MIP's 2025 Capstone Projects Aim for Worldwide Impact

MIP's 2025 Capstone Projects Aim for Worldwide Impact

Students in the Ford Dorsey Master's in International Policy program are practicing their policymaking skills through projects on cybersecurity within NATO, countering political disinformation in Ghana, commercial space technology in Australia, and more.
A collage of six student groups from the 2025 Policy Change Studio at the Ford Dorsey Master's in International Policy at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies.

After almost two years of hard work and study, the 2025 cohort of the Ford Dorsey Master's in International Policy program (MIP) is preparing for the final stretch of their learning journey at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI). 

Each year, second-year MIP students participate in the Policy Change Studio, which takes their learning out of the realm of theory and into hands-on, on-the-ground application. Recognizing that the world outside the classroom is much more complex, bureaucratic, and constrained than textbook case studies, the Studio is a two-quarter course designed to provide students with direct experience researching, developing, and implementing policy goals.   

Our students are setting out for Belgium, Mongolia, Ghana, Australia, and India to work directly with research groups, NGOs, and policy institutions on pressing challenges affecting local communities and global alliances alike. Keep reading to learn more about each project.

 

Securing Trust: A Framework for Effective Cyber Threat Information Sharing in NATO

Over the past few months, through problem identification and early solutions development, our research has identified three key challenges in NATO’s cyber threat information sharing landscape. First, despite the presence of existing protocols such as NCIRC and MISP, significant communication
[Left to right]: Emerson Johnston, Tiffany Saade, Chan Leem
Emerson Johnston, Tiffany Saade, Chan Leem, Markos Magana (not pictured)

gaps persist between stakeholders. This is exacerbated by the lack of clear, standardized specifications from NATO, leading to inconsistent implementation and operational friction. Second, at its core, this is an intelligence-sharing challenge: member states operate under different national frameworks, threat perceptions, and priorities, which influence what information they are willing (or unwilling) to share. Third, the fragmentation of sharing systems is not merely a technical hurdle but often a deliberate choice made for operational and security reasons, reflecting concerns over sovereignty, data protection, and strategic advantage.

While technological advancements can enhance interoperability, they alone will not drive adoption. Our research highlights that the underlying issue is one of trust and incentives—NATO must establish mechanisms that encourage collaboration beyond just technological solutions. Without a strong foundation of mutual trust, transparency, and shared benefits, even the most advanced systems will face resistance. Creating sustainable incentives for participation—whether through policy alignment, risk reduction assurances, or value-added intelligence sharing—will be essential in fostering a more effective and unified cyber defense posture within NATO.

 

Cultivating Community-Led Policies: GerHub and Mongolia’s Billion Trees Initiative

Our team is collaborating with GerHub in Mongolia to establish an influential policy think tank aimed at fostering community-informed and data-driven policymaking. Leveraging GerHub’s unique and extensive connections within the ger communities of Mongolia, we aim to empower policies that authentically reflect local needs and insights.
[Left to right]: Julia Ilhardt, Serena Rivera-Korver, Johanna von der Leyen, and Michael Alisky
Julia Ilhardt, Serena Rivera-Korver, Johanna von der Leyen, and Michael Alisky

A key component of our project involves conducting in-depth research and stakeholder interviews focused on Mongolia's "Billion Trees Initiative," where we will be seeking actionable insights to scale up the initiative effectively and sustainably.

 

Countering Coordinated Political Disinformation Campaigns in Ghana

Our team is working with the Africa Center for Strategic Studies to examine disinformation issues in Ghana. We are focusing on how coordinated influence operations are being used to create and spread political disinformation. We aim to understand how PR companies and
[Left to right]: Euysun Hwang, Sakeena Razick, Leticia Lie, and Julie Tamura
Euysun Hwang, Sakeena Razick, Leticia Lie, Julie Tamura, and Anjali Kumar (not pictured)

influencers work with politicians to coordinate these influence operations and shape public opinion. Our policy recommendations will address how governments and civil societies can work together to tackle this issue.

 

The recent ratification of the Technology Safeguard Agreement (TSA) by the United States and Australia lays the foundation for smoother exchange of commercial space technologies and permits U.S. commercial space launch companies to conduct reentry in Australia. With the sponsorship of the
[Left to right]: Samara Nassor, Gustavs Zilgalvis, and Helen Phillips
Samara Nassor, Gustavs Zilgalvis, Helen Phillips, and Joe Wishart (not pictured)

Australian Space Agency and U.S. Defense Innovation Unit, the goal of this project is to leverage Australia's strategic geographic position and investment in reentry infrastructure to mitigate the hurdles that U.S. commercial startups experience accessing military ranges for reentry. Our project aims to create a robust foundation for the development of orbital return capabilities in Australia, fostering greater commercial and national security collaboration between the U.S. and Australia.

 

Overcoming Computational Resource Gaps for Open Source AI in India

Our team is working with Digital Futures Lab (DFL), a non-profit research network in India that examines the intersection of technology and society in the Global South. Our project focuses on identifying the key components of open source AI in India and how limited access
[Left to right]: Sandeep Abraham, Sabina Nong, Kevin Klyman, and Emily Capstick
Sandeep Abraham, Sabina Nong, Kevin Klyman, and Emily Capstick

to computational resources acts as a barrier to adoption. India has a thriving tech sector, and openly available AI models have the potential to democratize access to this trailblazing technology. At the same time, AI is expensive to build and deploy, and access to the specialized computational resources needed to do so is limited even for top Indian companies. Our team aims to develop solutions in partnership with Digital Futures Lab that can help bolster the AI ecosystem across India.

 

Combating Human Trafficking in the Informal Mining Industry in Ghana

Our team is working with the Ghana Center for Democratic Development to identify ways to disrupt human trafficking into forced labor in Ghana’s informal mining sector. So far, our research and conversations with stakeholders has highlighted the complex systems — ranging from poverty to illicit networks —
[Left to right]: Alex Bue, Rachel Desch, and Marco Baeza
Alex Bue, Rachel Desch, Marco Baeza, and Hye Jin Kim (not pictured)

that contribute to this issue. During our fieldwork, we will explore community- and government-driven programs aimed at preventing and combating trafficking. Our final report will analyze existing policies, pinpoint gaps, and propose community-led interventions to address them.

 

The Ford Dorsey Master's in International Policy

Want to learn more? MIP holds admission events throughout the year, including graduate fairs and webinars, where you can meet our staff and ask questions about the program.

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