Calendar of Events

    Past Events

  • A Syrian refugee carries his son through a rainstorm at the Greek-Macedonian border near the Greek village of Idomeni, November 27, 2015

    Syrian Refugees: Humanitarian and Security Perspectives

    Feb 25, 2016

    The U.S. and other Western countries have vowed to admit more refugees, but terrorist attacks in San Bernardino, Paris, Cologne, and Jakarta are fueling the anxiety of communities throughout the world. What are countries doing to help abate the humanitarian crisis and ongoing efforts to counter the terrorist threat?

  • Cpl. Kristine Tejeda, 1st Cavalry Division

    Beyond the Headlines: Women in Combat

    Feb 22, 2016

    Rules have been lifted that had previously restricted women from military combat occupations. A RAND study describes lessons learned from gender integration in foreign military. Principal Investigator Agnes Schaefer talks about the keys to successful integration.

  • Service members involved in physical therapy at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio wait for President Bush to visit

    Meeting the Health Care Needs of America's Veterans

    Feb 18, 2016

    A team of RAND experts conducted three independent assessments of the Veterans Choice Act (enacted in 2014). Researchers explored the health needs of veterans, the VA's capacity to deliver care, and steps policymakers can take toward the goal of providing high-quality, timely, and accessible health care for veterans.

  • Syrian refugees, stuck between the Jordanian and Syrian borders, wait to cross into Jordan near the town of Ruwaished, January 14, 2016

    Lessening the Risk of Refugee Radicalization

    Feb 16, 2016

    Historical cases show that refugee radicalization is not inevitable, but fears within the United States persist. How does radicalization happen within refugee groups? And how can the U.S. government mitigate risks and safeguard the homeland?

  • Colombian women listen as a health worker distributes information how to prevent the spread of the Zika virus in Bogota, Colombia January 31, 2016

    The Zika Virus: What We Know So Far

    Feb 9, 2016

    The Zika virus, a mosquito-borne disease that may be linked to brain damage in infants, is emerging as a public health priority. In this Call with the Experts, RAND Senior Natural Scientist Melinda Moore answers questions about Zika and what can be done to prevent its spread.

  • Homeless man sitting on a bench in Los Angeles

    L.A.'s Homelessness Crisis

    Feb 2, 2016

    About 26,000 men, women, and children are homeless in the city of Los Angeles. A RAND Policy Forum will address what local governments, the private sector, and foundations are doing to address this crisis, especially as strong El Niño storms are expected this winter and spring.

  • Islamist fighters having a military parade in Syria's northern Raqqa province June 30, 2014

    The Future of ISIS

    Jan 28, 2016

    Brian Michael Jenkins founded the RAND Corporation's terrorism research program more than 30 years ago, and is now considered one of the world's leading authorities on terrorism. Learn what Jenkins thinks about the future of ISIS and other insurgent groups.

  • Detailed look at Eastern China and Taiwan

    Maritime Issues in the East and South China Seas

    Jan 13, 2016

    In recent years, countries in the Asia Pacific region have contested maritime zones and sovereignty rights. Experts from China, Japan, Taiwan, and the United States will gather at RAND to discuss important issues surrounding this topic.

  • Los Angeles skyline cityscape

    RANDNext Happy Hour

    Dec 9, 2015

    The RANDNext Holiday Happy Hour is an opportunity for cross-industry networking among a group of successful and influential early- to mid-career professionals. RAND researchers will be there to mingle with guests and discuss their work on important policy issues. Join us at one of Downtown LA's coolest spots.

  • People gather to watch celebrations for Navy Day, with a Russian warship and a submarine seen in the background, in Vladivostok, Russia, July 26, 2015

    Russian Ambitions

    Dec 1, 2015

    Russia's interventions in Ukraine and Syria raise serious concerns about Moscow's regional and global ambitions. RAND's William Courtney, a former U.S. ambassador to Georgia and Kazakhstan, offers insights on these issues.

  • Soledad O'Brien, Chuck Hagel, Michael Rich, and Michael Lynton at One Night with RAND, November 11, 2015

    One Night with RAND 2015

    Nov 11, 2015

    One Night with RAND featured a panel discussion with Chuck Hagel, 24th U.S. Secretary of Defense; Michael Lynton, CEO, Sony Entertainment, Inc.; Michael Rich, President and CEO of RAND; and moderator Soledad O'Brien on the international strategic choices that will shape the U.S. role in the world for years to come. The event also honored Harold Brown. [Santa Monica, CA]

  • Map of North and South Korea

    Korean Unification: What Would It Take?

    Nov 3, 2015

    Top experts on Korea will join RAND analysts to consider how the Republic of Korea, the U.S., and other countries in the region might facilitate unification, as well as address the challenges of working with the current North Korean government.

