Laurie (whose Rotary resume is pretty amazing) spoke about her work with a think tank, the Institute of Economics & Peace and on a project in Mexico with the MacArthur Foundation.
The IEP conducts a statistical analysis of peace at the global and national level which resulted in the Global Peace Index. Laurie is a GPI Ambassador, whose role is to share the findings with the Rotary network. The four key areas of research are Measuring Peace, Positive Peace, Economics of Peace, and Understanding Risk. As Laurie said, to take a deep dive, please visit www.economicsandpeace.org.
 
In Mexico, Laurie researched the 2014 disappearance of 42 students from a rural teachers’ college. Pressure from civil society about the lack of justice led to an international panel of scientists being called in to investigate. Its findings were very critical of the corruption within the Mexican government and the government’s attempt to close the case immediately. Although the boys still have not been found, the power of civil discourse and the scientific investigations shows the benefits of waging peace through interdisciplinary means.