PrintSheldon Himelfarb
Associate Vice President, Center of Innovation for Science, Technology, & Peacebuilding / Media, Conflict, & Peacebuilding
Sheldon Himelfarb joined USIP from The Corporate Executive Board, where he was on the Technology Practice Leadership Team, working with Chief Information Officers from governments, universities, and multi-national corporations. Prior to this, he served as foreign policy adviser to a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the head of North American Documentary Development for Yorkshire TV, and the CEO/Executive Producer for Common Ground Productions, the media division of Search for Common Ground. He is an award-winning filmmaker, former commentator for National Public Radio (Sunday Morning Edition) and author of numerous articles on politics, popular culture and conflict. He has managed peacebuilding programs in numerous conflicts, including Bosnia, Iraq, Angola, Liberia, Macedonia, Burundi and received the Capitol Area Peace Maker award from American University.
He holds a Ph.D. from Oxford University and a B.A. in political science from Johns Hopkins University. He has held visiting or guest scholar positions at the Brookings Institution, Harvard University and the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University.
Partial List of Productions:
- Nashe Maalo drama series (Common Ground Productions and Sesame Workshop for Macedonian TV, 2000)
- Africa: Search for Common Ground (series for Common Ground Publications, 1998)
- From Fury to Forgiveness (Discovery Channel, 1994)
- Follow the Flag (A&E networks, 1993)
- A Heart Beat Away (A&E networks, 1991)
- Four Hours in My Lai (PBS, 1989)
Resources & Tools
 |
Countries: Iran
| Issue Areas: International and Regional Organizations, Political Systems and International Relations
|
 |
It would be tempting to pronounce American public diplomacy dead in the 21st century. Where government once served as a powerful middleman for information and access, shaping prevailing messages about the United States, now the Internet connects two billion people directly. The result is a brave new world for multilateral international communication, with unprecedented power to connect and divide, spread truth and rumor, and organize dispersed individuals for good, evil, and everything in between. |
 |
The Center pursues collaborations and research to predict the potential of climate change in sparking or exacerbating conflict. Issue Areas: Science and Technology
|
 |
The Center of Innovation for Science, Technology, and Peacebuilding is proposing the evaluation of select scientific and technical collaborations between countries to identify the active ingredients that makes them channels of peacebuilding. Issue Areas: Science and Technology
|
 |
The Center of Innovation for Science, Technology, and Peacebuilding has partnered with Education and Training Center/ International (ETC/I) to explore in-depth Serious Gaming and Simulations as tools for improved decision-making by peacebuilders. Issue Areas: Education, Science and Technology
|
 |
Through this initiative, the Center for Science, Technology & Peacebuilding finds ways to utilize quantitative and analytical tools to map online discourse and content in USIP’s priority conflict areas. Issue Areas: Science and Technology
|
Events
 |
February 5, 2010
USC's Center on Public Diplomacy and USIP's Center of Innovation for Science Technology and Peacebuilding are holding a conference to explore the merits and challenges of science diplomacy, not solely as conducted by the United States, but by nations across the world. Issue Areas: Negotiation and Diplomacy, Science and Technology
|
 |
February 1, 2010
Please join USIP for a frank discussion of the conflict between the Iranian regime and opposition and its implications for the Obama administration. The meeting will also be available via USIP webcast. Countries: Iran
| Issue Areas: Civil Society, Conflict Management and Resolution, Governance, Human Rights, International and Regional Organizations, Negotiation and Diplomacy, Nongovernmental Organizations, Political Systems and International Relations, Religion, Science and Technology, Use of Force, Women, Youth
| Programs: Jennings Randolph Senior Fellowship Program
|
 |
October 1, 2009
While public diplomacy experts struggle to develop strategic communications campaigns to win hearts and minds abroad, new research on the frontiers of neuroscience and psychology suggests a different approach. Issue Areas: Civil Society, Communications and Media, Conflict Analysis, Conflict Management and Resolution, Early Warning & Conflict Prevention, Education, Governance, Human Rights, Identity, Ethnicity, and Culture, International and Regional Organizations, Mediation and Facilitation, Negotiation and Diplomacy, Peacebuilding, Peacekeeping, Post-Conflict Activities, Science and Technology
|
 |
July 16, 2009
USIP's Center of Innovation for Science, Technology and Peacebuilding hosted a full-day multimedia showcase of state-of-the-art simulation and "serious gaming" tools that promise to transform the way that peacebuilding organizations train, plan and collaborate. The "Smart Tools for Smart Power" event featured presentations from such innovators as IBM, the Army War College, EBay, Lockheed Martin, Second Life, and USIP's own Education and Training Center. U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer Beth Noveck presented the keynote address. |
 |
June 17, 2009
This panel discussion presented findings from an unprecedented comprehensive mapping of the Arabic-language blogosphere, and explored its implications for political change and conflict in the Middle East. Issue Areas: Communications and Media, Science and Technology
|
 |
March 12, 2009
USIP/National Academies (NA) Roundtable Planning Session on “Science, Technology, and Peacebuilding”
The Center of Innovation for Science, Technology, and Peacebuilding partnered with National Academies of Science and of Engineering to launch a major, multi-year roundtable on science, technology, and peacebuilding. An initial planning meeting co-organized by the National Academies and USIP was held on March 12 to clarify the scope of the proposed roundtable’s activities. Issue Areas: Science and Technology
|
 |
February 3, 2009
Distinguished panelists and citizen journalists around the world to discuss the role of media in public diplomacy. |
|
July 8, 1999
|