directly explored generative AI in academic writing and idea generation, as well as AI\u0027s potential role in the future of academic peer review, positioning him to address both the opportunities and risks AI creates throughout the research process.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/writingprogram.emory.edu\/people\/bios\/Salter-Sarah.html\u0022\u003ESalter\u003C\/a\u003E is a teaching professor and director of the writing program at Emory University whose research focuses on American literature, periodical studies, collaboration, and digital humanities. Her scholarship has included interdisciplinary work using machine-learning methods to analyze the visual structures of historical newspapers, combining literary study, library science, and computational approaches. Her perspective brings an important humanities dimension to the conversation about how computational tools and AI are changing research methods, scholarly interpretation, writing, and knowledge production.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/polisci.emory.edu\/people\/biography\/reiter-dan.html\u0022\u003EReiter\u003C\/a\u003E is the Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Political Science at Emory University. His scholarly interests include interstate conflict, gender and international relations, civil-military relations, alliances, military effectiveness, public opinion and foreign policy, war termination, and others. He earned his B.A. in political science from Northwestern University in 1989, his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Michigan in 1994, and was a post-doctoral fellow at the John M. Olin Institute at Harvard University from 1994-1995. In 2002, he was given the Karl Deutsch Award from the International Studies Association, presented annually to a scholar under age 40 or within ten years of having received the Ph.D. \u201cwho is judged to have made (through a body of publications) the most significant contribution to the study of International Relations and Peace Research.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUpcoming events in the AI \u0026amp; Society Series include:\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAI, Human Empathy, and Relationships: Is AI a Better Partner?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EWednesday, Feb. 10, 2027 | 6:30 \u2013 9 p.m.\u003Cbr\u003EHistoric Academy of Medicine\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAI and Creativity: Creative Industries in Flux\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EWednesday, April 14, 2027 | 6:30\u20139 p.m.\u003Cbr\u003EWalter G. Ehmer Theater (Atlantic)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EArtificial intelligence may operate in the digital world, but it leaves a massive and very real physical and societal footprint. What does AI\u2019s rapid growth mean for the future of humanity? How can it be steered towards a more prosperous future for all?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Artificial intelligence may operate in the digital world, but it leaves a massive and very real physical and societal footprint. What does AI\u2019s rapid growth mean for the future of humanity? How can it be steered towards a more prosperous future for all? "}],"uid":"36009","created_gmt":"2026-09-30 15:29:38","changed_gmt":"2026-11-04 15:40:03","author":"cwhittle9","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-09-30T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-09-30T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"681309":{"id":"681309","type":"image","title":"AI---society-series-16x9.png","body":null,"created":"1790783597","gmt_created":"2026-09-30 15:53:17","changed":"1790783597","gmt_changed":"2026-09-30 15:53:17","alt":"AI \u0026 Society Series","file":{"fid":"265681","name":"AI---society-series-16x9.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/09\/30\/AI---society-series-16x9.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/09\/30\/AI---society-series-16x9.png","mime":"image\/png","size":1234946,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/09\/30\/AI---society-series-16x9.png?itok=hFCWGLtb"}}},"media_ids":["681309"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/ai-society","title":"AI \u0026 Society Series"}],"groups":[{"id":"1281","name":"Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts"},{"id":"1285","name":"Sam Nunn School of International Affairs"},{"id":"1282","name":"School of Economics"},{"id":"1288","name":"School of History and Sociology"},{"id":"1283","name":"School of Literature, Media, and Communication"},{"id":"1284","name":"School of Modern Languages"},{"id":"1289","name":"School of Public Policy"}],"categories":[{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71901","name":"Society and Culture"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMegan McRainey\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:megan.mcrainey@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Emegan.mcrainey@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["megan.mcrainey@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"693144":{"#nid":"693144","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Soccer and Civil Rights Museum\u2019s Soccer Exhibit Powered by Georgia Tech Expert\u2019s Insights","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBowman\u0027s Expertise Powers Soccer and Civil Rights Museum\u2019s Soccer Exhibit\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ETo learn more about Nunn School Professor and Regents\u0027 Entrepreneur Kirk Bowman\u0027s work on the exhibit, \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=JFMHipPMFSI\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Ewatch a video\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E of Bowman and National Center for Civil and Human Rights curator Daniel Fuller discussing the exhibit. You can also read more \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/featured-news\/2026\/10\/soccer-civil-rights-exhibit\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Ehere\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKirk Bowman, professor and Regents\u2019 Entrepreneur in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, served as the sole academic consultant for \u0022The People\u0027s Game: Soccer and Human Rights,\u0022 an exhibit on display at Atlanta\u2019s National Center for Civil and Human Rights through June 2027.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe exhibit tells the story of soccer programs and fans from around the world and how they have interacted for good, from Brazilian soccer players who served as a catalyst for democratic reform in Brazil to fans who rallied around Afghan women soccer players after the Taliban took over and disbanded the club to Atlanta\u2019s own Soccer in the Streets \u2014 a non-profit that provides opportunities and mentorship to disadvantaged youth through soccer.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAs a college professor, this is a dream come true,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/kirk-bowman\u0022\u003EBowman\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cIt\u2019s probably the single biggest impact my work will ever have.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ENunn School Professor Kirk Bowman provided the academic expertise for the exhibit at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Nunn School Professor Kirk Bowman provided the academic expertise for the exhibit at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights."}],"uid":"34600","created_gmt":"2026-10-08 14:26:38","changed_gmt":"2026-10-26 12:47:55","author":"mpearson34","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-10-08T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-10-08T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"681383":{"id":"681383","type":"image","title":"Kirk Fuller and Kirk Bowman","body":"\u003Cp\u003EKirk Fuller, left, director of curation at the National Center for Civil and Human rights and Kirk Bowman, professor and Regents\u0027 Entrepreneur in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, collaborated on a year-long museum exhibit about soccer and civil rights.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1791470750","gmt_created":"2026-10-08 14:45:50","changed":"1791470750","gmt_changed":"2026-10-08 14:45:50","alt":"Two men stand in front of a soccer-ball shaped exhibit at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.","file":{"fid":"265764","name":"soccer-exhibit-image.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/10\/08\/soccer-exhibit-image.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/10\/08\/soccer-exhibit-image.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":819893,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/10\/08\/soccer-exhibit-image.jpg?itok=ysS_pfOC"}}},"media_ids":["681383"],"groups":[{"id":"1281","name":"Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts"},{"id":"1285","name":"Sam Nunn School of International Affairs"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71901","name":"Society and Culture"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:michael.pearson@iac.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EMichael Pearson\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EIvan Allen College of Liberal Arts\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"692870":{"#nid":"692870","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Advancing Space Policy in the Sam Nunn School","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAs the \u0022Third Space Age\u0022 accelerates, Georgia Tech is emerging as a powerhouse bridging international space policy and engineering. To learn about the work of one of the nation\u0027s largest concentrations of space policy scholars, including developing technical and diplomatic solutions for orbital traffic, space debris, and international security, check out our \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/featured-news\/09\/georgia-tech-space-policy?utm_source=gemini\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Erecent feature\u003C\/a\u003E. Also, learn how researchers at the interdisciplinary Engineering Space Policy Lab are \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/featured-news\/09\/engineering-space-policy-golden-dome?utm_source=gemini\u0022\u003Ecreating new modeling tools\u003C\/a\u003E to analyze the United States\u0027 proposed \u0022Golden Dome\u0022 defense shield to help global decision-makers evaluate complex technical realities and geopolitical trade-offs.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ELearn about the work of space policy scholars in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Learn about the work of space policy scholars in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs."}],"uid":"34600","created_gmt":"2026-09-28 18:18:14","changed_gmt":"2026-09-29 18:34:21","author":"mpearson34","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-09-28T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-09-28T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"681277":{"id":"681277","type":"image","title":"Nunn School space policy scholars","body":"\u003Cp\u003ENunn School space policy scholars, from left, Thomas Gonz\u00e1lez Roberts, Lincoln Hines, Mariel Borowitz, and Lawrence Rubin.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1790619512","gmt_created":"2026-09-28 18:18:32","changed":"1790619512","gmt_changed":"2026-09-28 18:18:32","alt":"\u0022\u0022","file":{"fid":"265646","name":"space-policy-composite.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/09\/28\/space-policy-composite.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/09\/28\/space-policy-composite.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":998062,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/09\/28\/space-policy-composite.jpg?itok=1oc-iBPe"}}},"media_ids":["681277"],"groups":[{"id":"1281","name":"Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts"},{"id":"1285","name":"Sam Nunn School of International Affairs"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:michael.pearson@iac.