Conservative Christian activists and officials in several states have proposed or implemented laws and policies that weaken church-state separation and promote Christianity in public schools. Education policy must protect church-state separation and address the need for students to access accurate and balanced information about the many religions they will encounter in an increasingly diverse society, writes nonresident scholar David R. Brockman.

This report explores the many challenges in securing minerals and materials for evolving energy needs. From lengthy project timelines to China’s control of supply chains, these obstacles are creating a multifaceted and uncertain energy landscape — and a vast range of possible energy futures.

If Texas policymakers who support school choice programs aim to pass and build a responsible and effective plan next year, they must consider the lessons and oversights already learned in other states’ implementation of similar programs, such as cautions concerning cost overruns, account spending, traditional public education support, and student achievement, writes Christopher F. Kulesza.

Why are normalization talks happening between Turkey’s leading political parties? In a new Edward P. Djerejian Center for the Middle East brief, nonresident fellow A.Kadir Yildirim provides background and insights into why Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has taken this step after years of political polarization.

Research security seeks to safeguard the U.S. science and technology community by identifying potential security risks and developing strategies to minimize their impacts. A recent global workshop hosted at the Baker Institute explored significant themes, major issues, and the challenges ahead. This collaborative report charts a road map for the future of the National Science Foundation (NSF)’s Research on Research Security (RoRS) program.

Ken Medlock offers a brief history of the Center for Energy Studies and an overview of its data-driven, cross-cutting research on the forces propelling energy market evolution.

Osamah Alsayegh discusses how the recent Iran-Iraq gas deal and the reestablishment of Iran-Saudi Arabia relations signal increased regional cooperation in the Persian Gulf to tackle energy and water challenges, despite geopolitical pressures and U.S. opposition.

The link from resource endowment to profitability is intimately tied to the full supply chain. In the U.S., concern about market concentration in China is motivating policy intervention to reorient supply chains in the interest of energy and national security. This is not without its obstacles, however. Michelle Michot Foss discusses how new U.S. laws intersect with the challenges of aligning materials supply chains with green energy goals amid political and economic pressures.

Rachel A. Meidl discusses why sustainability requires an approach that includes environmental, social, and economic factors across the entire supply chain spanning the life cycle of energy systems. Sustainability must move beyond a narrow focus on carbon metrics to address broader impacts and drive innovation. As companies emphasize sustainability imperatives, life cycle management will become increasingly important.