  • Officers of China's People's Liberation Army training for a parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the World War Two, in Beijing, China, August 22, 2015

    China and the United States: The Balance of Power

    Nov 2, 2015

    The U.S. and China have strong economic and diplomatic ties, but over the past two decades, as China's economy has strengthened, so has its military. East Asian security expert Eric Heginbotham discusses China's ambitions and their implications for U.S. interests in Asia.

  • Merged Israeli and Palestinian flags

    The Costs of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

    Oct 29, 2015

    In an effort to understand the economic price of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, RAND assessed the costs and benefits of alternatives to the current impasse. The authors of the study present their findings to RAND Policy Circle members.

  • Behavioral Finance Forum

    RAND Behavioral Finance Forum Fall 2015

    Oct 21, 2015

    Consumer Financial Decision Making was the theme of the 2015 RAND Behavioral Finance (BeFi) Forum on October 21, presented in partnership with the Aspen Institute, and in collaboration with the Institute for the Future. Dr. Robert J. Shiller gave the keynote address.

  • U.S. Marines board a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter during airlift operations as part of an exercise on Camp Imazu in Takashima, Japan, Sept. 15, 2015

    America's Security Deficit: Addressing the Imbalance Between Strategy and Resources in a Turbulent World

    Oct 19, 2015

    With the Taliban briefly capturing the Afghan city of Kunduz, Russia flexing its muscles, ISIS undefeated, and China's advancing military modernization, the U.S. military is spread ever thinner. Former DoD strategists discuss their new report and explain why the United States must either boost its defenses or curb its military ambitions.

  • Wine corks

    RANDNext 1st Anniversary Wine and Food Celebration

    Oct 15, 2015

    RANDNext is celebrating its first anniversary with an evening of good conversation, food, and wine. RAND expert Philip Armour will discuss the economics of the wine industry, focusing on one of the most weather-sensitive, lucrative, and slow-to-adapt crops grown in California — wine grapes.

  • Boy taking a standardized test

    Education Policy: Challenges in Implementing New Standards and Assessments

    Oct 8, 2015

    A panel of educators and policy experts discusses Pennsylvania's approach to standards and assessment, what challenges remain, and what the future holds.

  • Soldiers of China's People's Liberation Army march during a training session for a military parade, Beijing, September 1, 2015

    United States and China: Trends in Military Competition

    Oct 5, 2015

    Eric Heginbotham discusses relative U.S. and Chinese military capabilities, including the evolution of Chinese military capabilities, steps the United States can take to limit the impact of a growing Chinese military on deterrence, and other U.S. strategic interests.

  • Shasta Lake is 100 feet below its normal levels January 23, 2014

    California's Drought and Water Policy

    Sep 30, 2015

    Leadership from the California Farm Bureau Federation, the California Water Commission, and the Association of California Water Agencies discuss solutions to the water crisis. This event is open to the public; Policy Circle members are invited to a pre-event reception and will receive reserved seating.

  • A destroyed building with a wall painted with the black flag commonly used by Islamic State militants in the town of al-Alam, Iraq, March 10, 2015

    ISIS: Assessing the Global Threat

    Sep 24, 2015

    A year into the U.S.-led bombing on ISIS, how much progress has been made against the self-proclaimed Islamic State? RAND's Andrew Liepman and Citi Private Bank's Hasan Shirazi discuss the global threat ISIS poses and what can be done to contain it.

  • Soldiers rehearse weapons skills while attending the Cultural Support training course at Fort Bragg, N.C.

    The Changing Face of America's Front Lines: Women in Special Operations and Combat Roles

    Sep 21, 2015

    Author Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, Pardee RAND dean Susan Marquis, and RAND's John Winkler discuss how a pioneering team of women who served alongside Rangers and SEALS in Afghanistan in 2011 helped pave the way for women's roles in the military, as well as issues that remain.

  • Close up of Lily Ablon holding DEFCON 21 challenge medal

    Lessons from a Hacker: Cyber Concepts for Policymakers

    Sep 14, 2015

    What do policymakers need to know as they confront growing concerns over cybersecurity? Lillian Ablon provides insights into some of the complexities of cybersecurity policymaking, including why software vulnerabilities matter and the motivations of various cyber threats actors.

  • Students in a workshop

    RAND Public Policy Workshop

    Aug 26, 2015

    In this public policy analysis workshop led by Jeffrey Wasserman, director of RAND Health, participants learn about policy analysis tools and techniques—and gain an understanding of how they can be used to improve the quality of public policy decisionmaking.

  • Palm trees at sunset in Long Beach, California

    RANDNext Happy Hour

    Aug 5, 2015

    The RANDNext Happy Hour is an opportunity for cross-industry networking among a group of successful and influential early- to mid-career professionals. RAND researchers will be there to mingle with guests and discuss their work on important policy issues. Join us at one of West LA's hottest spots.