State Dept. to discuss social media, diplomacy Oct. 18

MEDIA ADVISORY

David Ruth
713-348-6327
david@rice.edu

Jeff Falk
713-348-6775
jfalk@rice.edu

State Dept. to discuss social media, diplomacy Oct. 18
Senior US State Dept. official Alec Ross to speak at Rice University’s Baker Institute

HOUSTON – (Oct. 18, 2012) – Alec Ross, senior adviser for innovation in the Office of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, will speak on the future of digital media and foreign policy, cybersecurity and the influence of social media on participatory governance and statecraft Oct. 18 at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.

Who:               Alec Ross, senior adviser for innovation in the Office of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Introduction by Christopher Bronk, Baker Institute fellow in information technology policy.

What:             Talk on “Social Media and Statecraft: Exploring 21st-century Diplomacy.”

When:             Thursday, Oct. 18, at 6:30 p.m.

Where:           Rice University, Baker Hall, Kelly International Conference Facility, 6100 Main St.

In his remarks, Ross will explain why the U.S. must adopt a more flexible and contemporary style of diplomacy and statecraft in an increasingly connected world. Ross, who serves as senior adviser on innovation to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, will discuss the use of digital media in achieving foreign policy goals; threats to cybersecurity and possible solutions; and the ways in which social media is changing participatory governance and statecraft. He will also share his experiences working with political, social and business leaders around the world to use the Internet for e-diplomacy and the general betterment of U.S. relations, as well as compare 21st-century statecraft with that of the preceding era.

Ross’ talk is hosted by the Baker Institute’s Student Forum and Information Technology Policy Program, as well as Rice’s Ken Kennedy Institute for Information Technology and Fondren Library.

Members of the news media who want to attend should RSVP to Jeff Falk, associate director of national media relations at Rice, at jfalk@rice.edu or 713-348-6775. 

To view the complete event information, visit www.bakerinstitute.org/events/social-media-and-statecraft-exploring-21st-century-diplomacy. A live webcast will be available at http://bakerinstitute.org/webcasts.  

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Founded in 1993, the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University in Houston ranks among the top 20 university-affiliated think tanks globally and top 30 think tanks in the United States. As a premier nonpartisan think tank, the institute sponsors more than 20 programs that conduct research on domestic and foreign policy issues with the goal of bridging the gap between the theory and practice of public policy. The institute’s strong track record of achievement reflects the work of its endowed fellows and Rice University scholars. Learn more about the institute at www.bakerinstitute.org or on the institute’s blog, http://blogs.chron.com/bakerblog.