WHO:             Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program of the International   Relations Program at the University of Pennsylvania

WHAT:            2012 Global Go-To Think Tanks Rankings

WHEN:           Thursday, Jan. 17

WHERE:         8-9:30 a.m., World Bank Auditorium J1-050, J Building, 701 18th Street N.W., Washington (arrive by 7:40 a.m. to clear security)

                        3-4:30 p.m., United Nations University, Conference Room 4, North Lawn Building, 1st Avenue and 44th Street, New York (arrive by 2:40 to clear security)

Launched in 2006, Penn’s “Global Go-To Think Tank Rankings” annual report has become an authoritative source for the top public policy research institutes in the world. The report helps improve the profile and performance of think tanks while highlighting the important work they do for governments and civil societies around the world.

James G. McGann, director of Penn’s Think Tanks and Civil Society Program, says the latest report ranks 6,500 think tanks.  It is based on a 2012 international survey of more than 1,950 scholars, public and private donors, policy makers and journalists.  They utilized a set of 23 TTCSP-developed criteria in 30 category rankings.  On Jan. 24 the report will be available on the University of Pennsylvania Scholarly Commons.

Media representatives are encouraged to RSVP indicating DC/WB or NYC/UN to Sandra Mazlagic at mazlagic@gmail.com.