Potomac Institute for Policy Studies
Potomac Institute CEO Mike Swetnam was one of the experts interviewed for the April 28 Sunday Business Post magazine article on the Boston Marathon bombing, “Boston Unbowed,” by Niall Stanage. In the article, Swetnam argued that while progress has been made since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. has only come halfway.
Three points Swetnam identified as areas where the U.S. could do better include following up on intelligence tips with more diligence, more widespread use of cameras, and an increased sense of public vigilance. Another issue affecting both terrorism and counter-terrorism efforts is increased access to and use of technology; Swetnam’s point was that the U.S. needs to harness all capabilities at its disposal.
 Sunday Business Post, Boston part 1 | 6298 Kb |
| Sunday Business Post, Boston part 2 | 5219 Kb |
| Sunday Business Post, Boston part 3 | 4804 Kb |
Read more: Potomac Institute featured in Sunday Business Post article on Boston Marathon bombing
International Center for Terrorism Studies
Refugeeism: Humanitarian and Strategic Challenges
The problem of developing workable, effective policies to deal with refugees and refugee camps is, unfortunately not a new one. The problem has, however, climbed back into the spotlight as the ongoing civil war in Syria, the fighting in Mali and other violence abroad have created significant refugee flows in already volatile parts of the world. To that end, the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies hosted an event on April 19, 2013 titled “Refugeeism: Humanitarian and Strategic Challenges”.
Professor Yonah Alexander, Director of the Inter-University Center for Terrorism Studies and Senior Fellow at the Potomac Institute, opened the proceedings by providing a brief overview of the situation and then introducing the four panelists; Dr. Stephen J. Morris of Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Ralph Nurnberger of Georgetown University, Mark Krikorian, Executive Director at the Center for Immigration studies and Lavinia Limón, President and CEO of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants.
Read more: Refugeeism: Humanitarian and Strategic Challenges
Equipment Reset: Getting the Marine Corps Down to Fighting Weight.
The Potomac Institute for Policy Studies held a conference, Equipment Reset: Getting the Marine Corps Down to Fighting Weight, on Wednesday, April 17. Event was lead by LtGen William M. Faulkner, USMC, Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics. He discussed the future changes the Marine Corps will be making with downsizing equipment.
The challenges of becoming a lighter and more agile force, while understanding requirements and increased weights and demands, is a daily issue for LtGen William Faulkner, Deputy Commandant for Installations and Logistics for the U.S. Marine Corps.
Read more: Equipment Reset: Getting the Marine Corps Down to Fighting Weight
The Future of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology
Based on a decade or more of study of neuroscience and neurotechnology, the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies believes that the President’s proposed new initiative called the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (the BRAIN Initiative) will advance the important goal of the development of technologies that can be used to understand the brain. The area is important, we believe, because there are exciting new applications beyond medicine, such as improved training and learning, new methods for controlling and interacting with machines, and ways to enhance our alertness and focus.
However, three components will be essential to a neurotechnology initiative: 1) a well-planned roadmap, 2) an inter-agency coordination office to guide the program, and 3) an integrated program for consideration of ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) associated with brain research and its applications.
The Potomac Institute has developed a roadmap, and has previously made recommendations to US government agencies concerning policy considerations in conducting neurotechnology development. We emphasize that the project will call upon many researchers beyond neuroscientists, including engineers, geneticists, biochemists, and experimental psychologists, and will also involve computer science, informatics, medicine, biology, chemistry, physics, nanotechnology, and even microelectronics.
Neurotechnology has the potential to generate major societal benefits and industries that we cannot imagine today. Microelectronics and information technology have brought revolutionary changes to our society – neuroscience and neurotechnology are advancing and expanding more rapidly than many other sciences and are primed to contribute to new capabilities in even bigger ways.
A well-planned and executed roadmap, interdisciplinary and interagency coordination and cooperation, and careful consideration of ELSI will make this potential a reality.
The Future Golden Age
Washington, DC- April 8, 2013- David Brin, a world–renowned science fiction author and the first speaker for Bold Ideas speaker series at the Potomac Institute, brings a different prospective when looking at the future, or as he refers to “the golden age”. Brin firmly believes that technology and science will help solve a majority of life’s hard problems, but humans are holding back because of a “crisis of confidence”.
Brin reminded the audience that today humans have powers that many believed centuries ago only gods possessed, such as light with a flick of a finger and flying in the sky. Humans have changed the structure of society from a pyramid arrangement, where a few ruled, to a more leveled field, from clans and tribes to multi-organization networks. Technology is the “game changer” for the future. Achievements, such as led lights and medical advancements, show how technology has enhanced the way of living. According to Brin, this is the “age of amateurs”. Humans educate themselves using technology, making it where they do not need professionals or experts for every problem that is faced.
Brin stated there are endless possibilities for the future. The future could consist of world destruction by environmental carelessness and nuclear war, or humans could be become more technically advanced than could ever be imagined. Societies will always have foes, it is only a matter of time till one breaks in, but that is why humans need to anticipate what can happen in the future. An example would be 9/11, where an enemy did the unimaginable. Everyday American citizens were the heroes saving each other’s lives.
Brin addressed that humans should not be afraid to take risks. Humans set laws that limit them, thinking they are protecting themselves, but in reality it is banding technology for the future. Laws should be used to monitor competition, to level the playing field so new players can emerge. Brin expresses that, instead of humans being afraid of what the government sees they should be more interested in adding light: most information age dilemmas are solved by more light, not less, Brin said.
As we continue in the 21st century, problem solving will require four elements. The first two are already happening: art (visualization, simulation, games, openness) and anticipation (analytics, modeling, data gathering and accountability). The other two are what is needed: resilience (agile communication, self-organization, transparency, dispersed expertise) and discourse (analytic tools, dispute resolution, better interface).
Humans have a hard time adapting, but in the long run they always adapt, Brin concluded.
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