The Watson Institute awarded Birkelund funds to five faculty research projects during the 2023 - 2024 academic year. Projects ranged from studying civilian-military coordination during the pandemic to creating a study group between Brown students and faculty, and quilombola communities in Brazil.

Eight Watson Institute Master of Public Affairs students were named Director's Fellows in September. Fellows spent the fall semester working on projects in faculty-led research groups at Watson and in Watson centers.

This year six Watson research proposals were awarded a total of $121,486 in Birkelund Funds. The funds are used to support faculty research — especially in the early stages — and to encourage student engagement in research.

A report released by the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies examines civilian-military interaction during the first year and a half of the U.S.'s national response to COVID-19.

The Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies and the Refugee Dream Center released a new report titled, "'Then, We Lost Everything:' Afghan Evacuee Experiences of Operation Allies Refuge and Operation Allies Welcome."