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Lewis M. Branscomb

Lewis M. Branscomb

Director Emeritus of the Science, Technology and Public Policy Program; Professor Emeritus of Public Policy and Corporate Management

Member of the Board, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs

Contact:
Telephone: (617) 495-1853
Fax: (617) 495-8963
Email: Lewis_Branscomb@harvard.edu
Website: http://www.branscomb.org

 

 

By Program/Project

 

International Security

April 1992

Beyond Spinoff: Military and Commercial Technologies in a Changing World

Book

By Ashton B. Carter, Former Co-Director, Preventive Defense Project, Harvard & Stanford Universities, Lewis M. Branscomb, Director Emeritus of the Science, Technology and Public Policy Program; Professor Emeritus of Public Policy and Corporate Management, John A. Alic and Gerald Epstein

This 1992 book offers a critical reappraisal of traditional relationships between the military and industry.

 

 

"Japanese Innovation Strategies: Technical Support for Business Visions"

Occasional Paper

By Lewis M. Branscomb, Director Emeritus of the Science, Technology and Public Policy Program; Professor Emeritus of Public Policy and Corporate Management

 

Science, Technology, and Public Policy

AP Photo

February 2010

"Rail Transportation of Toxic Inhalation Hazards: Policy Responses to the Safety and Security Externality"

Discussion Paper

By Lewis M. Branscomb, Director Emeritus of the Science, Technology and Public Policy Program; Professor Emeritus of Public Policy and Corporate Management, Mark Fagan, Philip Auerswald, Associate, Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program, Ryan N. Ellis and Raphael Barcham

Toxic inhalation hazard (TIH) chemicals such as chlorine gas and anhydrous ammonia are among the most dangerous of hazardous materials. Rail transportation of TIH creates risk that is not adequately reflected in the costs, creating a TIH safety and security externality. This paper describes and evaluates policy alternatives that might effectively mitigate the dangers of TIH transportation by rail. After describing the nature of TIH risk and defining the TIH externality, general policy approaches to externalities from other arenas are examined. Potential risk reduction strategies and approaches for each segment of the supply chain are reviewed. The paper concludes by summarizing policy options and assessing some of the most promising means to reduce the risks of transportation of toxic inhalation hazards. Four policy approaches are recommended: internalizing external costs through creation of a fund for liability and claims, improving supply chain operations, enhancing emergency response and focusing regulatory authority. It is further suggested that the Department of Transportation convene a discussion among stakeholder representatives to evaluate policy alternatives.

 

 

September 2006

Seeds of Disaster, Roots of Response: How Private Action Can Reduce Public Vulnerability

Book

By Lewis M. Branscomb, Director Emeritus of the Science, Technology and Public Policy Program; Professor Emeritus of Public Policy and Corporate Management, Philip Auerswald, Associate, Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program, Todd M. La Porte and Erwann O. Michel-Kerjan

Seeds of Disaster, Roots of Response ... describes effective and sustainable approaches — both business strategies and public policies — to ensure provision of critical services in the event of disaster.

 

 

September, 2006

Leadership: Who Will Act?

Book Chapter

By Lewis M. Branscomb, Director Emeritus of the Science, Technology and Public Policy Program; Professor Emeritus of Public Policy and Corporate Management and Philip Auerswald, Associate, Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program

 

 

September, 2006

Where Private Efficiency Meets Public Vulnerability: The Critical Infrastructure Challenge

Book Chapter

By Lewis M. Branscomb, Director Emeritus of the Science, Technology and Public Policy Program; Professor Emeritus of Public Policy and Corporate Management and Philip Auerswald, Associate, Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program

 

 

September, 2006

A Nation Forewarned: Vulnerability of Critical Infrastructure in the Twenty-First Century

Book Chapter

By Lewis M. Branscomb, Director Emeritus of the Science, Technology and Public Policy Program; Professor Emeritus of Public Policy and Corporate Management

 

 

September, 2006

Building Trust: Private-Public Collaboration on a National and International Scale

Book Chapter

By Lewis M. Branscomb, Director Emeritus of the Science, Technology and Public Policy Program; Professor Emeritus of Public Policy and Corporate Management

 

 

January 1, 2006

"Innovate or Perish"

Op-Ed, Los Angeles Times

By Lewis M. Branscomb, Director Emeritus of the Science, Technology and Public Policy Program; Professor Emeritus of Public Policy and Corporate Management

THE UNITED STATES is losing its competitive advantage and may soon lose its innovative edge....

 

 

October 11, 2005

"Ensuring (and Insuring?) Critical Information Infrastructure Protection"

Working Paper

By Kenneth Neil Cukier, Viktor Mayer-Schoenberger, Faculty Affiliate, Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program and Lewis M. Branscomb, Director Emeritus of the Science, Technology and Public Policy Program; Professor Emeritus of Public Policy and Corporate Management

The participants...were largely optimistic that provided market forces could be brought to bear on the issue of critical information infrastructure protection, many of today’s challenges could be alleviated.

 

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