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EMichael Pearson\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EIvan Allen College of Liberal Arts\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691204":{"#nid":"691204","#data":{"type":"news","title":"\u2018Brilliant and Engaging\u2019 \u2014 Remembering Michael Salomone and His Four Decades of Service to Georgia Tech","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech alumni who had the pleasure of taking an international affairs class with Professor Emeritus Michael D. Salomone know he had a gift for holding a classroom transfixed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cDr. Salomone was one of the best professors and best people I met in my time at Georgia Tech, from his ability to capture a room with battle descriptions to making everyone laugh with stories about his own life,\u201d said Bryn Thornburgh, INTA 2018.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat many might not know, however, is he was also a consummate food and wine connoisseur. He loved to hold court at the now-defunct Veni Vidi Vici restaurant in Atlanta following university events, said his former Nunn School of International Affairs colleague, Professor Emeritus \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/brian-woodall\u0022\u003EBrian Woodall\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhenever I dined with Mike, it was my standard practice to try to be seated next to him. I never had a regrettable meal when heeding Mike\u0027s menu recommendations,\u201d Woodall said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/michael-salomone\u0022\u003ESalomone\u003C\/a\u003E, who retired in 2025 after more than 36 years of service to Georgia Tech, the Nunn School, and its students, passed away recently.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Cornerstone of the Nunn School\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe was the last remaining member of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/inta.gatech.edu\u0022\u003ESchool\u2019s\u003C\/a\u003E original 1991 roster, having joined Georgia Tech in 1989 at the behest of his former Carnegie Mellon University colleague, \u2014then Georgia Tech President John Patrick Crecine \u2014 to help form a new international affairs school at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESalomone\u2019s foundational work at the intersection of technology and international affairs served as a model for the new Nunn School, according to Adam N. Stulberg, Sam Nunn School Chair in International Affairs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cDr. Salomone\u2019s deft skill at managing organizational change enabled the School to make the smooth transition to embracing the STEM moorings at GT while preserving excellence at advancing social science teaching and research on international affairs,\u201d \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/adam-n-stulberg\u0022\u003EStulberg\u003C\/a\u003E \u0026nbsp;wrote President \u00c1ngel Cabrera in a letter recommending Salomone for emeritus status.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe latter helped to pave the way for a future interdisciplinary programming profile that simultaneously speaks to the strengths of GT and distinguishes the Nunn School from peer professional schools of international affairs.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u2018Glad and Grateful to Have Learned From Him\u2019\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlumni say Salamone\u2019s lectures were legend.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThey were theatrical, dynamic, and unforgettable,\u201d said Tarun Chaudhary, M.S. International Affairs 2009, Ph.D. IAST 2019, a part-time lecturer in the Nunn School who first encountered Salomone as an undergraduate student 25 years ago.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChaudhary recalled Salomone lying across classroom tables to reenact the likely apocryphal dying words of German Field Marshal Alfred von Schlieffen, who supposedly foreshadowed Germany\u0027s failed invasion of France by obsessing over the army\u0027s flank: \u201cRemember, keep the right wing very strong.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe energy and curiosity he brought into the classroom translated into students reading deeply, asking questions, and participating fully,\u201d \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/tchaudhary\u0022\u003EChaudhary\u003C\/a\u003E said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHenri Korhonen, IAML 2009, said he took as many classes with Salomone as possible, his favorite of which was a semester-long wargaming exercise.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI made lifelong friends in that course and it is my favorite academic memory of my time at Tech, both for how hard we had to work at it and how much fun we had doing it,\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EKorhonen said. \u201cHe was brilliant and engaging and I am glad and grateful to have learned from him.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESalomone\u2019s passion for teaching landed him a spot in Georgia Tech \u003Cem\u003EAlumni Magazine\u2019s\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp; \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/issuu.com\/gtalumni\/docs\/vol94_no2_low_res\u0022\u003E2018 feature\u003C\/a\u003E on \u201cTranscendent Teachers,\u201d in which he spoke of his love for academia, advice for students, and his affection for teaching, even at the age of 73.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cYes, I\u0027m really old,\u201d Salomone told the magazine. \u201cBut I never tire of this job; I love it.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Half Century of Scholarship\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESalomone\u2019s remarkable career began in 1967 with bachelor\u0027s and master\u2019s degrees in international affairs from Lehigh University. He went on to earn his master\u2019s degrees and Ph.D. in political science from the University of Pittsburgh, with a brief interruption between them by a stint in the U.S. Army after being drafted.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFollowing jobs at Pitt and the federal government, he joined Carnegie Mellon University in 1979, where he remained in a variety of roles until joining Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnce here, Salomone served as executive assistant and senior counsel to Crecine, as assistant chair of the Nunn School, and as a professor, where he taught more than two dozen different courses over the years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe developed many of them, including his signature courses on scenario writing and path gaming and modeling, simulation, and military gaming.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMike was very much ahead of his time in embracing experiential learning and his courses were extraordinarily popular with engineering and computing students captured by his ability to bring the links between technology, organization, and strategy across centuries of warfare to life in a classroom,\u201d Stulberg said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHis work was also influential beyond the classroom, with his research and insights informing the work of practitioners in the defense industry, in Congress, and elsewhere, according to Stulberg.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESalomone was also an important mentor to other faculty members. Nunn School Associate Professor Jenna Jordan said Salomone\u2019s work on scenario writing and path gaming has become a central pillar of her own teaching and research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cFew people have had as profound an impact on the direction of my career, my academic interests, and the way I think about the world as Mike,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/5d9f62a7-551d-54eb-b4dc-83a76975031e\u0022\u003EJordan\u003C\/a\u003E, who is also the School\u2019s Associate Chair. \u201cHe gave me opportunities that stretched me professionally and instilled in me a confidence that I did not always have in myself. His faith changed the trajectory of my career and, in many ways, changed my life.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChaudhary said he still hears Salomone\u2019s advice in his head each time he steps to the front of a classroom: \u201cExplain it like you\u2019re talking to your mom across the table at Thanksgiving, but throw in a little P. T. Barnum to keep it interesting.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESalamone was one of the founding members of the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Salamone was one of the founding members of the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs."}],"uid":"34600","created_gmt":"2026-07-21 19:12:31","changed_gmt":"2026-07-21 19:16:40","author":"mpearson34","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-07-21T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-07-21T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680642":{"id":"680642","type":"image","title":"Michael D. Salomone","body":"\u003Cp\u003EProfessor Emeritus Michael D. Salomone, a founding member of the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1784661194","gmt_created":"2026-07-21 19:13:14","changed":"1784661194","gmt_changed":"2026-07-21 19:13:14","alt":"Professor Emeritus Michael D. Salamone","file":{"fid":"264931","name":"Georgia-Tech-Magazine-Professors-May-20186984.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/21\/Georgia-Tech-Magazine-Professors-May-20186984.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/21\/Georgia-Tech-Magazine-Professors-May-20186984.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1716884,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/21\/Georgia-Tech-Magazine-Professors-May-20186984.jpg?itok=mVRnvpRi"}}},"media_ids":["680642"],"groups":[{"id":"1281","name":"Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts"},{"id":"1285","name":"Sam Nunn School of International Affairs"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:michael.pearson@iac.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EMichael Pearson\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EIvan Allen College of Liberal Arts\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["michael.pearson@iac.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690263":{"#nid":"690263","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Hosts Annual Southeast Exchange of Development Studies Conference","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech and the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts hosted the 6th Annual Southeast Exchange of Development Studies (SEEDS) Conference April 30 \u2013 May 1.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe 2026 SEEDS conference brought together social scientists from a variety of fields, including economics, international affairs, public policy, and sociology, who are conducting research in the broad area of development. The conference is a joint initiative between the Ivan Allen College, the School of Economics, and the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe SEEDS Conference is a signature event at Georgia Tech and the longest-running interdisciplinary conference within the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts,\u201d said Shatakshee Dhongde, associate dean for academic affairs in the Ivan Allen College and professor of economics. \u201cThe SEEDS conference began in 2019 with a small gathering of 15 to 20 scholars from institutions across the Atlanta area, brought together to share research in global development. Since then, those initial \u2018seeds\u2019 have taken root and flourished. The conference has grown significantly in both size and reputation.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis year, the SEEDS Conference received more than 70 submissions from scholars and researchers.