The International Initiative Working Group Program: Seed beds for new programs & research

The International Initiative announces its second program to promote interdisciplinary scholarship among faculty. In addition to the Presidential Fund for Innovation in International Studies (PFIIS), which awards research grants to budding yet fully conceived projects, the Working Group Program encourages informal dialogue about pressing world issues among faculty who do not normally cross paths. These working groups, or collaborative "salons," serve as incubators for the development of internationally focused research and teaching projects and programs. Each group explores ways to foster interdisciplinary study in a unique topic area most typically by

• Exploring an idea in its earliest stages to see if there is sufficient depth and support for a collaborative research project, or
• Developing proposals for new interdisciplinary programs that can be used to solicit funding

Working groups are led by one or more faculty conveners. Participation is open to all Stanford and visiting faculty and academic staff from all schools and institutes. Advanced graduate students are invited to contact the working group convener about participation. Multi-school representation on each working group is highly desirable. The groups meet regularly over the course of the academic year in informal sessions designed to promote the sharing of new ideas and research.

The International Initiative sponsors working groups that focus on issues related to one or more themes of the Initiative: peace and security, governance, and human well-being. Faculty are encouraged to apply for sponsorship by contacting Program Coordinator Whitney Sparks.

Working Groups for the 2006-2007 academic year will focus on Developing Resilience to Non-Traditional Security Threats, International Influences on Domestic Governance, Human Well-being, Program on International Health, and the International University Collaboration Program.