School of Global Policy and Strategy

While our faculty members were conducting world-leading research over the summer and preparing to teach again in the fall, many still found the time to sit down and enjoy the Summer Olympics, which wrapped up earlier this month in Paris. Check out our wrapup of what the professors enjoyed most about this year's games.

https://gpsnews.ucsd.edu/games-theory/

gpsnews.ucsd.edu

Congratulations to former Triton scholar-athlete and MPP student Julia Hill as she joins the coaching staff for the UC San Diego fencing team's 2024-25 season!

https://ucsdtritons.com/news/2024/8/20/fencing-adds-julia-hill-to-coaching-staff.aspx

CNN's Fareed Zakaria gave a public lecture as part of the 2024 China Forum that clashed with mainstream sensibilities with regards to foreign policy: China isn’t the threat that many in the U.S. think it is.

https://gpsnews.ucsd.edu/fareed-zakaria-says-cold-war-is-the-wrong-term-to-use-for-china/

gpsnews.ucsd.edu

Professors David Victor and Michael Davidson address concerns regarding what tariffs on Chinese imports mean to green transition and the environment.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/14/business/clean-energy-tech-china-us/index.html

Analysis: The West needs China for clean energy. It will pay a price to break free | CNN Business The US and Europe are racing to narrow China’s commanding lead in clean energy technologies. But without China’s EVs, solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries, reducing carbon emissions could take longer.

GPS was proud to host a conference for LGBTQ+ graduate students in economics, providing an opportunity for those students to network with their peers, receive guidance from supportive mentors, as well as to discuss the ways in which q***r populations are represented in economic research.

Spearheaded by professor Teevrat Garg, this event was more than just a gathering — it was a celebration of diversity and a catalyst for change in the field.

https://gpsnews.ucsd.edu/gps-hosts-conference-for-lgbtq-economics-graduate-students/

gpsnews.ucsd.edu

A Canadian rail shutdown is threatening to disrupt the U.S. economy. Professor Kyle Handley shares what might happen to prices as supply chains face challenges.

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/canadian-rail-shutdown-worsen-us-inflation/story?id=113055013

How a Canadian rail shutdown could worsen US inflation Two major Canadian freight rail companies locked out thousands of workers on Thursday, shutting down cross-border shipping routes.

We were so happy to have Dean Caroline Freund representing GPS at the recent UC San Diego Career Night in Tokyo, Japan, speaking with a great group of alumni, as well as current and incoming students.

Wildfire smoke is more than a physical health threat—it can affect mental health, too. Professor Joshua Graff Zivin discusses smoke exposure, cognitive impairment and depression in the Guardian.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/wellness/article/2024/aug/07/how-wildfires-affect-mental-health

In this episode of "Driven to solve," professor Agustina S. Paglayan explains why she is "obsessed with education systems and their failure to live up to their promise" — and how that system can be improved.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/PyqS6jRKgpk?si=N5_yxaTST7XAmVCw

Meet Meera Mahadevan, a new faculty member at GPS, is researching how economics can improve access to vital resources like water and electricity in developing countries.

Full story: https://gpsnews.ucsd.edu/getting-electricity-and-water-to-everyone-using-the-power-of-economics/

gpsnews.ucsd.edu

UC San Diego alumni, students, families and friends across Europe are invited to join the first ever Triton European Weekender, happening Sept. 13-15 in sunny Barcelona and Sitges, Spain!

RSVP: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/ucsdeurope/1186098

In this episode of "Driven to Solve," professor Nico Ravanilla at the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy discusses how his research focuses on the fundamental problem of how politics gets in the way of solving poverty and underdevelopment in Southeast Asia. He also shares three lessons he imparts to his students.

Watch now: https://ow.ly/sFx150SXTQt

🌳 Urban forests can help cool cities and combat summer heat! Morgan Levy explains it’s not just about planting trees—Levy also stresses it is crucial to have proper tree maintenance so their cooling can be optimized!

Read more: https://www.kpbs.org/news/local/2024/08/07/what-the-urban-forest-can-do-to-tame-summer-heat

Students in associate professor Kyle Handley’s class tackled a unique assignment: create an online tool that would be used in the real world by the U.S. State Department.

Full story:

gpsnews.ucsd.edu

A new report from professor John Ahlquist and coauthors reveals shifting attitudes toward labor unions in the U.S., with a significant rise in “union-curious” employees, especially among young workers. As union activity increases, this pivotal group could reshape the future of labor.

Read more: https://today.ucsd.edu/story/new-report-shows-greater-interest-in-labor-unions-especially-among-young-workers

New Report Shows Greater Interest in Labor Unions, Especially Among Young Workers A new report from the University of California San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy reveals significant changes in support for labor unions among U.S. workers.

