49: Child Health and Urban Design
Baker Briefing
American children today are less active than ever before, raising important concerns about physical health, mental health, well-being, and autonomy. This episode explores the relationship between our urban environments, childhood safety, and well-being. A transcript of the episode is available . This text was AI-generated and has not been through editorial review. Discussants Nonresident Fellow, Baker Institute; Associate Professor of Pediatrics, UTHealth Houston Huffington Fellow in Child Health Policy, Baker Institute Fellow in Energy and Transportation Policy, Baker Institute This...
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48: How Texas Is Testing the Line Between Church and State in Schools
Baker Briefing
Legislative attempts to undermine church-state separation in Texas reached a crescendo in 2023, according to a from nonresident scholar David Brockman. This episode features a conversation between Brockman and fellow Ed Emmett on three high-profile bills introduced by Texas lawmakers in 2023 and their connection to a broader movement that seeks to privilege Christianity in public schools. A transcript of the episode is available . This text was AI-generated and has not been through editorial review. Discussants Nonresident Fellow Fellow in Energy and Transportation Policy This...
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47: Mayor Whitmire’s Plan for Houston
Baker Briefing
Houston Mayor John Whitmire just marked his first 100 days in office. In that time he’s taken steps intended to improve the city's finances, public safety, infrastructure, mobility options, and delivery of services. This special episode features an armchair conversation between Whitmire and Ed Emmett, a Baker Institute fellow and former Harris County judge, on the past and future of Houston. The event was held on April 3 in front of a live audience at Rice University. A transcript of the episode is available . This text was AI-generated and has not been through editorial review. ...
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46: Adapting the Texas Power Grid to Meet Evolving Energy Needs
Baker Briefing
Since Winter Storm Uri knocked out power throughout Texas in February 2021, causing billions of dollars in damage and hundreds of deaths, preparing the Texas grid for extreme weather has been a top priority for the state. But the power grid — serviced by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) — faces other pressures, too. Population growth, economic expansion, increased adoption of electric vehicles, and cryptocurrency mining have all placed increased demands on the state’s energy infrastructure. In this episode, experts in energy and economics explore how Texas can adapt the...
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45: Will Taiwan’s Energy Policy Doom Its Push for Sovereignty?
Baker Briefing
On Jan. 13, Taiwanese voters elected William Lai, a member of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and a separatist in the eyes of Beijing, to be their next president. Experts discuss what Lai’s victory means for the island's energy policy, cross-strait relations, and push for sovereignty. Discussants Baker Botts Fellow in Energy & Environmental Regulatory Affairs, Baker Institute Research Manager, Center for Energy Studies, Baker Institute C.V. Starr Transnational China Fellow, Baker Institute Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert...
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44: What’s At Stake for Mexico in 2024? On the Border, Elections, and Democracy
Baker Briefing
On June 2, Mexico will hold its largest elections ever. Voters will decide whether or not the ruling left-wing MORENA party will stay in power. Meanwhile, in the U.S., election season is heating up, and the southern border is top of mind for voters and politicians alike. On this episode, Tony Payan, Jose Ivan Rodriguez-Sanchez, and Ed Emmett discuss what's ahead for Mexico and U.S.-Mexico relations. Discussants: Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and Director, Center for the U.S. and Mexico, Baker Institute Research Scholar, Baker Institute Fellow in Energy and...
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43: America's Child Care Problem
Baker Briefing
The U.S. child care industry has faced major challenges in recent years, including high staff turnover and a shortage of providers — particularly affordable ones. These issues only intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought the growing child care crisis into focus. As $39 billion in child care assistance funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) began to phase out in September 2023, onlookers warned that up to 3 million children could experience disruptions in child care nationwide — a “child care cliff.” Join and fellows Ed Emmett and Dr. Joyce Beebe as they discuss...
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42: Forced Displacement Amid Global Conflict
Baker Briefing
More than 100 days into the Israel-Gaza conflict, over 1.9 million people have been internally displaced — facing a lack of shelter, food security, and access to critical services. In the last decade, refugee numbers have surged with conflicts in Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Palestine. Here, we discuss the complexities and distinctions between refugees and internally displaced people. Discussants: Ana Martin Gil, Research Manager, Edward P. Djerejian Center for the Middle East, Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy Kelsey Norman, Director, Women’s Rights, Human...
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41: Alabama Ruled Frozen Embryos Are Children. Now What?
Baker Briefing
On Feb. 16, the Alabama Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law. The decision has major implications for reproductive health access in the United States, particularly for the fertility treatment known as IVF. This episode takes a closer look at the science of human embryo research and the potential impacts of the Alabama ruling. Discussants Fellow in Energy and Transportation Policy, Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy , Fellow in Science and Technology Policy, Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy ,...
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40: Growing Unrest in the Red Sea
Baker Briefing
Since October 2023, Houthi militants have deployed missile and drone attacks in Yemen against maritime targets in the Red Sea — creating security concerns along shipping routes in one of the world’s busiest chokepoints. As a result, the world is experiencing another major disruption to global supply chains as vessels have been rerouted around Africa. Here, we assess the security threat in the Red Sea in light of evolving regional geopolitical shifts arising from the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, as well as the thawing of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Discussants: ...
info_outlineModern-day stresses affect our mental health—but how are they impacting our brain chemistry? An emerging area of research argues that, if unaddressed, deteriorating brain health could diminish economic productivity, social cohesion, and overall happiness. This episode digs into the idea of “brain capital:” a framework that addresses intersections between brain health and other areas of public policy. Baker Institute Fellow Harris Eyre joins Ed Emmett for an introductory conversation.
Discussants:
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Edward M Emmett, Fellow in Energy and Transportation Policy, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy
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Dr. Harris Eyre MBBS, Ph.D, Fellow in the Center for Health and Biosciences, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy
This episode was recorded on January 11, 2024. Read more of Dr. Eyre’s brain capital research.