We recently published an article on the International Science Partnership in the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s journal, Science & Diplomacy. The article describes our pilot project to address water and energy challenges in Yemen and places it in the broader context of engagement between the technical communities in Yemen and the United [...]
Debate has picked up on what exactly the U.S. strategy in Yemen is all about. John Brennan, the Deputy National Security Advisor for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, recently came out to explain the Administration’s policy, which had been accused of focusing narrowly on counterterrorism.
The FAS International Science Partnership (ISP) pilot project is set to take off in Amman this week with a workshop hosted by the Middle East Scientific Institute for Security (MESIS). The workshop will bring together an international team of engineers from the U.S. and Yemen to design collaborative projects that help address both countries’ interests [...]
A few weeks ago the State Department took advantage of World Water day to announce the release of an National Intelligence Council report entitled “Water Security,” which assessed the possible effects of water shortages on U.S. national security over the next several decades. The NIC report’s “bottom line” was that “during the next ten years, [...]
Today, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) inaugurates 2011 as the International Year of the Forests. In our rapidly urbanizing world where many people live detached from forests, wetlands, and other “wild” spaces, it is easy to forget their impact upon our daily lives and upon the essential resources and services we take for granted. [...]
US aid for Yemen goes predominantly to military and hard security projects. To confront the key sources of instability the U.S. must look beyond military assistance. Tier two engagement will be a critical component of this strategy, especially in looking at challenges to natural resource and human security. As Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula [...]
The Building Technologies Program at FAS is releasing the High Performance Building Guide for Habitat for Humanity Affiliates This report provides practical guidelines, resources, and advice to improve the quality of affordable housing while minimizing cost Check the guide out here. High performance housing has long been the privilege of the high-end residential market. Higher [...]
How do you make a highly fuel efficient car that looks cool, and appeals to the average consumer? If you are the X-Prize Foundation, you would have a competition offering a $5,000,000 prize for anyone who makes a really cool car that can also get 100 mpg and meets other requirements intended to push it [...]
Over the past three weeks in Sana’a, rain has fallen nearly every day. So much so that the primary drainage canal for the Old City (the Salia)—normally a roadway—has run with feet of water on multiple occasions. See the Salia running with water in this FAS Youtube video. It is an arid city, but [...]
6 August 2010 Welcome to Sana’a. To set the scene for the city, imagine eight inches of rain a year, falling on a city at 7000 feet with a population of 2 million, growing at over 5% per year. Add in a limited and sporadic electrical grid, a water-hungry cash crop (qat) that has replaced [...]