This fall, the UT Office of Undergraduate Research will once again host the Texas Student Research Showdown, a research communication competition. Student researchers from all disciplines will make videos and give short presentations explaining their work to a general audience, with judges awarding up to $1,500 in scholarships to recognize excellence in research communication.

If you have conducted research and would be interested in sharing it with a broad audience, please consider making a submission.  Aside from the potential awards and the experience presenting their work, student submitters will have a 2-minute video to show for their efforts — an ideal way to explain their work to friends, family, grad schools, and future employers.  You can learn more about the event (and see past examples of student work) at https://ugs.utexas.edu/our/showdown. I’ll be sending out more info when the form for submissions opens in September.

The International Office has  a program for training to become a teacher of English as a foreign language that some of your students might be interested. CELTA stands for the Cambridge English Language Teaching Certificate. It is the most widely-recognized qualification for teaching English that enables its holders to obtain the best teaching positions all over the world. The program is intensive, consisting of 8-hours a day of instruction, for 4 weeks, including hands-on experience in the classroom. The program runs multiple times a year. It is a great opportunity for those who wish to work and travel.

There are some information sessions on CELTA coming up September 28^th,  November 2^nd, and December 7^th from 5-6pm at UTC 1.130. 

Learn more at https://world.utexas.edu/esl/teach-abroad. I hope to hear from you soon.

Just announced: Register now for GOV 360N “International Security” with Dr. Paul D. Miller

Clements Center Associate Director Paul D. Miller will be teaching “International Security” (Unique ID: 38757) in Fall 2017. This course is the required cornerstone course for the Certificate in Security Studies, which is a transcript-recognized certificate for students who focus their studies on international and national security affairs.

Wednesday, May 3: Civil-Military Relations in the Trump Era with Mackubin Owens

Please join the Clements Center on Wednesday, May 3rd in Sid Richardson Hall Room 3.122 at 12:15pm, for a talk with Dr. Mackubin Owens, Dean of Academics at the Institute of World Politics, on “Civil-Military Relations in the Trump Era.” This event is free and open to the public. 

Friday, May 5: Conservatives and the World: The Ideas and Statecraft of Conservative Internationalism

The Clements Center and Harrington Faculty Fellows Program are honored to host distinguished academics and former policymakers for a Colloquium on “Conservatives and the World” from 8:30 am to 3:30pm on May 5th in the Texas Union Governors Room. This day-long event will explore how a doctrine of conservative internationalism, distinct from liberal internationalism, emerged in U.S. foreign policy over the past century. Scholars will evaluate the core principles and key figures that have contributed to the history of conservative internationalism and assess the extent to which this philosophy continues to inform US diplomacy today. Full agenda on the Clements Center website.

Join the New Politics Forum for our annual Campaign Bootcamp on Friday, May 26 to Sunday, May 28. This nonpartisan, youth-focused training serves a fantastic introduction to what it’s like to work on and run a political campaign. Hands-on workshops are taught by active political professionals on topics such as campaign management, crafting a campaign narrative, developing a field plan, volunteer management, fundraising, and more. The $65 registration fee will cover the cost of parking, meals, and event materials for all three days of the conference. 

Registration for the event is now open and scholarships are also available to all those in need. If you have a group of three of more students interested in attending, please contact Taylor Foody for a discount code! To learn more about Campaign Bootcamp, its speakers, and other event details, visit our website.

The Leadership and Ethics Institute is currently accepting applications to participate in ProjectLEAD for the 2017-2018 academic year. ProjectLEAD is a project management and community empowerment program. Students who join ProjectLEAD will enjoy a hands-on experience and have the opportunity to engage with the Austin community.

Designed to serve as a leadership development opportunity and mechanism for community engagement, students will participate in weekly instructive workshops to learn how to manage a project for an Austin nonprofit. Applications for the 2017-2018 cohort are available on Hornslink.

For more information visit: https://utexas.collegiatelink.net/account/logonrequired?ReturnUrl=%2Fform%2Fstart%2F116222

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Alyssa Ray, the Coordinator of ProjectLEAD, at alyssa.ray@austin.utexas.edu.  

The Undergraduate Writing Center is hosting its monthly Write Night Monday and Tuesday, April 24 and 25, 2017 in PCL Learning Lab 1A from 5-9 p.m. The purpose of Write Night is to provide a comfortable, productive environment for students to work on whatever papers they’re writing right now. Writing consultants will be on hand to answer questions and offer mini-consultations upon request. 

 The UWC is located in the UT Learning Commons at Perry- Castañeda Library (PCL 2.330). Questions? Call (512) 471-6222 or visit http://uwc.utexas.edu/.