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAmbassador Isobel Coleman, former deputy administrator of USAID and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, was the conference\u2019s keynote speaker. Prior to USAID, Coleman was the chief operating Officer of GiveDirectly, where she helped scale the organization\u2019s innovative model of providing direct cash transfers to the extreme poor. A former senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, she has written extensively about foreign affairs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHer talk was titled: \u201cGetting the Most Bang for the Buck: Using Evidence to Promote Cost-effectiveness in Global Development.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe conference included a variety of lightning talks and presentations.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETopics included:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EHealth and education in South Asia\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EConflict, displacement, and inequality\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EEducation, reforms, and crime\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAgriculture, climate, and food security\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EState capacity, bureaucracy, and corruption\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ELand, institutions, and conflict\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EEnergy, climate policy, and natural hazards\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EPolitic; networks, partisanship, and resource allocation (fiscal and aid)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ELabor, markets, and entrepreneurship\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EGovernment programs and service delivery\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESchools, identity, and socialization\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe SEEDS conference is committed to supporting emerging scholars, with about half of the accepted papers presented by graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and assistant professors. The conference also features research and scholarship from a number of distinguished senior scholars \u2014 associate and full professors, as well as policy professionals.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe all have different backgrounds, skills, and experiences, but we\u2019re all united by our core interests in global development and social impact,\u201d said Anjali Thomas, associate professor in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and director of the Nunn School Global Development program. \u201cAnd we\u2019ve all chosen to lean into those interests despite all the challenges we are experiencing.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech and the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts hosted the 6th Annual Southeast Exchange of Development Studies (SEEDS) Conference April 30 \u2013 May 1.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech and the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts hosted the 6th Annual Southeast Exchange of Development Studies (SEEDS) Conference April 30 \u2013 May 1."}],"uid":"36009","created_gmt":"2026-05-13 14:38:07","changed_gmt":"2026-05-13 15:46:09","author":"cwhittle9","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-05-13T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-05-13T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680266":{"id":"680266","type":"image","title":"SEEDS-2026-16x9.jpg","body":null,"created":"1778683092","gmt_created":"2026-05-13 14:38:12","changed":"1778683092","gmt_changed":"2026-05-13 14:38:12","alt":"Scholars standing together on the stairs at the 2026 SEEDS Conference.","file":{"fid":"264512","name":"SEEDS-2026-16x9.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/13\/SEEDS-2026-16x9.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/13\/SEEDS-2026-16x9.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1510864,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/13\/SEEDS-2026-16x9.jpg?itok=dA7TYlCI"}}},"media_ids":["680266"],"groups":[{"id":"1281","name":"Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts"},{"id":"1285","name":"Sam Nunn School of International Affairs"},{"id":"1282","name":"School of Economics"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMegan McRainey\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:megan.mcrainey@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Emegan.mcrainey@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689758":{"#nid":"689758","#data":{"type":"news","title":"McChrystal Brings Lesson on Character to Georgia Tech ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWork on your character, be honest with yourself, and never stop reading. That was the advice from retired U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal at a recent fireside chat in the John Lewis Student Center\u2019s Walter Ehmer Theater.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Character is the essence of who we are,\u0022 McChrystal told the audience, \u0022but it is also the product of the discipline we have to actually live to that.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe retired general visited campus April 13 at the invitation of the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn his conversation with Nunn School Professor of the Practice John Tien, a former Army colonel and intelligence official, the retired general reflected on the fragility of national unity and the \u0022tactical choices\u0022 that define a life.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMcChrystal said vulnerability and the ability to admit error are crucial for developing leadership qualities. He told the audience about a decision he had made that later led operators to hesitate in calling for necessary air support, a mistake he owned instead of explaining away.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo sharpen the judgment required for such moments, McChrystal urged students to view reading as a way to experience the lives and mistakes of others.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAs soon as you stop [reading], I think you stop thinking,\u0022 he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMcChrystal noted the high level of distrust in government across much of society. Coming to expect lying or stealing from a political leader can lead some to conclude that it\u2019s ok for you to do that, too, he said. He urged audience members to resist that urge.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo counter political polarization and distrust, McChrystal proposed mandatory national service, suggesting that such a year spent serving other Americans and meeting those with different accents and attitudes would create \u0022shareholders\u0022 in the nation who are more likely to vote, and to engage with and learn from those from different backgrounds.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech President \u00c1ngel Cabrera noted that the talk coincided with the launch of the Georgia Tech Institute for Technology and Civic Leadership and highlights the Institute\u2019s desire to graduate leaders prepared to guide society.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe don\u2019t say, \u0027We\u2019re going to educate engineers or architects,\u201d he said. \u201cWe say, \u2018We\u2019re going to develop leaders.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe former commander of U.S. special operations forces discussed his views on character, the state of society, and the eternal importance of reading.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The former commander of U.S. special operations forces discussed his views on character, the state of society, and the eternal importance of reading."}],"uid":"34600","created_gmt":"2026-04-15 15:03:04","changed_gmt":"2026-04-27 14:32:59","author":"mpearson34","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-15T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-15T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679952":{"id":"679952","type":"image","title":"Gen. Stanley McChrystal and Nunn School Professor of the Practice John Tien","body":"\u003Cp\u003EFormer U.S. special operations commander Gen. Stanley McChrystal, left, visited Georgia Tech on April 13, 2026, to discuss his views on character, society, the importance of reading, and more.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1776265394","gmt_created":"2026-04-15 15:03:14","changed":"1776265394","gmt_changed":"2026-04-15 15:03:14","alt":"Two men dressed in sportscoats sitting in beige chairs with a blue curtain in the background. A table with water bottles sits between them.","file":{"fid":"264178","name":"PXL_20260413_163214147.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/15\/PXL_20260413_163214147.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/15\/PXL_20260413_163214147.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1789385,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/15\/PXL_20260413_163214147.jpg?itok=lJicG4X6"}}},"media_ids":["679952"],"groups":[{"id":"1281","name":"Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts"},{"id":"1285","name":"Sam Nunn School of International Affairs"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:michael.pearson@iac.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EMichael Pearson\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIvan Allen College of Liberal Arts\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689832":{"#nid":"689832","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Why Iran Targeted Amazon Data Centers and What That Does \u2013 and Doesn\u2019t \u2013 Change About\u00a0Warfare","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022theconversation-article-body\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore dawn on March 1, 2026, Iranian Shahed drones \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/mar\/07\/it-means-missile-defence-on-data-centres-drone-strikes-raises-doubts-over-gulf-as-ai-superpower\u0022\u003Estruck two Amazon Web Services data centers\u003C\/a\u003E in the United Arab Emirates. A third commercial data center in Bahrain \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2026\/03\/04\/amazon-bahrain-data-centers-targeted-iran-drone-strike.html\u0022\u003Ewas hit\u003C\/a\u003E, though it is less clear whether it was deliberately targeted. This is the first time that a country has deliberately targeted commercial data centers during wartime.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIran state media issued a statement on March 31 that it will \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.wired.me\/story\/war-on-big-tech-iran-names-israeli-linked-us-firms-as-potential-targets\u0022\u003Etarget American companies\u003C\/a\u003E, including Microsoft, Google, Apple, Meta, Oracle, Intel, HP, IBM, Cisco, Dell, Palantir and Nvidia. The Financial Times reported that an additional Iranian drone \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/middle-east\/amazons-cloud-business-bahrain-damaged-iran-strike-ft-reports-2026-04-01\/\u0022\u003Estruck an Amazon data center\u003C\/a\u003E in Bahrain on April 1. And Iranian state media claimed that Iranian forces \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.jpost.com\/middle-east\/iran-news\/article-891951\u0022\u003Eattacked an Oracle data center\u003C\/a\u003E in Dubai on April 2.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIran has also been on the receiving end of such attacks. A data center in Tehran operated by Iran\u2019s state-run Bank Sepah was \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.jpost.com\/middle-east\/iran-news\/article-889604\u0022\u003Estruck by a missile\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013 apparently fired by U.S. or Israeli forces \u2013 on March 11, according to a report in The Jerusalem Post.