Student think-tank on terrorism, intelligence

An online think-tank which explores issues of intelligence, terrorism and international relations has been established by students at Oxford and Adelaide universities.

Project GOA is a global postgraduate-led think-tank aimed at connecting students, scholars and practitioners in the fields of intelligence, counter-terrorism and international relations.

Adelaide PhD student Charles Vandepeer was recently invited to present a lecture at the University of Oxford as part of the launch of Project GOA.

The lecture was based on Charles's current research into intelligence analysis and decision-making, being undertaken through the School of History and Politics, which provided funding and support for the visit.

"Whilst a student-led think-tank is an ambitious idea, the enthusiasm and determination amongst postgraduates has seen this initiative become a reality," Charles said.

"The think-tank provides postgraduates with an online forum to debate and critique ideas as well as publish and get credit for their research.

"The initial link between postgraduate students at these two universities is reflected in the name Project GOA, an acronym of Graduates at Oxford and Adelaide. However, the project is already expanding to take advantage of interest from students at a number of other universities, and the plan is to develop the think-tank more broadly into North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

"In addition to academic funding, the not-for-profit think-tank has already attracted private sector support in the United Kingdom, enabling the Project to secure its future for the next three years," he said.

Charles said the University of Adelaide's support for this initiative reflected growing interest in the field of intelligence.

"In 2006 and 2007 the School of History and Politics ran intelligence conferences involving postgraduate students, academics, researchers and practitioners in the field. In addition, the School has added a number of intelligence courses as part of the International Relations program."

In another Adelaide link, Associate Professor Felix Patrikeeff in the School of History and Politics has been invited to act as a Project GOA Counsellor.

As part of the initiative, an international video-conference between Oxford and Adelaide will be run in June this year. Current and past postgraduate students who are interested in being involved should contact Charles via email: charles.vandepeer@adelaide.edu.au

A copy of Charles's lecture is available on the think-tank's website: www.goa-intelligence.org