Monday, April 24^th: Deadline to apply for Summer Internship Funding

The Clements Center awards funds to undergraduate and graduate students who secure unpaid internships in the fields of national security and foreign policy. Please apply on our website by Monday, April 24^th at midnight.

Tuesday, April 25th: America and Its Armed Forces Panel

Please join the Clements Center on April 25th in Sid Richardson Hall Room 3.122 at 12:15pm for a US Army War College panel discussion on “America and Its Armed Forces.” The panel will feature research on defense reform, including analysis of Defense personnel, structure, modernization, and readiness. Clements Center Executive Director and LBJ Professor Will Inboden will moderate the discussion. Panelists include Colonel Jerrett Dunlap, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Ray, Lieutenant Colonel Grey Venverloh, and Lieutenant Colonel Richard Balestri.

Wednesday, May 3^rd: “US Foreign Policy and Defense Strategy—The Evolution of an Incidental Superpower” with Mackubin Owens

Please join the Clements Center on May 3rd in Sid Richardson Hall Room 3.122 at 12:15pm for a talk with Dr. Mackubin Owens, Dean of Academics at the Institute of World Politics, on his recent book “US Foreign Policy and Defense Strategy: The Evolution of an Incidental Superpower.” Dr. Owens recently retired as Professor of National Security Affairs at the US Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. At the War College, he specialized in the planning of US strategy and forces, especially naval and power projection forces; the political economy of national security; national security organization; strategic geography; and American civil-military relations.

Friday, May 5^th: Conservatives and the World: The Ideas and Statecraft of Conservative Internationalism

The Clements Center and Harrington Faculty Fellows Program are honored to host distinguished academics and former policymakers for a workshop on “Conservatives and the World” from 8:30 am to 3:30pm on May 5^th in the Texas Union Governors Room. This day-long event will explore how a doctrine of conservative internationalism, distinct from liberal internationalism, emerged in U.S. foreign policy over the past century. Scholars will evaluate the core principles and key figures that have contributed to the history of conservative internationalism and assess the extent to which this philosophy continues to inform US diplomacy today.

Renowned Swedish novelist and poet Lars Gustafsson spent much of his life in Austin, and taught classes in both creative writing and philosophy at UT. To celebrate his life and work, Gustafsson’s former colleagues and students will gather to read selections of his poetry at 7 p.m. on April 27th, in the Joynes Reading Room. This event will also remember poet Christopher Middleton, who translated much of Gustafsson’s work into English. Readers will include: 

Paul Woodruff, former dean of Undergraduate Studies 

Jim Magnuson, director of the Michener Center for Writers

John Weinstock, scholar of Scandinavian literature

Lee Walker, educator and community leader

Kurt Heinzelman, poet and UT professor of literature

Carrie Fountain, St. Edward’s University writer in residence and former student of Lars Gustafsson

The Joynes Reading Room has a limited number of free books by Lars Gustafsson, which we will give away to honors students who wish to attend the event. (To claim a free book, inquire in person at the front desk of the Joynes Room.) This reading is free and open to the public. No ticket or RSVP is required. The Joynes Reading Room is located on the east side of the Carothers building at 2501 Whitis Avenue on the UT Austin campus. Call 512-471-5787 for more info. 

Info Session: Student Professional Development Fund

The Clements Center awards funds to undergraduate and graduate students who secure unpaid internships in the fields of national security and foreign policy. Please join us on April 19th, in the Texas Governors’ Room UNB 3.116 at 12:00pm, for an information session on our Student Professional Development Fund. Associate Director Paul Miller will be there to answer any questions you might have about the application process, requirements, and funding. Applications for Summer 2017 funding are due April 24^th, by midnight. 

Democracy and Human Rights in US Foreign Policy

Please join the Clements Center on Thursday, April 20, at 12:15pm in SRH 3.122, for a talk on “Democracy and Human Rights in US Foreign Policy” with Nicole Bibbins Sedaca, Professor in the Practice of International Relations at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service. Ms. Bibbins Sedaca has held numerous positions in the public and non-governmental sectors in the United States and Ecuador. She served for ten years in the United States Department of State, working on democracy promotion, human rights, human trafficking, religious freedom, refugees, and counterterrorism. 

Call for Papers- 2017 “Bobby R. Inman Award” for Student Scholarship on Intelligence

The Clements-Strauss Intelligence Studies Project announces the third annual competition recognizing outstanding student research and writing on topics related to intelligence and national security. The winner of the “Inman Award” will receive a cash prize of $5000, with two semifinalists each receiving a cash prize of $2500.  This competition is open to unpublished work by undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in degree programs at accredited U.S. higher education institutions during the 2016-17 academic year.  The deadline for submitting papers is June 30, 2017.