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EData centers have been targets of espionage and cyberattacks in the past, notably when Ukrainian hackers \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/kyivindependent.com\/sources-ukrainian-hackers-destroy-data-center-used-by-russian-military-industry\/\u0022\u003Edestroyed data stored in a Russian military-affiliated data center\u003C\/a\u003E in 2024. These strikes in the Persian Gulf region, however, were physical attacks. Drones damaged buildings.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAdvances in artificial intelligence have increased the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.techtimes.com\/articles\/315268\/20260321\/why-big-tech-pouring-billions-ai-data-centers-reinventing-tech-infrastructure.htm\u0022\u003Eimportance of data centers\u003C\/a\u003E. The U.S. military, in particular, has made great use of AI systems \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/us-military-leans-into-ai-for-attack-on-iran-but-the-tech-doesnt-lessen-the-need-for-human-judgment-in-war-277831\u0022\u003Efor decision support\u003C\/a\u003E in its attacks on Iran and Venezuela. Given how important data centers are, Iranian forces could be targeting the infrastructure Iran\u2019s leaders believe is supporting strikes on Iran.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt is not altogether clear that these particular data centers were used by the U.S. military. Instead, the attacks may have been part of a broader effort to punish the United Arab Emirates for its ties with the U.S.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn my experience as \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?hl=en\u0026amp;user=MOsQPM0AAAAJ\u0026amp;view_op=list_works\u0026amp;sortby=pubdate\u0022\u003Ea Ph.D. candidate\u003C\/a\u003E at Georgia Tech studying how technology drives changes in international security, I don\u2019t think the attacks signal any significant change in the nature of warfare. But they are forcing nations to recognize that data centers are targets of war \u2013 even if they don\u2019t directly support military operations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EData Centers and the Cloud\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe United States military is increasingly incorporating advanced AI capabilities \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/us-military-leans-into-ai-for-attack-on-iran-but-the-tech-doesnt-lessen-the-need-for-human-judgment-in-war-277831\u0022\u003Einto its decision support systems\u003C\/a\u003E. From the operation to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/politics\/national-security\/pentagon-used-anthropics-claude-in-maduro-venezuela-raid-583aff17\u0022\u003Ecapture Venezuelan President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro\u003C\/a\u003E to supporting \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.axios.com\/newsletters\/axios-am-f0954cb2-2f31-4426-87fd-050095005344.html\u0022\u003Emilitary strikes against Iran\u003C\/a\u003E, the U.S. has been using AI, especially Anthropic\u2019s Claude, for intelligence analysis and operational support.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAI is unlocking faster ways to carry out operations in war, but the AI tools the military often uses are not located on a plane or ship. When a service member uses Claude, the computing infrastructure that powers the model and its analysis usually goes to a secure Amazon Web Services cloud that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/aws.amazon.com\/federal\/top-secret-cloud\/\u0022\u003Ehosts secret government data\u003C\/a\u003E and software tools.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ciframe width=\u0022440\u0022 height=\u0022260\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3Yh9OddmgS0?wmode=transparent\u0026amp;start=0\u0022 frameborder=\u00220\u0022 allowfullscreen=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EThe basics of data centers explained.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECommercial data centers are where the cloud lives. The next time you pull up Netflix and watch your favorite shows, you are likely streaming the programming from a data center, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/next\/2022\/09\/07\/netflix-costs\u0022\u003Epossibly AWS\u003C\/a\u003E. When AWS data centers go down, outages \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/news\/us-news\/amazon-web-services-outage-websites-offline-rcna238594\u0022\u003Eaffect all sorts of entertainment, news and government functions\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith AI as a driver of economic growth, data centers are key forms of infrastructure. They ensure that AI can continue to run, as well as much of the underlying internet that governments and industry rely on. When Iran attacked the UAE\u2019s data centers, it caused widespread disruption to the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.tomshardware.com\/tech-industry\/drone-strikes-hit-three-aws-data-centers-in-the-uae-and-bahrain\u0022\u003Elocal banking system\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECommercial data centers enable most of the technology that runs the modern world, including AI systems. Disrupting them is key to disrupting a country\u2019s military and society. Given that AWS provides and operates many of the commercial data centers where the cloud lives, it is likely that its data centers will continue to be targeted in conflict.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EGoing After US Allies\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearchers at \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.justsecurity.org\/133685\/iranian-attacks-amazon-data-centers-legal-analysis\/\u0022\u003EJust Security noted\u003C\/a\u003E on March 12, 2026, that the United States requires cloud-computing service providers to store government and military data \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.acquisition.gov\/dfars\/239.7602-2-required-storage-data-within-united-states-or-outlying-areas.\u0022\u003Ewithin the U.S. or on Department of Defense bases\u003C\/a\u003E: \u201cMoving such data to Amazon data centers in the Gulf region would require special authorization; we are unaware if that has been granted.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENevertheless, Iran\u2019s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed the strikes were against data centers supporting \u201cthe enemy\u2019s\u201d military and intelligence activities. And 10 days after the initial attack on the data centers, an Iranian news agency claimed that major tech company data centers and other physical assets in the region were considered \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/next\/2026\/03\/12\/enemy-technology-infrastructure-iran-threatens-amazon-google-and-microsoft-assets-in-middl\u0022\u003Eenemy technology infrastructure\u003C\/a\u003E.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInstead of military reasons, Iran may well have targeted the UAE to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2026\/03\/15\/iran-us-war-uae-target-aggression.html\u0022\u003Erattle the global economy and garner attention\u003C\/a\u003E. Given the prominence of the Gulf as a major recipient of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/thehill.com\/business\/5783723-us-war-iran-middle-east-ai\/\u0022\u003EU.S. technological investment\u003C\/a\u003E, the attack may also have been a symbolic one aimed at the heart of U.S.-Gulf cooperation. AI infrastructure such as commercial data centers is a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/warontherocks.com\/2025\/10\/silicon-statecraft-how-u-s-gulf-ai-deals-project-power\/\u0022\u003Egrowing part of U.S. leadership in the region\u003C\/a\u003E, and this war could jeopardize the future of AI infrastructure in the Gulf.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/727486\/original\/file-20260331-63-1g9hbt.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022men wearingwhite robes and headdresses stand over a model of an industrial park\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/727486\/original\/file-20260331-63-1g9hbt.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/727486\/original\/file-20260331-63-1g9hbt.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=400\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/727486\/original\/file-20260331-63-1g9hbt.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=400\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/727486\/original\/file-20260331-63-1g9hbt.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=400\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/727486\/original\/file-20260331-63-1g9hbt.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=503\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/727486\/original\/file-20260331-63-1g9hbt.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=503\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/727486\/original\/file-20260331-63-1g9hbt.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=503\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EThis model shows a massive data center, part of the Stargate project involving U.S. tech companies, currently under construction in the United Arab Emirates.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/news-photo\/guests-look-at-a-model-of-the-largest-data-center-in-the-news-photo\/2244357858\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003EGiuseppe CACACE\/AFP via Getty Images\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EGrowing Importance, Easy Targets\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThough data centers are increasingly important for national security, the economy and society at large, it can be tempting to suggest these strikes represent a fundamental shift in the nature of war. While that is a possibility, it is important to remember that Iran launched thousands of missiles and drones at targets in the UAE and Bahrain. Though the vast majority were intercepted, the four that struck data centers are a small portion of the ones that got through to civilian targets in those countries, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/03\/01\/iranian-strikes-hit-dubai-and-abu-dhabi-damaging-airport-terminals-and-the-burj-al-arab\u0022\u003Eincluding strikes on airports and hotels\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe relative vulnerability of commercial data centers \u2013 they are large, relatively fragile and lack dedicated air defenses \u2013 suggests that the ones in the UAE and Bahrain may have been targets of opportunity or convenience. In other words, they were hit because they could be hit.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENevertheless, it seems likely that as the use of AI tools and other cloud-based resources continues to grow in importance for countries around the world, commercial data centers will be targets in future conflicts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article has been updated to include news of Iran\u2019s statement about targeting U.S. tech companies and subsequent drone strikes on other data centers.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C!-- Below is The Conversation\u0027s page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --\u003E\u003Cimg style=\u0022border-color:!important;border-style:none;box-shadow:none !important;margin:0 !important;max-height:1px !important;max-width:1px !important;min-height:1px !important;min-width:1px !important;opacity:0 !important;outline:none !important;padding:0 !important;\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/278642\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\u0022 alt=\u0022The Conversation\u0022 width=\u00221\u0022 height=\u00221\u0022 referrerpolicy=\u0022no-referrer-when-downgrade\u0022\u003E\u003C!