2005 Research And Fundraising Presentation

1. Iranian Studies Group at MIT گروه مطالعات ایرانی دانشگاه 2005 Research And Fundraising Presentation March 5, 2005 MIT Faculty Club

2. Quick Overview “ The ISG is a prominent university-based group in North America currently doing applied research on Iran and Iranian-Americans from a native Iranian, non-partisan, objective and policy-oriented perspective. We have one of the strongest teams of Iranian ancestry assembled in North America that has made research on Iran and Iranian-Americans its priority. Our network spans hundreds of Ph.D. students, postdocs and faculty members, businessmen and entrepreneurs who have developed trust in our capabilities, vision and leadership.

3. Quick Overview With this human capital, and the resources at our disposal through MIT, we have set our minds on improving the status of Iranian-Americans in the U.S., and to help the long-term social, economic and technological development of Iran. You are here, because we believe you care for these goals as well. As such we want to convince you in the next 40 minutes that supporting us will go a long way in achieving these goals. “

4. Mission ISG is a non-partisan, academic research group with the aim of promoting an analytical understanding of the long-term social, economic, political and cultural issues related to the development of the Iranian society through consultation with and dialogue amongst intellectuals, experts and the public at large

5. History • Established as a non-profit academic organization in September 2002. • Founded by four active members at MIT. Has grown to over 30 members from MIT, Harvard, Northeastern, BU and other universities in the U.S., Europe and Iran. • In its short existence, ISG has been recognized by U.S. and Iranian media, Iranian-American organizations and academic groups as a leading organization on Iranian and Iranian-American research.

6. Organization Board of Directors Overseeing activities and general guidelines 4 academics and 2 business/community leaders Executive Board In charge of managing research strategy and tactics Currently 6 Doctoral Students Research Associates Conducting research projects under supervision of executives Currently 14 Ph.D. Candidates, Academics and Professionals

7. What We Do • ISG Research Projects • Iran Analysis Quarterly Journal • ISG Lecture Series • ISG Community Services

8. ISG Research Highlights Research on Iran Research on Iranian-American Community

9. Iranian-American Community Survey • Nationwide community survey of individuals of Iranian ancestry from January-March 2005 • 3880 individuals (more than 1.2% of the total official population of Iranian-Americans) responded. • Survey focused on social and cultural characteristics and concerns of community • To be continued on an annual basis • Can help Iranian-American organizations serve their constituents better by understanding their makeup and needs. • Status: 2005 Survey Completed, Starting Second Phase

10. Census-based Socioeconomic Characteristics of the Iranian-American Community • Report published on Socioeconomic characteristics of the Iranian-American Community based on the 2000 U.S. Census Summary File 4 Data • Iranian-Americans among the highest educated and most successful among 67 ancestry groups • Report covered by national media outlets such as the Washington Times, the LA Times and the Washington File. • Translations published in major Iranian reform Newspaper • Radio Interviews on the Report with BBC World Service, and Local and national radio Stations • Status: Completed

11. Women’s Studies Group • Research on Women’s movements in Iran and abroad, with focus on capacity building for women NGOs. • Currently 9 female Researchers supervised by Dr. Assyeh Mir • Project for translation of “Iron-jawed Angels” into Persian headed by Bahar Mikhak.

12. Social Networks and the Iranian Youth • More than 300,000 Iranians are part of Orkut, the largest internet-based social network in the world, making Iran the third largest represented nation after Brazil and the United States. • Unique opportunity to study the characteristics and interests of the Iranian youth who make up more than 70% of Iranians in Orkut. • We have used computerized methods to extract data on interests, socioeconomic and educational backgrounds, communities of interest and social interactions from a random sample of around 1000 individuals. • Status: In Progress

13. Natural Disaster Management For Iran • Recent earthquake in Zarand, and the previous earthquake in Bam highlighted the need for coherent and comprehensive strategies for dealing with earthquakes in Iran. • ISG has published a report on the scientific, social and economic issues in natural disaster management. • More customized reports to the Iranian situation needed • Status: Report Published, Second Phase in Progress

14. Other Current and Planned Projects • Qualitative Survey of Second Generation Iranian- American Youth • Presenting Iran: Challenging Stereo Types • Online English-Persian Web-Translator • Iranian Development Gateway Information Portal • Privatization of State-Owned Enterprises in Iran • U.S.-Iran Relations and the Effect of Sanctions • Returning to Iran: Challenges and Potentials • Sector Analysis of Iranian Industry

15. Past Publications • Factsheet on the Iranian-American Community (December 2003) • Earthquake Management for Iran (January 2004) • Socioeconomic Characteristics of the Iranian-American Community (February 2004) • Iranian-American Civic Participation (March 2004) • Bibliographia Iranica (more than 280 pages of Bibliography on Iranian Studies) (October 2004) • Privatization of State Owned Enterprises (November 2004) • Factsheet on the Legal and Historical Status of the Persian Gulf (February 2005)

