About The Project on International Peace and Security (PIPS)

The Project on International Peace and Security (PIPS) is a highly selective undergraduate think tank designed to engage students in policy relevant research in the areas of international peace and security. Premised on the belief that rigorous research is a core component of a student’s education, PIPS helps William & Mary’s most promising students contribute to the body of knowledge about and inform policy debates on some of the most pressing security issues of our day.

Students selected to be PIPS research fellows investigate and write papers on questions or topics suggested by members of the policy community. These papers form the bases of honors theses, independent study projects, or publishable articles. In addition to writing research papers, PIPS fellows have the opportunity to present their work to policy officials and scholars at a year-end conference. They also receive assistance with publishing their papers in policy or academic journals, presenting their papers at academic conferences and attaining policy internships.