-- End of code. If you don\u0027t see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article is republished from \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Conversation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E under a Creative Commons license. Read the \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/why-iran-targeted-amazon-data-centers-and-what-that-does-and-doesnt-change-about-warfare-278642\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eoriginal article\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"full_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAttacks are forcing nations to recognize that data centers are targets of war \u2013 even if they don\u2019t directly support military operations.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Attacks are forcing nations to recognize that data centers are targets of war \u2013 even if they don\u2019t directly support military operations."}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2026-04-01 15:49:40","changed_gmt":"2026-04-17 16:14:54","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-01T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-01T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679990":{"id":"679990","type":"image","title":"Smoke rises in Abu Dhabi on March 1, 2026, after Iranian drone strikes around the city, including on data centers. Ryan Lim\/AFP via Getty Images","body":"\u003Cp\u003ESmoke rises in Abu Dhabi on March 1, 2026, after Iranian drone strikes around the city, including on data centers. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/news-photo\/plume-of-smoke-rises-from-the-zayed-port-following-a-news-photo\/2263708545\u0022\u003ERyan Lim\/AFP via Getty Images\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1776441044","gmt_created":"2026-04-17 15:50:44","changed":"1776441044","gmt_changed":"2026-04-17 15:50:44","alt":"Smoke rises in Abu Dhabi on March 1, 2026, after Iranian drone strikes around the city, including on data centers. Ryan Lim\/AFP via Getty Images","file":{"fid":"264220","name":"file-20260331-77-tscakw.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/17\/file-20260331-77-tscakw.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/17\/file-20260331-77-tscakw.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":303736,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/17\/file-20260331-77-tscakw.jpg?itok=9K17Zwpq"}}},"media_ids":["679990"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/why-iran-targeted-amazon-data-centers-and-what-that-does-and-doesnt-change-about-warfare-278642","title":"Read This Article on The Conversation"}],"groups":[{"id":"1281","name":"Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts"},{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1285","name":"Sam Nunn School of International Affairs"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"194974","name":"go-theconversation"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71901","name":"Society and Culture"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Ch5\u003EAuthor:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/dennis-murphy-2626011\u0022\u003EDennis Murphy\u003C\/a\u003E, Ph.D. student of International Affairs, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/georgia-institute-of-technology-1310\u0022\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EMedia Contact:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShelley Wunder-Smith\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eshelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689559":{"#nid":"689559","#data":{"type":"news","title":"On Character: A Fireside Chat With General Stanley McChrystal","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Sam Nunn School of International Affairs is honored to welcome General Stanley McChrystal for \u0022On Character: A Fireside Chat With General Stanley McChrystal\u0022 on April 13 at 12 p.m. in the John Lewis Student Center\u0027s Ehmer Theater. Gen. McChrystal is a retired United States Army general best known for his command of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) from 2003-08, during which his organization was credited with the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe will be joined by the Honorable John Tien, former Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security and Nunn School Distinguished Professor of the Practice, for a fireside chat to discuss his book \u003Cem\u003EOn Character: Choices that Define a Life\u003C\/em\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETogether, they will explore the insights found within its pages and examine the lessons learned from a lifetime of service.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter a career of service, retired four-star general Stanley McChrystal had much to contemplate. He pondered his successes and failures, his beliefs and aspirations, and asked himself, \u0022Who am I, really? And more importantly, who have I become? When I die, how will I be measured?\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the end, McChrystal came to a conclusion as simple as it was profound: the reality of who we are cannot be recorded in dates or accomplishments. It is found in our character\u2014the most accurate, and last full measure, of who we choose to be. \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EOn Character\u003C\/em\u003E offers McChrystal\u2019s blueprint for living with purpose and integrity, challenging us to examine not just our deeds but who we become through them. Drawing from a lifetime of experience, he distills profound insights on setting and meeting standards, aligning actions with beliefs, and offers practical advice on overcoming obstacles and pursuing self-improvement. \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to McChrystal, character is not a trait inherited at birth, nor does it automatically come from education, position, or experience. Character, instead, comes down to a succession of choices, most mundane, several momentous, that reveal the deep truth of our capacity for virtue. \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn an era where understanding and upholding our ideals is more crucial than ever, \u003Cem\u003EOn Character\u003C\/em\u003E offers an inspiring roadmap for personal growth and integrity\u2014a call to become our best selves, both as individuals and as Americans.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/qualtricsxmntkvqckbt.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_9n68cHuMbuPMfHg\u0022\u003ERegistration\u003C\/a\u003E required.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Sam Nunn School of International Affairs is honored to welcome General Stanley McChrystal April 13 at 12 p.m. in the John Lewis Student Center\u0027s Ehmer Theater.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Sam Nunn School of International Affairs is honored to welcome General Stanley McChrystal April 13 at 12 p.m. in the John Lewis Student Center\u0027s Ehmer Theater."}],"uid":"36324","created_gmt":"2026-04-08 13:06:36","changed_gmt":"2026-04-08 13:24:54","author":"mm479","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-08T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-08T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679891":{"id":"679891","type":"image","title":"On-Character-A-Fireside-Chat-with-General-Stanley-McChrystal.png","body":null,"created":"1775653616","gmt_created":"2026-04-08 13:06:56","changed":"1775653616","gmt_changed":"2026-04-08 13:06:56","alt":"Photo of Gen. McCrystal, Title: On Character: A Fireside Chat with General Stanley McCrystal","file":{"fid":"264112","name":"On-Character-A-Fireside-Chat-with-General-Stanley-McChrystal.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/08\/On-Character-A-Fireside-Chat-with-General-Stanley-McChrystal.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/08\/On-Character-A-Fireside-Chat-with-General-Stanley-McChrystal.png","mime":"image\/png","size":1235075,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/08\/On-Character-A-Fireside-Chat-with-General-Stanley-McChrystal.png?itok=DnqR6wVr"}}},"media_ids":["679891"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/events\/item\/688268\/character-fireside-chat-with-general-stanley-mcchrystal","title":"More information on the event."}],"groups":[{"id":"1285","name":"Sam Nunn School of International Affairs"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"169209","name":"Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts; Sam Nunn School of International Affairs"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ekoob3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EEric Koob\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ESam Nunn School of International Affairs\u003Cbr\u003EIvan Allen College of Liberal Arts\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["ekoob3@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689132":{"#nid":"689132","#data":{"type":"news","title":"The Pitch as a Laboratory: Global Development at Georgia Tech","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAs Atlanta prepares to host its 2026 World Cup matches, the world is focused on the spectacle, the economic impacts, and what might happen on the pitch during the tournament\u2019s June and July run.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAmid all the excitement, researchers at the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts are also leveraging the \u0022world\u2019s game\u0022 as a sophisticated lens for understanding and advancing global development.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn his recent edited book, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.routledge.com\/Soccer-Globalization-and-Innovation-The-Beautiful-Game-in-the-21st-Century\/Bowman-Boyd\/p\/book\/9781032939032\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022(opens in a new window)\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003ESoccer, Globalization, and Innovation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Sam Nunn School of International Affairs Professor and Regents\u2019 Entrepreneur Kirk Bowman argues that soccer provides a unique \u0022contested space\u0022 to show how communities can use innovation and collective action to achieve unexpected outcomes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor instance, soccer\u2019s global dominance is often attributed to practices such as the system of promoting and relegating teams to higher or lower leagues based on their performance, its unique way of using single-elimination tournaments to create drama, and the evolution of the fluid and aggressive \u201ctotal football\u201d style of play.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhy is football the people\u2019s game with 4 billion fans? \u0026nbsp;It\u2019s because of these and other innovations,\u201d Bowman said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor more about the book and global development at Georgia Tech, read the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/featured-news\/2026\/03\/georgia-tech-soccer-world-cup-global-development\u0022\u003Efull story\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESoccer has important lessons for global development, says Regents\u0027 Entrepreneur Kirk Bowman.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Soccer has important lessons for global development, says Regents\u0027 Entrepreneur Kirk Bowman."}],"uid":"34600","created_gmt":"2026-03-23 15:58:57","changed_gmt":"2026-03-23 16:00:06","author":"mpearson34","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-23T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-23T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679712":{"id":"679712","type":"image","title":"soccer-book-photo-illustration.jpg","body":null,"created":"1774281544","gmt_created":"2026-03-23 15:59:04","changed":"1774281544","gmt_changed":"2026-03-23 15:59:04","alt":"\u0022\u0022","file":{"fid":"263903","name":"soccer-book-photo-illustration.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/23\/soccer-book-photo-illustration.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/23\/soccer-book-photo-illustration.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":3673217,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/23\/soccer-book-photo-illustration.jpg?itok=TMzbB7N_"}}},"media_ids":["679712"],"groups":[{"id":"1281","name":"Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts"},{"id":"1285","name":"Sam Nunn School of International Affairs"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:michael.pearson@iac.