News, Research and Events

Oct. 16, 2019

The Energy Transition: Legacy, Scale and Technology

The dramatic transition sweeping the energy industry was the focus of the Baker Institute Center for Energy Studies’ third annual energy summit, co-hosted with Baker Botts LLP. This event brought together prominent industry leaders and stakeholders to address how economics, policy and technology are driving change across all energy sectors. “We are looking at a historic transition in how we produce and how we use energy in all its forms,” Secretary James A. Baker, III, the institute’s honorary chair, noted in a luncheon keynote address. READ MORE

 

"We are seeing the national conversation moving toward reforming practices for victimless crimes.”

Katharine Neill Harris, Alfred C. Glassell, III, Fellow in Drug Policy,
on the Policy Matters Podcast

 

 

Should There Be a Soda Tax? 

Drinking soda has been linked to a variety of negative health outcomes, including obesity and diabetes. To improve public health, several prominent organizations have recommended soda taxes to increase the costs of consuming these sugary beverages and hopefully curb consumption. But do these taxes actually work? Fellow Joyce Beebe describes recent attempts at taxing soda in the U.S. and provides practical policy solutions. READ MORE

Browse the Baker Institute research library for our latest publications.

 

Upcoming Events

Roundtable Dialogue — The Circular Economy: Is It Attainable and Sustainable? At this members-only event, Rachel Meidl, fellow in energy and environment, will discuss the complex relationship between waste management and sustainability and how a limited perspective on life cycle management can impair our ability to attain a circular economy. Oct. 24 | 9:30 am

Political Reform in China. The China Studies Program hosts a panel of experts to examine the current state of reforms in China and U.S.-China relations. 
Nov. 4 | 4:00 pm

National Health Care Reform: Strategies for Slowing Cost Growth. Four leading health economists discuss how to reduce costs while improving access to high-quality health care at the Center for Health and Biosciences' seventh biennial conference on health care reform. Nov. 8 | 8:00 am

A Bold New Era of American Science and Technology. Kelvin K. Droegemeier, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and science advisor to President Donald Trump, discusses advances in science and his plans to promote collaboration between the government, industry and academia.
Nov. 12 | 5:30 pm

Examining Mexico's Public Safety and Security Landscape. Tony Payan, director of the Center for the United States and Mexico, describes the current public safety and security landscape in Mexico and evaluates the López Obrador administration’s strategy to reduce violence and crime. Nov. 20 | 8:00 am

 

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Become a member of the Baker Institute Roundtable and Roundtable Young Professionals. Contact our development office for more information on how you can join the conversation on the relevant issues and ideas that shape our world.