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Prague Security Studies Institute Receives 2007 Templeton Freedom Award

05.04.2007

The Prague Security Studies Institute (PSSI) has been selected from among 200 applicants in 53 countries to receive 2007 Templeton Freedom Award for Student Outreach.

Arlington, VA, March 12, 2007 — The Prague Security Studies Institute (PSSI has been selected from among 200 applicants in 53 countries to receive 2007 Templeton Freedom Award for Student Outreach. This competition, managed by the Atlas Economic Research Foundation (www.atlasusa.org), is named in honor of famed investor and philanthropist Sir John Templeton. Since 2003, Sir John has utilized a prestigious panel of independent judges to distribute well over $ 1 million in grants and prizes to exemplary independent research institutes. PSSI also was awarded a grant of 10,000. PSSI is to be honored on April 24, 2007 in Philadelphia at the Atlas Liberty Forum. 

”This is an extraordinary achievement and honor for PSSI. This award commemorates our fifth year of offering a security studies program for university students in the Czech Republic and the region. Indeed, our active work with NATO, like-minded US, European and Canadian institutes, and Asian scholars has made PSSI a global resource for those pursuing an advanced degree in the vital field of security studies” stated Oldrich Cerny, Executive Director and Co-Founder of PSSI.

PSSI was founded in early 2002 and is the first non-governmental policy group of its kind to partner with the historic Charles University to sponsor and help structure a Master’s Degree Program. It has also endowed a chair in Security Studies at the University. On its premises in Prague, PSSI conducts a comprehensive one-year introductory program in security studies for some 15-17 university students annually, that are named PSSI Security Scholars. The Institute also conducts regular seminars, a NATO Summer School, and world-class conferences on cutting-edge security-related challenges.

In addition, PSSI has worked in cooperation with the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs in organizing one-week workshops for students and young professionals from pre-transition countries, such as Belarus and Moldova, as well as emerging democracies including Ukraine, Serbia and Georgia, focused on developing security-minded institutions and policy-making processes. 

“We are especially grateful to Sir John Templeton for this important recognition of our work and the Atlas Economic Research Foundation for its unswerving support and guidance since PSSI’s inception” commented Roger Robinson, PSSI Co-Founder and Executive Director of the newly opened PSSI Washington Inc.

 
For additional information on Prague Security Studies Institute, visit our website (www.pssi.cz) or contact Jana Kosarkova, Development Manager of PSSI at (001) 202-680-4519, e-mail: kosarkova@pssi.cz.