16. Iran Analysis Quarterly Journal • The Iran Analysis Quarterly is an academic journal dealing with social, political, economic, cultural, and development issues of contemporary Iranian society, published every three months. • As of January 2005, four issues have been published. Next Issue in Late March • Distribution to more than 250 academic institutions worldwide • ISSN application filed with the Library of Congress

17. ISG Lecture Series • Four Lectures a Year • Range of topics, such as the fate of democracy in Iran, nonviolent action, women’s rights, ethnic and minority rights in Iran, and Persian modernity, The China Model and Iranian Economic Reform, and Culture of Modernity • Speakers have included Mr. Siamak Namazi (Iran), Dr. Farzin Vahdat (Harvard), Dr. Gene Sharp (Albert Einstein Institution), Dr. Houchang Chehabi (BU), Dr. Shahla Haeri (BU), Dr. Abbas Milani (Stanford), Dr. Mohsen Kadivar (Iran), Dr. Abdolkarim Soroush (Iran), Mr. Faraj Sarkoohi (Journalist, Iran)

18. ISG Community Services • Letter to Senator Kennedy with Iranian Association of Boston • Invited Lecture for MIT Political Science Department on Modern Iranian History • Factsheet on Visa issues for Iranian students submitted to Congressman Marty Meehan of Massachusetts • Persian Gulf Historical and Legal Factsheet for National Iranian-American Council and other Iranian-American Organizations challenging National Geographic • Organizational Support for Harvard Carr Center Lectures and MIT Women’s Studies Lectures

19. Solid Position Within MIT • MIT has increasingly recognized ISG as a promising research center. ISG is featured in the MIT Middle East catalog as one of the main knowledge bases for Iranian Studies. • President’s office at MIT has pledged to include ISG in its fundraising efforts • Director for Center for International Studies at MIT has expressed interest in extensive cooperation with ISG. • Dean of the Humanities and Social Sciences has expressed support for ISG’s research program.

20. Sustainability and Continuity • As a student-based organization, we have tried hard to design our structure so it will not be dependent on particular people • Much of the work takes place In virtual space enabling former members to continue cooperation • Process documentation work has been meticulous • Transition periods have been designed to transfer organizational knowledge and memory to new Executives • Executive board members are automatically nominated for Board of Director positions and kept in contact with organization

21. Similar Organizations • ISG is a unique organization, yet there are other organizations that engage in one or more aspect of ISG’s activities.

22. Our Value Added • Core Organizational Capabilities: • Areas of Expertise: Contemporary Iranian politics, Iranian economic development, Iranian technological development, public policy, political economy, systems thinking, International relations, Iranian social history, International Negotiation and Conflict Resolution and Iranian Science-Policy • Excellence: Members are among the best of their peers with tens of national and international awards for academic achievements in science, engineering and management. • Credibility: Affiliation with MIT, alongside with enormous success and public support for past activities has made ISG one of the most credible organizations within the limits of its activities. • Non-partisanship and Objectivity: The ISG principle of not advocating positions or politics as part of its research has allowed us to form relations with individuals and organizations from all walks of Iranian and Iranian-American society.

23. Our Value Added • Our Network • Our academic network includes hundreds of Iranian-American academics and Iranian graduate students across the United States, We also have close contact with more than a dozen American experts on Iranian issues at different think tanks and universities in the U.S. • Our entrepreneurs network reaches CEOs, CTOs and VPs of Top Fortune 500 companies such as Yahoo, Oracle, Google, AT&T, CISCO and AMB Corp., as well as many smaller high-tech firms managed or run by Iranian-American execs. • Our network in Iran includes faculty members and students in departments of management and engineering at Sharif University of Technology and Tehran University. • We are connected to more than 40 Iranian-American organizations that support our activities on Iranian-American issues.

24. Financial Support • ISG receives limited funding ($200-$300 per semester) from the Graduate Student Council for its lectures. These do not cover travel costs for speakers. • ISG Executive Board Members are committed volunteers, and administrative costs are minimal. • We have come a long way with limited funding and the good will of our members and extended network. Yet, it is impossible to become a more professional and sustainable organization without the support of the community. • We need to outsource many of our routine activities to professionals who can take the quality to the next level. • Donations to ISG are channeled through the MIT accounting office, and are considered gifts to MIT. Donations are tax deductible. MIT supervises all financial transactions for the group and requires detailed receipts for all reimbursements.

25. Moral and Strategic Support • Our growth is not just a matter of financial support. • As business and community leaders and successful professionals, we need your feedback in strengthening our organization • We need to establish ourselves in the Boston area more than ever before, and we need champions. We would like you to help us create solid foundations within the Boston-area community. • Let us know of how you think we could best structure our efforts given our goals. Thank You for Coming, For listening and for providing Feedback. We appreciate it.