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EMichael Pearson\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EIvan Allen College of Liberal Arts\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["michael.pearson@iac.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686647":{"#nid":"686647","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Women\u2019s Soccer Sets Sights on Atlanta","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn 2028, Atlanta will be home to a yet-to-be-named National Women\u2019s Soccer League team, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nwslsoccer.com\/news\/nwsl-awards-expansion-franchise-to-atlanta\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eannounced Nov. 12.\u003C\/a\u003E The announcement comes at a time when soccer is building momentum in Atlanta and across the U.S. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf history tells us anything, it\u2019s the right place at the right time.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis team steps into a void,\u201d said Declan Abernethy, lecturer in Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/hsoc.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of History and Sociology\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to see women\u2019s soccer be valued as a commercial spectacle and exciting for fans in Atlanta.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAtlanta holds a place in women\u2019s soccer history as host of the 1996 Summer Olympics, where the U.S. Women\u2019s National Team won its first gold medal \u2014 the introduction to women\u2019s soccer for many Americans.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince then, the soccer ecosystem has expanded exponentially, in Atlanta and beyond. Atlanta United began playing in 2017, winning the MLS Cup in its second year as a franchise. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Business of Soccer\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EArthur Blank, who owns Atlanta United and the Atlanta Falcons and purchased the rights for the new women\u2019s team, paid $165 million for this expansion team. Just two years ago, that cost was nearly a third. The total investment will ultimately be more than $330 million. But as Abernethy points out, the purchase price and timing show that this is a serious endeavor.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt shows Blank is a smart business owner \u2014 he\u2019s willing to invest in doing things the right way,\u201d said Abernethy, who has studied and published about both Atlanta United and the U.S. Women\u2019s National Team. \u201cIn five years, this team could be a leader in how it is run and how it spends money. We have such a strong legacy of professional women\u2019s soccer in Atlanta and so much youth talent, it could get very competitive.\u201d \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy Atlanta Is Ready\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s not the first time a women\u2019s soccer team has made its home in Atlanta. The Atlanta Beat played at Georgia Tech\u2019s Bobby Dodd Stadium in the early 2000s, and the Atlanta Silverbacks Women followed.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince those attempts, Atlanta has welcomed a professional men\u2019s team in Atlanta United, along with its ATL UTD 2 reserve team and extensive youth development programs. A $50 million contribution from Arthur Blank is helping build a new home for U.S. Soccer south of the city in Fayetteville with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ussoccer.com\/ntchq\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EArthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s hitting at this opportune time with the U.S. training facility, sparks of excitement for the men\u2019s national team, a strong run by the women\u2019s national team with players from Atlanta, and six World Cup games being hosted in Atlanta next year. It could have a nice impact on the soccer ecosystem here,\u201d said Kirk Bowman, Regents\u2019 Entrepreneur and professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/inta.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESam Nunn School of International Affairs\u003C\/a\u003E in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EIvan Allen College of Liberal Arts\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBowman also points to the culture that has grown from Atlanta United and the infrastructure that supports it. Team flags adorn houses, the BeltLine and MARTA connect in-town fans to a downtown stadium that is surrounded by new development at the Gulch \u2014 not to mention a growing pool of legacy soccer players around the metro area, and the surrounding perennial success of ACC women\u2019s soccer teams. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cYou\u2019ve now had cohort after cohort of female soccer players of all ages, and families with mothers and daughters who have played soccer and are eager to go to games,\u201d he said. \u201cIf they brand it correctly, there\u2019s a lot of enthusiasm and a built-in audience that loves the game.\u201d The WNBA also had record-high viewership last year, with its most-watched game garnering nearly 3 million viewers, demonstrating the increasing popularity of women\u0027s professional sports.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe team also enters an open market for fans, without another professional women\u2019s team nearby. Abernethy notes that it takes time to build economic success and fandom, and with more than 50 years of women\u2019s soccer now played, it may have finally hit its stride.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn 2028, Atlanta will be home to a yet-to-be-named National Women\u2019s Soccer League team, announced Nov. 12. The announcement comes at a time when soccer is building momentum in Atlanta and across the U.S. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"In 2028, Atlanta will be home to a yet-to-be-named National Women\u2019s Soccer League team, announced Nov. 12. The announcement comes at a time when soccer is building momentum in Atlanta and across the U.S.  "}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2025-12-01 14:22:47","changed_gmt":"2026-03-19 13:08:55","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-12-01T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-12-01T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678728":{"id":"678728","type":"image","title":"Arthur Blank and NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman announce an Atlanta soccer franchise ","body":"\u003Cp\u003EArthur Blank and NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman announce an Atlanta soccer franchise during the \u201cEmpower Her. Inspire All.\u201d event hosted by AMB Sports and Entertainment at The Interlock on Nov. 11, 2025. (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ajc.com\/sports\/2025\/11\/atlantas-new-nwsl-team-has-an-mls-playbook-to-follow\/\u0022\u003EAbbey Cutrer\/AJC\u003C\/a\u003E)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1764600073","gmt_created":"2025-12-01 14:41:13","changed":"1764600141","gmt_changed":"2025-12-01 14:42:21","alt":"Arthur Blank and NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman announce an Atlanta soccer franchise ","file":{"fid":"262800","name":"SVXRBCMFHJHPFCK2K2JQYK3YO4.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/01\/SVXRBCMFHJHPFCK2K2JQYK3YO4.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/01\/SVXRBCMFHJHPFCK2K2JQYK3YO4.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":5687311,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/01\/SVXRBCMFHJHPFCK2K2JQYK3YO4.jpg?itok=1-JeCqYq"}}},"media_ids":["678728"],"groups":[{"id":"658168","name":"Experts"},{"id":"1281","name":"Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts"},{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1285","name":"Sam Nunn School of International Affairs"},{"id":"1288","name":"School of History and Sociology"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:kristen.bailey@comm.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EKristen Bailey\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EInstitute Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688978":{"#nid":"688978","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Applying AI to Decipher Putin\u2019s Red Lines: Does He Mean What We Think We Heard?","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EOn March 10, the Fletcher Russia and Eurasia Program hosted Adam N. Stulberg and Stephan De Spiegeleire. The two distinguished scholars presented their new project, RuBase, a collaborative initiative that uses AI methods to systematically evaluate Russian rhetoric surrounding deterrence, nuclear threats, and coercive diplomacy. With the goal of deciphering the meaning behind Putin\u2019s statements, they also discussed the broader applicability of their methods for producing rigorous, efficient, and accurate analyses of geopolitical events.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAdam N. Stulberg\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;is the Sam Nunn Professor and School Chair at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Tech. He is an expert on Russian security and energy politics, contemporary great-power competition, and \u201cgray zone\u201d conflict in Eurasia. He previously served as a Political Consultant at RAND from 1987 to 1997 and as a Senior Research Associate at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey from 1997 to 1998. He has also worked closely with former Senator Sam Nunn, drafting policy recommendations and background studies on future directions for the U.S. Cooperative Threat Reduction Program and on building regional and energy security regimes in Central Asia and the South Caucasus.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStephan De Spiegeleire\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;previously worked for the RAND Corporation for nearly ten years, with additional stints at Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik and the WEU\u2019s Institute for Security Studies. He began his career as an expert in Soviet policy before moving into work on strategic defense management, security resilience, network-centrism, capabilities-based planning, and the transformation of defense planning.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBackground\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe central question guiding the research was whether Russia\u2019s frequent invocation of \u201cred lines\u201d represents meaningful strategic signaling, political theater, or some other form of coercive communication. By combining traditional strategic analysis with large-scale AI-driven text analysis, the project aims to move beyond the anecdotal interpretations often seen in other reporting and provide a more systematic understanding of Russian messaging.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStulberg began with an overview of Russian \u201cred line\u201d messaging. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Russian officials such as Vladimir Putin and members of the Russian elite have repeatedly warned that Western actions could cross Russian \u201cred lines.\u201d However, these statements often appear inconsistent or cryptic, as well as divorced from specific nuclear threats. The term itself is used frequently but often without precise definition, and the language surrounding red lines is ambiguous and formulaic while nuclear threats appear more systematic. The statements also at times appear disconnected from actual Russian military behavior or strategic logic of deterrence and brinkmanship.