Baker Institute among top 5 university-affiliated think tanks in world

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

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

Baker Institute among top 5 university-affiliated think tanks in world

HOUSTON – (Feb. 1, 2016) – Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy is now ranked among the top five university-affiliated think tanks in the world, according to an annual index of global think tanks. The Baker Institute rose to No. 4 in 2015 — up from No. 9 in 2014.

Photo courtesy of Rice University’s Baker Institute

The Baker Institute’s Center for Energy Studies (CES) was ranked No. 2 among the world’s energy- and resource-policy think tanks — up from No. 4 in 2014 – according to the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program’s 2015 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report.

The institute ranks No. 18 among the top think tanks in the United States.

The top four university-affiliated think tanks in the world are, in ranked order, Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard’s Center for International Development, the London School of Economics’ IDEAS/Public Policy Group and Rice’s Baker Institute. The top-ranked global energy think tank is the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan, followed by the Baker Institute’s Center for Energy Studies.

“These rankings reflect our commitment to excellence and to delivering research, programs and policy recommendations to decision-makers in the public and private sectors,” said Baker Institute Director Edward Djerejian. “Our fellows, scholars and staff are to be commended for their dedication and work. We will continue to grow in meaningful ways in the years ahead.”

Rice President David Leebron cited Djerejian’s strategic and effective leadership in elevating the Baker Institute to among the top globally recognized think tanks. “Under Ambassador Djerejian’s leadership, the important policy work and influence of the Baker Institute has both deepened and broadened. Its extraordinary success in a relatively brief time would not have been possible without the vision and leadership of Ed Djerejian, and the guiding influence and steadfast support of Secretary James A. Baker, III. The Baker Institute has played a critical role in advancing and engaging Rice University both locally and globally.”

“We have an outstanding group of fellows, scholars and graduate students across multiple academic departments who contribute to our work on many different topics in the energy-environment arena,” said Kenneth Medlock, CES senior director and the James A. Baker III and Susan G. Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics. “This interdisciplinary model will continue to drive our approach to providing unbiased analysis of factors that shape the energy future with the goal of engaging policymakers, corporate leaders and the general public.”

Founded in 1993, the Baker Institute has fellows and scholars who conduct research on domestic and foreign policy issues with the goal of bridging the gap between the theory and practice of public policy. Core fields of study include energy, the Middle East, Mexico, health care, taxes and public finance, entrepreneurship, international economics, science and technology, China, space policy and drug policy.

The University of Pennsylvania Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program’s Global Go To Think Tank Index 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 public-policy centers.

The program’s 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.

-30-

Related materials:

2015 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report: http://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1009&context=think_tanks

Follow the Baker Institute via Twitter @BakerInstitute.

Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNews.

Founded in 1993, Rice University’s Baker Institute ranks among the top five university-affiliated think tanks in the world. As a premier nonpartisan think tank, the institute 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 http://www.bakerinstitute.org or on the institute’s blog, http://blogs.chron.com/bakerblog.