🚀 Exciting news! The Wavemaker Lab at GPS is now accepting applications for its 2024 cohort of startup founders. This program is designed to support early-stage entrepreneurs with tailored mentorship from industry leaders and GPS faculty. 🌍

Last year’s cohort saw incredible success, with companies like ChakraTech making strides in sustainable innovation. Now, with an expanded program and new collaborations, the Wavemaker Lab is ready to help even more ventures take off. Applications are open now – don’t miss out! 📅

Learn more:

gpsnews.ucsd.edu

Extreme heat poses unique challenges to India due to its geographic, economic and infrastructural context. Economist Teevrat Garg has authored a series of studies revealing the myriad consequences extreme heat has on South Asia.

Read now: https://today.ucsd.edu/story/extreme-heat-in-india-a-crisis-on-the-rise

Extreme Heat in India: A Crisis on the Rise As global temperatures continue to rise, India is grappling with increasingly severe heat waves. As early as April, many Indian cities, including New Delhi, the capital, have experienced record temperatures above 115 degrees Fahrenheit.

The application for the 2025 Payne Fellowship is now open! This prestigious program is your gateway to a rewarding career as a Foreign Service Officer (FSO) with the USAID - US Agency for International Development. Apply today!

https://apply.paynefellows.org/

USAID Donald M. Payne Fellowship The USAID Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship Program seeks to attract outstanding individuals who are interested in pursuing careers in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). If you want to work on the front lines of some of the most....

GPS students Sethy Tsoungui and Yavuz Basaran have received a $16,000 grant to document people's attitudes toward NATO and raise awareness of some of NATO’s lesser-known initiatives, such as its work to promote women’s rights and to protect the environment.

Read more: https://gpsnews.ucsd.edu/nato-awards-grant-to-gps-students-to-promote-alliances-non-military-initiatives/

gpsnews.ucsd.edu

More ways to watch! You can tune in on Youtube tomorrow, Aug. 7, at 5:30 p.m. PDT for the livestream of CNN's Fareed Zakaria, who will deliver the 2024 Susan Shirk Lecture on U.S.-China Relations as part of the 21st Century China Center's China Forum.

Set your notifications on Youtube now:

- YouTube Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Professor Joshua Graff Zivin discusses the impact of excessive heat on the human body — and its economic consequences.

Read more:

The World Is Getting Hotter. Air Conditioning Could Make It Worse. - Atmos The amount of electricity needed to cool homes during hot weather is creating a power demand that drives a climate mitigation paradox.

UC San Diego's School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS) shines again! MPP ’24 graduate Angela Solanilla and her team won 1st place at the 2024 NASPAA Student Simulation Competition, tackling a refugee crisis with a strategy emphasizing rapid action and international cooperation. Congratulations to Angela, finalist and MIA '25 candidate Yin Min Lim, and all other GPS students who participated!

Read more: https://gpsnews.ucsd.edu/future-policy-experts-excel-in-competitive-simulation/

gpsnews.ucsd.edu

Join us Aug. 6 for a presentation from GPS Admissions! We'll be discussing GPS academics, student life, research, admissions and more.

Register now: https://apsia.org/events/gps-admissions-information-session-22/

Don't miss CNN's Fareed Zakaria on Aug. 7, when he will deliver the 2024 Susan Shirk Lecture on U.S.-China Relations — the only public event of the China Forum.

Register for the in-person event, or join us virtually: https://ow.ly/r3EM50SNGge

Committed to pursuing a Foreign Service career? Apply for a graduate fellowship through the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program before the application closes on Sept. 19!

Learn more: https://rangelprogram.org/graduate-fellowship-program/application-requirements/

In The New York Times, David Victor says Kamala Harris has to "walk a fine line" when discussing the Green New Deal because the phrase has become toxic, even among many moderates and independents.

Full story: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/26/climate/kamala-harris-green-new-deal.html?partner=calculated

A Test for Harris: How to Talk About the Green New Deal In the Senate, Kamala Harris backed an expansive climate plan. Young activists want her to embrace it again, but so do Republicans.

Caroline Freund shares thoughts in The San Diego Union-Tribune on purchasing a house. Freund addresses risks given current prices while also pointing out some reasons to buy a home. Click below to read more.

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/07/03/does-overvaluation-of-homes-make-homeownership-a-risky-move/

Does overvaluation of homes make homeownership a risky move? Financial models from the Fed and others have homes overvalued from 25 percent to nearly 40 percent.

Congrats to professors Agustina Paglayan and Francisco Garfias on their newly won American Political Science Association awards! They will be honored alongside other award recipients in Philadelphia in September. Full story: https://gpsnews.ucsd.edu/two-gps-professors-receive-awards-from-influential-political-science-organization/

gpsnews.ucsd.edu

In the American Worker Project’s latest guest essay, professor Kyle Handley examines how various forces have affected U.S. manufacturing — and what lies ahead.

Read more: https://ow.ly/jSuW50SLSS3

GPS professors David Victor and Michael Davidson address the important role China plays in the pursuit of clean energy and provide reasons the U.S. should collaborate with China.

gpsnews.ucsd.edu