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStulberg highlighted how this creates confusion over whether such statements should be interpreted as credible deterrent threats or as rhetorical signaling. In Western strategic theory, deterrence typically relies on clarity and credibility: threats must specify what actions are prohibited and what consequences will follow. Russian statements, however, often lack this clarity (as applied to threats, ines, and consequences), making them difficult for Western policymakers to interpret. This led to the central question the researchers sought to answer about \u201cred line\u201d rhetoric: are these statements ineffective political theater, as they are often portrayed in Western media, or are Russian policymakers operating with a different conception of coercive diplomacy in which such statements serve a strategic function?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWestern Debates\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe speakers then examined the current state of Western debate regarding \u201cred lines\u201d and nuclear-threshold signaling, which typically draws on classical deterrence theory from thinkers such as Thomas Schelling. They identified three major schools of thought: strategic bluffs, clear and substantive threats, and calculated brinkmanship.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u201cstrategic bluff\u201d school argues that Russian threats are largely bluffs. According to this view, Russia uses rhetorical escalation to deter Western involvement but has little intention of following through, and the West should therefore remain firm and continue expanding military assistance to Ukraine. The second school, \u201cclear and substantive threats,\u201d argues that Russian statements may signal a genuine willingness to escalate, including the potential use of nuclear weapons. This perspective emphasizes caution and restraint in order to avoid triggering escalation. The third school, \u201ccalculated brinkmanship,\u201d argues that the threats are designed to push adversaries toward compromise while leaving room for diplomatic off-ramps. This view aligns most closely with the classical Schelling tradition of \u201cthreats that leave something to chance,\u201d though it does not necessarily prescribe a specific course of action. The problem with all three interpretations, the speakers argued, is that they assume the Russian government is operating according to Western strategic logic, which may not be the case.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMirror Imaging Critique\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe speakers also emphasized the danger of \u201cmirror imaging,\u201d in which Western analysts project onto adversaries the same frameworks and incentives that guide their own decision-making. Much Western scholarship assumes that Russian leaders use red line rhetoric in the same way Western policymakers would. However, drawing on their extensive background in Soviet and Russian studies, the presenters argued that Russian strategic culture may approach coercion and signaling in fundamentally different ways. Rather than issuing clear deterrent threats, Russian messaging may intentionally blur the boundaries of escalation. This ambiguity can shape the strategic environment by influencing how opponents interpret risk and uncertainty. The question of which school of thought is correct was a significant driver of Stulberg and de Spiegeleire\u2019s decision to build an AI model to analyze Russian statements.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERussian Coercion Methods\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe presenters suggested that Russian red line rhetoric should instead be understood through the concept of \u201creflexive control.\u201d Developed during the Soviet era, reflexive control is a strategic approach focused on influencing an adversary\u2019s perceptions and decision-making processes. Rather than coercing an opponent through clear threats, the goal is to manipulate the information environment so that the opponent voluntarily chooses actions that benefit the strategist. Within this framework, ambiguity and confusion are not weaknesses but strategic tools. Russian messaging may therefore be designed to introduce uncertainty into Western decision-making, shape perceptions of escalation risk, and encourage Western restraint without requiring the credible enforcement of threats. The speakers did note, however, that based on their analysis, this strategy appears ultimately self-defeating. At the same time, Putin\u2019s explicit nuclear saber-rattling appears more consistent with \u201cthreats that leave something to chance.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAnalytical Methodology\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe second portion of the presentation, led by Stephan De Spiegeleire, focused on the technical methodology used to analyze Russian rhetoric. The research team assembled an unprecedented corpus of official Russian communications using automated scraping tools, ultimately collecting approximately 250,000 documents from 36 official Russian sources, including the Kremlin website, government agencies, and official Telegram channels.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe team then pioneered the use of large language models to analyze these texts in multiple stages. First, in an initial filtering phase, the AI system scanned document segments to identify those potentially containing Real Red Line Statements (RRLs) or Nuclear Threat Statements (NTS). The flagged sections were then classified along approximately 30 different dimensions (source, target, intensity, theme etc.). Human researchers conducted rigorous quality-control checks throughout this pipeline to validate the AI classifications.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnce completed and validated, this process yielded a searchable, curated dataset of 1,924 Red Line statements and 357 nuclear threat statements that enabled systematic analysis of Russian rhetorical patterns. To deepen the analysis, the researchers integrated this with approximately 30 heterogeneous datasets documenting the war (conflict events; diplomatic signals; sanctions; military aid; territorial control; cyber operations; equipment losses; refugee flows; etc.). The combined data, comprising over 52M rows, was transformed into a temporal knowledge graph containing 1.1 million relational \u201ctriples\u201d representing structured relationships among entities, actions, and contexts. This dataset was then analyzed through a graph neural network with 5.1 million parameters across 210 weekly snapshots to detect patterns over time. This temporal analysis allowed the researchers to determine whether Russian rhetoric was triggered by or responded to external events. They emphasized that this method made it possible to move beyond isolated statements and instead examine the broader complex dynamics of rhetorical escalation, representing a significant advancement over previous approaches in the field.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFindings\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe speakers then outlined their findings and the conclusions practitioners might draw from them. One of the most striking results was that Russian red line rhetoric appears overwhelmingly reactive rather than proactive. The statistical analysis suggested, with 99.9 percent confidence, that Russian red line statements tend to occur in response to Western actions rather than preceding them. This may indicate that RRL and NTS statements do not operate according to the typical Western understanding of coercive diplomacy, but instead function as rhetorical responses to events themselves.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe presence of RRL and NTS statements was also identified as reflecting two distinct categories within Russian rhetoric. Red Line Statements (RRLs) tend to be formulaic responses to Western political actions or military aid to Ukraine, while Nuclear Threat Statements (NTS) are more strongly correlated with Ukrainian military actions, particularly attacks on Russian territory, and appear to carry greater weight.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers also identified a recurring pattern they described as a \u201cself-defeating rhetoric cycle.\u201d In this cycle, the West takes an action, such as providing military assistance to Ukraine; Russian leaders respond with red line warnings; Western media outlets amplify these warnings; and Western governments then respond by increasing military support. Rather than deterring Western behavior, Russian rhetoric may inadvertently reinforce Western resolve, suggesting that red line statements may fail to achieve their intended coercive effects.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPolicy Implications and Conclusions\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAdam Stulberg and Stephan de Spiegeleire opened their discussion of the implications of these findings by emphasizing the risks of misunderstanding adversary rhetoric. Western analysts often assume that threats must be credible and clearly defined to influence behavior. However, the Russian approach may prioritize ambiguity and psychological influence over traditional deterrence logic. As a result, Western responses to Russian rhetoric may at times misinterpret the purpose of these statements, at the risk of potentially blundering into escalation that neither side is seeking to manipulate.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESeveral policy lessons followed. First, analysts and policymakers should avoid mirror imaging and be cautious about assuming that adversaries share the same strategic logic. Second, analytical methods should improve. Traditional approaches to intelligence analysis often rely heavily on selective interpretation of statements, whereas AI-driven analysis can help identify patterns across large datasets and reduce the risk of cherry-picking evidence, particularly when analysis is grounded in thousands of linked statements and events. Third, the researchers emphasized the value of open data sharing, arguing that accessible and consistently maintained datasets can help social scientists work more efficiently and pursue more reliable findings.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo conclude the presentation, the speakers answered questions from the audience, including whether actual military events could be linked to rhetoric through a similar model, how confident they were in their conclusions, and how tone might be analyzed across other databases.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article is republished from \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sites.tufts.edu\/fletcherrussia\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003ETufts Russia and Eurasia Program\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E. Read the \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sites.tufts.edu\/fletcherrussia\/applying-ai-to-decipher-putins-red-lines-does-he-mean-what-we-think-we-heard\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022(opens in a new window)\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eoriginal article\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Fletcher Russia and Eurasia Program hosted Adam N. Stulberg and Stephan De Spiegeleire to present their new project, RuBase, a collaborative initiative that uses AI methods to systematically evaluate Russian rhetoric surrounding deterrence, nuclear threats, and coercive diplomacy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Fletcher Russia and Eurasia Program hosted Adam N. Stulberg and Stephan De Spiegeleire to present their new project, RuBase."}],"uid":"36009","created_gmt":"2026-03-17 18:02:31","changed_gmt":"2026-03-17 18:06:01","author":"cwhittle9","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-17T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-17T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679659":{"id":"679659","type":"image","title":"Applying-AI-to-Decipher-Putin-s-Red-Lines-Does-He-Mean-What-We-Think-We-Heard.png","body":null,"created":"1773770557","gmt_created":"2026-03-17 18:02:37","changed":"1773770557","gmt_changed":"2026-03-17 18:02:37","alt":"Adam Stulberg, Stephan De Spiegeleire, and a graphic with photos and maps of the war in Ukraine.","file":{"fid":"263842","name":"Applying-AI-to-Decipher-Putin-s-Red-Lines-Does-He-Mean-What-We-Think-We-Heard.