The Program for International Studies in Asia (PISA) aims to build a community of scholars, officials, policy analysts, and citizens who can conduct an informed dialogue on the central issues affecting the Asia-Pacific region. PISA engages with individuals who can participate constructively in the region's emerging regimes and who can help develop a common vocabulary for analyzing international problems and to reach a common understanding of those issues.  We emphasize human resource development by organizing training progrms and by assisting in curriculum development and program development for the region's leading institutions.

As PISA is about to celebrate its 25th Anniversary, it is joining the worldwide movement to grapple with the challenge of global climate change. Thanks to generous support from the Ford Foundation and the Chino Cienega Foundation, with additional underwriting from private sector partners ESRI Vietnam, Spot-Image, Inc. and Planet Action, PISA and the Institute of World Economics and Politics (IWEP) will sponsor a Leadership Institute on Creative Responses to Global Climate Change in Hanoi, October 22-31, 2008.

PISA colleagues, Suzanne Kelly-Lyall, Deputy Director and Helen Davisson, Program Assistant are contributing their experience, skills and unbridled enthusiasm to developing this project.

I look forward to sharing more news about the program in the coming weeks.