Excellent PRIO

I know this is already posted on the intranet, but I just think it is so overwhelming that it deserves mention in all possible channels: PRIO’s two journals - the Journal of Peace Research and Security Dialogue – are both on the Web of Science top 10 impact factor list for international relations journals. Without in any way belittling PRIO, it is truly astounding that a comparatively small institute, physically located in the world’s periphery, is ruling the discipline. We owe a lot to the two editors, Nils Petter and Peter, to the very competent editorial staff, and to all those academics who contribute as associate editors, on the respective boards, and as referees. A press release is being sent out.

Those of us based at PRIO know that the success is rooted in an amazing environment. Last week, for example, PRIO organized no less than three seminar events, profiling its work in three important areas:

• On Monday, there was an afternoon event on Migration and Development at PRIO, with a good debate between Cindy and Hein de Haas (University of Oxford), facilitated by Martha. Followed by refreshments, food and mingling in the courtyard.

• From Monday to Thursday, there was the Conference on Climate Change and Security in Trondheim, organized as the 250th Anniversary Conference for The Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters. See the blog (a pioneer social media experiment!) as well as Nils Petter’s article in Aftenposten. A hugely important event, for PRIO, and for taking stock of the research on the climate change–security connection.

• On Thursday, PRIO hosted a seminar on the World Bank’s 2010 ‘flagship report’, Peace, Stability and Development in the Middle East and North Africa, to which the CSCW has contributed significantly.
  

And this was only one week. I could have mentioned the week before – with the CSCW’s Facts and Myths About Civil Wars, a seminar on NATO and the women, a seminar on diasporas and their contributions to peace – just to further underline the tremendous activity level at PRIO. Soon there will be some rest for most of you – it will be well-deserved!