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/17\/Applying-AI-to-Decipher-Putin-s-Red-Lines-Does-He-Mean-What-We-Think-We-Heard.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/17\/Applying-AI-to-Decipher-Putin-s-Red-Lines-Does-He-Mean-What-We-Think-We-Heard.png","mime":"image\/png","size":2293543,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/17\/Applying-AI-to-Decipher-Putin-s-Red-Lines-Does-He-Mean-What-We-Think-We-Heard.png?itok=MTmWelQx"}}},"media_ids":["679659"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/sites.tufts.edu\/fletcherrussia\/applying-ai-to-decipher-putins-red-lines-does-he-mean-what-we-think-we-heard\/","title":"Read This Article on the Tufts Russia and Eurasia Program"}],"groups":[{"id":"1285","name":"Sam Nunn School of International Affairs"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686700":{"#nid":"686700","#data":{"type":"news","title":"EU Study Abroad Program Evolves With Added Focus on Technology Governance, Space Policy","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s 25-year-old European Union study abroad program has undergone its most significant evolution to date with a new focus on technology governance, an optional research add-on, and two new stops \u2014 Geneva and Bern, Switzerland.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile the trip will remain a cornerstone experience for many interested in Europe and international affairs, the program now offers more opportunities for students, including STEM majors, to gain deep on-the-ground insight into international technology governance by directly engaging with the global bodies that regulate tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe program, which is accepting applications through Feb. 15, now also includes an optional research extension with two tracks \u2014 economic security and space policy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cDespite the rapidly changing international system, the European Union remains the key trade and investment partner of the United States, an indispensable ally, and an essential area of study,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/vicki-birchfield\u0022\u003EVicki Birchfield\u003C\/a\u003E, professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/inta.gatech.edu\u0022\u003ESam Nunn School of International Affairs\u003C\/a\u003E and the program\u2019s director.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EInterested in international affairs, the U.S.-Europe relationship, or international tech governance? Apply for the \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sites.gatech.edu\/gt-eu-summer\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEuropean Union and Global Affairs Study Abroad Program\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E. The application deadline is Feb. 15!\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWith talented new faculty like Carly Potz-Nielsen and Thomas Gonz\u00e1lez Roberts, it is an opportune moment to evolve the program and incorporate a new focus on technology governance where their respective expertise can provide intellectual depth and dynamism,\u0022 said Birchfield, who also is co-director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cets.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECenter for European and Transatlantic Studies\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe program allows students to earn 12 credit hours in 10 weeks, with the possibility of earning up to three more credit hours through an optional research add-on.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA seminar course on the European Union (INTA 4230\/6320) and a class on Human Rights in Europe (INTA 3031\/6803) will return. However, to accommodate the new focus on tech governance, a European security course previously taught during the study abroad will be folded into the Transatlantic Relations course (INTA 3223\/6833).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat will free up space for a new technology governance class taught by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/1f6a6f21-01fa-5e42-88d2-83a7cd378f57\u0022\u003EPotz-Nielsen\u003C\/a\u003E and Roberts: Global Politics of Technology (INTA 3044\/8803).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022The added focus on technology governance taps into some of the biggest challenges future policymakers will face,\u201d said Potz-Nielsen. \u201cWith tech woven into almost every part of our lives and digital markets booming, understanding the roles that governments can \u2014 or should \u2014 play in regulating technology tackles fundamental questions about privacy, security, and fairness.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStudents participating in the program will visit centers of European power, influence, and culture, including Metz, Strasbourg, and Paris in France; Brussels; The Hague and Amsterdam in the Netherlands; and Bucharest, Romania, where students will visit Romanian military headquarters, research firms, and cultural sites. The program also visits Munich and Berlin, as well as Geneva and Bern, Switzerland.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThose stops in Switzerland will be particularly interesting to students interested in technology and space policy, said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/inta.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/thomasgr\u0022\u003ERoberts\u003C\/a\u003E, an assistant professor and director of the new \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/featured-news\/2025\/10\/georgia-tech-engineering-space-policy-lab-debuts\u0022\u003EEngineering Space Policy Laboratory\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cSwitzerland plays a unique role in shaping how technology is governed worldwide, from outer space to the digital economy,\u201d he said. \u201cThis program is a chance to see that innovation and governance evolve together \u2014 and showcase how both liberal arts and STEM students have a vital place in shaping that future.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStudents may also extend their program with a two-week research option, choosing between a track on economic security and digital economies offered by Potz-Nielsen, as well as Roberts\u2019 track on space policy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBoth tracks will guide students through a full-cycle research experience, utilizing semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and structured observation with partners throughout the 10-week itinerary to develop a final project.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApplications for the program are due Feb. 15, with payment due on April 15.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe European Union Study Abroad program is getting a refresh.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The European Union Study Abroad program is getting a refresh."}],"uid":"34600","created_gmt":"2025-12-02 14:47:40","changed_gmt":"2025-12-02 14:59:13","author":"mpearson34","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-12-02T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-12-02T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678739":{"id":"678739","type":"image","title":"EU-study-abroad-169.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech students participate in a recent EU study abroad event. The program has been recently refreshed to include a new emphasis on technology governance and space policy.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1764686884","gmt_created":"2025-12-02 14:48:04","changed":"1764687780","gmt_changed":"2025-12-02 15:03:00","alt":"Several students participating in the EU study abroad program listen to a presentation.","file":{"fid":"262811","name":"EU-study-abroad-169.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/02\/EU-study-abroad-169.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/02\/EU-study-abroad-169.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":303063,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/02\/EU-study-abroad-169.jpg?itok=vIZjLVvn"}}},"media_ids":["678739"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/academics\/undergraduate\/International-Experiences\/Study-Abroad","title":"Learn more about study abroad programs in the Ivan Allen College"}],"groups":[{"id":"1281","name":"Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts"},{"id":"1285","name":"Sam Nunn School of International Affairs"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:michael.pearson@iac.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EMichael Pearson\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIvan Allen College of Liberal Arts\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["michael.pearson@iac.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686544":{"#nid":"686544","#data":{"type":"news","title":"The 2024-25 Ivan Allen College Dean\u0027s Report","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EExplore the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/features.iac.gatech.edu\/deans-report-2024-25\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022https:\/\/t.e2ma.net\/click\/a23jbi\/q69zktg\/a2vd9r\u0022\u003EIvan Allen College of Liberal Arts 2025 Dean\u0027s Report\u003C\/a\u003E for highlights from the exciting new initiatives and creative, purpose-driven teaching, scholarship, and community engagement happening across our College.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EExplore the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/features.iac.gatech.edu\/deans-report-2024-25\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022https:\/\/t.e2ma.net\/click\/a23jbi\/q69zktg\/a2vd9r\u0022\u003EIvan Allen College of Liberal Arts 2025 Dean\u0027s Report\u003C\/a\u003E for highlights from the exciting new initiatives and creative, purpose-driven teaching, scholarship, and community engagement happening across our College.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Explore the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts 2025 Dean\u0027s Report for highlights from the exciting new initiatives and creative, purpose-driven teaching, scholarship, and community engagement happening across our College."}],"uid":"36009","created_gmt":"2025-11-19 21:09:46","changed_gmt":"2025-11-19 21:18:58","author":"cwhittle9","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-11-19T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-11-19T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678684":{"id":"678684","type":"image","title":"dean-s-report-2025-16x9.jpg","body":null,"created":"1763587117","gmt_created":"2025-11-19 21:18:37","changed":"1763587117","gmt_changed":"2025-11-19 21:18:37","alt":"Dean\u0027s Report cover image.","file":{"fid":"262745","name":"dean-s-report-2025-16x9.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/19\/dean-s-report-2025-16x9.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/19\/dean-s-report-2025-16x9.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":583548,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/11\/19\/dean-s-report-2025-16x9.jpg?itok=04G5d0W7"}}},"media_ids":["678684"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/features.iac.gatech.edu\/deans-report-2024-25","title":"View Online"}],"groups":[{"id":"1281","name":"Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts"},{"id":"1285","name":"Sam Nunn School of International Affairs"},{"id":"1282","name":"School of Economics"},{"id":"1288","name":"School of History and Sociology"},{"id":"1283","name":"School of Literature, Media, and Communication"},{"id":"1284","name":"School of Modern Languages"},{"id":"1289","name":"School of Public Policy"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMegan McRainey\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:megan.mcrainey@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Emegan.mcrainey@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}