Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy
About
Founded in 1993, Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy has established itself as one of the premier nonpartisan public policy think tanks in the country. The institute is ranked No. 3 among the top university-affiliated think tanks in the world, according to a 2018 study by the University of Pennsylvania's Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program. The survey ranked the institute’s Center for Energy Studies No. 1 among the world’s energy- and resource-policy think tanks.
As an integral part of Rice University, one of the nation's most distinguished institutions of higher education, the Baker Institute has a strong track record of achievement based on the work of its fellows, scholars, Rice faculty scholars and staff. Located in Houston, Texas, the nation's fourth-largest city and the energy capital of the United States, as well as a dynamic international business and cultural center, the Baker Institute brings a unique perspective to some of the most important public policy challenges of our time.
Key research programs include energy, the Middle East, health, Mexico studies, public finance, and entrepreneurship and innovation. The institute collaborates with experts from academia, government, the media, business, and nongovernmental and private organizations. In conjunction with its more than 20 programs, the institute attracts many domestic and foreign leaders who provide their views and insights on major issues. Speakers have included U.S. presidents and Cabinet members, world leaders and heads of government, and numerous foreign dignitaries from around the globe.
To educate and engage the next generation of leaders, many Baker Institute fellows and scholars teach public policy classes. The institute also offers Rice undergraduates a public policy course, as well as the opportunity to apply for competitive internships in Houston, Washington, D.C., and overseas. Graduate students frequently assist fellows and scholars with their research.
Editor's note: Updated June 27, 2019.
Headquarters Address
6100 Main Street
James A. Baker III Hall, Suite 120
Houston, TX 77005
United States
Website
www.bakerinstitute.orgMain Phone Number
News
Russian ‘Ghost Tankers’ Stalk Global Oil Markets
As many as 600 ghost tankers ferry Russian crude oil and oil products to markets at high risk and reduced prices.
Expert: OPEC’s Production Hold Reveals Shift from Active to Reactive
Oil cartel will take its time to evaluate impact of the EU’s ban on seaborne imports and the G7’s $60/bbl price cap for Russian crude.
Experts: When Putin Came to Shove, a Pragmatic Europe Returned to Fossil Fuels
Without Russian natural gas, European governments scramble for enough LNG, but will settle for coal this winter, panelists say at Baker Institute conference.
Exclusive Q&A: Vaca Muerta Headwinds with Baker Institute’s Mark P. Jones
The Rice University Baker Institute for Public Policy’s Political Science Fellow Mark P. Jones recently spoke to Hart Energy about some of the headwinds confronting oil and gas investors eyeing shale opportunities in Argentina’s massive Vaca Muerta formation.
Execs: In an Uncertain Future, Natgas Still Needed
Executives at URTeC share what the oil and gas industry should be focusing on when planning for the future.
Colombian Presidential Hopefuls Diverge on Oil Exploration
With Colombian presidential hopefuls Gustavo Petro and Rodolfo Hernández, the U.S. government and investors are stuck with two bad options when it comes to fracking, energy investment and U.S. foreign relations, an analyst says.
Expert: Russia’s Gas Cutoff has Limited Effect for Now
Poland and Bulgaria had long sought alternatives to Russian energy, but a disruption to the rest of Europe could have major implications.
Energy Policy Watch: Ken Medlock’s Market Outlook and US LNG’s Critical Role
Kenneth B. Medlock III, senior director of the Center for Energy Studies at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, recently joined Energy Policy Watch to discuss energy security and the redrawing of the lines of trade of commodities.
Researchers Address Energy Transition Realism
‘What happens between now and the late 2020s, in all likelihood, will fundamentally determine the failure or success of an accelerated energy transition,’ researchers say in a report.
Navigating the Oil & Gas Industry's Energy Transition
Panelists at the recent Baker Institute’s 2021 Annual Energy Summit offer advice for clients seeking guidance during the uncertain transition period in the energy industry.
IEA: How to Reach Net-zero Emissions on Time
The IEA’s Net Zero by 2050 Roadmap defines the steps needed for the global energy sector to achieve net-zero emissions worldwide by 2050.
The Real Energy Transition to Watch
The energy transition revolution is occurring everywhere in the world, but it doesn’t always look like what’s happening in the U.S., says the Baker Institute’s Ken Medlock.
Oil and Gas Investor: The Fracker’s Guide to the Green Galaxy
The energy future needs landmen, geologists, engineers, places to store CO₂, money and business leaders who understand how to monetize the value chain. It needs oil and gas people. Here’s the playbook and a description of the prize.
Energy ESG Spotlight: Expanding Carbon Capture in Texas
Texas has a comparative advantage when it comes to implementing carbon capture technologies. Here is how the Lone Star State can establish itself as a leader in a low-carbon energy future.
Ban Fracking? 2020 Election Issues for Oil and Gas Execs to Watch
More or less regulation? Will the pace of climate change measures accelerate? What about Washington gridlock? When the polarized electorate chooses leaders, it will also choose a course for national energy policy.