Baker Institute continues to rise in global rankings

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

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

Baker Institute continues to rise in global rankings

HOUSTON – (Jan. 30, 2014) – Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy is ranked No. 11 among the top university-affiliated think tanks in the world — up from No. 13 in 2012 — according to the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program’s 2013 survey.

The institute is also ranked No. 5 among the world’s energy and resource policy think tanks — up from No. 6 in 2012 — and No. 20 among the top think tanks in the United States — up from No. 21 in 2012.

“Following the commemoration of the Baker Institute’s 20th anniversary in 2013, it is truly gratifying to see the work of our fellows, scholars and staff recognized by these rankings,” said Founding Director Ambassador Edward Djerejian. “The institute’s research programs and newly created centers have become increasingly influential, assisting policymakers and other stakeholders worldwide with timely and objective public policy analysis and recommendations.”

The strong ranking of the Baker Institute Center for Energy Studies (CES) reflects its commitment to provide comprehensive research that informs and guides U.S energy policy, said Kenneth Medlock, CES senior director and the James A. Baker III and Susan G. Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics. “We are expanding our multidisciplinary approach, working broadly with the talented Rice faculty as well as with other institutions.”

The Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program’s (TTCSP) Global Go To Think Tank Report has become the gold standard for think tanks around the world and is widely cited by governments, donors, journalists and policymakers as the foremost guide to the performance of thousands of domestic and international policy centers.

“In a world filled with tweets and sound bites that are often superficial and politically charged, it is critical to know where to turn for sound policy proposals that address the complex issues that policymakers and the public face,” said James McGann, director of the TTCSP at the University of Pennsylvania. “This index is designed to help identify and recognize the leading centers of excellence in public policy research around the world.”

The TTSCP report is compiled with assistance from 2,000 peer institutions and experts from the print and electronic media, academia, public and private donor institutions, and governments in the U.S. and around the globe.

The Baker Institute has a radio and television studio available on the Rice University campus. For more information or to schedule an interview with Djerejian or Medlock, contact David Ruth, director of national media relations at Rice University, at david@rice.edu or 713-348-6327.

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Founded in 1993, Rice University’s Baker Institute is a premier nonpartisan think tank that conducts 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, Rice University faculty scholars and staff, coupled with its outreach to the Rice student body through fellow-taught classes — including a public policy course — and student leadership and internship programs. Learn more about the institute at www.bakerinstitute.org or on the institute’s blog http://blogs.chron.com/bakerblog.