Baker Institute climbs think tank ranks

By Tina Nazerian     2/10/14 6:00pm

The James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy has risen in the Think Tanks and Civil Society's Program's 2013 survey rankings, moving to No. 11 from No. 13 among the world's top university-affiliated think tanks. It also rose to No. 5 from No. 6 among the world's energy and resource policy think tanks and to No. 20 from No. 21 among the United States' top think tanks, according to Janice and Robert McNair Director of Public Policy, Ambassador Edward Djerejian. 

"While all the three categories under which Rice University's Baker Institute is ranked are important, it is particularly relevant that in 2013 we rose to be the 5th best global think tank on energy and resource policy and the 11th best university-affiliated think tank," Djerejian said. "Our energy program is one of our earliest public policy initiatives taking advantage of our location in Houston - the energy capital of the world."

Baker Institute Director of Operations and Finance Ryan Kirksey said the institute is especially proud of its No. 11 ranking in best university-affiliated think tanks in the world. 

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"This ranking reflects that the Baker Institute has a respected global reputation and places Rice alongside the top universities in the world, such as Harvard, Oxford,  [Paris Institute of Political Science] and the London School of Economics," Kirksey said.

According to Kirksey, the institute's strategic direction, including the development of the Center for Energy Studies, helped raise the ratings.

"The institute has begun focusing on developing consolidated centers of research excellence," Kirksey said. "Our first and largest center is the Center for Energy Studies. Its comprehensive focus on the future of global energy helped solidify its status as a top five energy resource in the world."

Djerejian said the Baker Institute has adhered to certain basic principles since its inception. 

"First, we are focused on producing objective and data-based [analyses] of relevant domestic and foreign policy issues, accompanied by clear recommendations addressed to decision makers in the public and private sectors," Djerejian said. "Second, we are a non-partisan public policy institution. Third, we have based our public policy research programs on the principle of comparative advantage."

According to Kirksey, the Baker Institute's goal is to remain one of the top five energy and resource policy think tanks, move into the top ten of global university-affiliated think tanks and enter the top 15 of all U.S. think tanks, in addition to entering new lists on the report such as Top Domestic Economic Policy Think Tanks and Top Health Policy Think Tanks.

"These categories coincidentally represent the likely next two areas that will be developed into centers at the Baker Institute," Kirksey said. "In addition, we hope our new website and its capabilities, as well as our upcoming hire of a director of strategic communications, assist us in entering the categories for Think Tanks With the Best Use of the Internet and Think Tanks With the Best External Relations Program."

According to Djerejian, the national and global recognition that the Baker Institute has received enhances its outreach to new audiences and increases its ability to influence public policy discussion and debate in the United States and abroad.

Wiess College sophomore Vicky Comesanas said she thinks the rise in rankings is great news and means the policy recommendations the Baker Institute puts out will have a bigger voice than they already do. 

"In general, the rank increases are probably going to mean more funding," Comesanas said. "For students, this will translate to more opportunities to get involved at the Baker Institute. Hopefully, we'll see some expansions in the programs already in place, such as the summer in Washington internship program. I can't really tell you much about how funds are allocated within BIPP because I'm not sure, but it'd be cool to see that happen."

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