Texas A&M University has established a new center dedicated to advancing research, teaching and public engagement on the causes, conduct and consequences of war.
The Center for the Study of War and Society will serve as a hub that brings together faculty, students and community partners to examine one of humanity’s most enduring and consequential challenges. The center will deepen understanding of conflict and its lasting effects on individuals, communities, societies and the environment.
Located within the College of Arts and Sciences and working in collaboration with The Bush School of Government and Public Service, as well as other partners across Texas A&M, the center builds on the university’s longstanding strengths in the study of war, military history, public service, archaeology, international affairs and emerging technologies.
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“Texas A&M has long been home to scholars who examine conflict from various perspectives, from history and international affairs to anthropology and public service,” said Dr. Simon North, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “The Center for the Study of War and Society brings together that expertise in a way that reflects our land-grant mission while creating new opportunities for research, collaboration and student success.”
Building a hub for research and innovation
The center will support research while expanding opportunities for faculty and students to collaborate on projects that examine conflict from multiple perspectives.
Among the center’s initial research initiatives are Project OWL, which uses machine learning and historic satellite imagery to locate Vietnam War-era aircraft crash sites, and Mapping Victory, a nationally recognized digital humanities project that uses digital tools to visualize the global history of World War II.
The center will also support initiatives in partnership with the Center for Digital Humanities Research, including projects like GIS-enabled StoryMaps and the digitization of Texas A&M’s extensive World War II map collection.
Dr. Adam R. Seipp, professor of history, associate dean for graduate studies in the College of Arts and Sciences and founding director of the center, said the new initiative creates a collaborative environment where faculty and students can engage some of the most pressing questions facing society today.
“War has shaped human societies across every era and remains one of the defining forces influencing politics, culture, technology and international relations,” Seipp said. “Texas A&M is already a national leader in research and teaching related to war and conflict. The center gives us the opportunity to bring those strengths together, support innovative scholarship and help students develop the knowledge and perspective needed to understand the challenges of today and tomorrow.”
Expanding educational opportunities
A central component of the center’s mission is creating high-impact learning experiences that connect classroom learning with public service, research and professional development.
Working with academic partners across campus, the center plans to explore new curricular opportunities that expand student engagement with war and society studies. Faculty also envision new courses and interdisciplinary learning experiences that connect humanities scholarship with careers in government, public service and national security.
The center will work closely with the Bush School of Government and Public Service to create educational experiences that connect the study of conflict with leadership and service, including a proposed study-away program at the Bush School’s Washington, D.C., site.
One signature initiative will support student participation in conflict archaeology and field investigations related to the recovery of military personnel missing from America’s 20th-century conflicts.
“The establishment of this new center aligns directly with Texas A&M University’s commitment to being a Force for Good,” said Bush School Dean John Sherman ’92. “Understanding the causes and consequences of war and conflict helps prepare the next generation of leaders to navigate complex challenges, make informed decisions and serve the public good. I am especially encouraged by opportunities for hands-on field projects, including efforts to help recover the remains of missing U.S. service members. This is a noble endeavor that creates meaningful opportunities for learning, service and impact.”
The center also will provide an intellectual home for the Texas A&M Journal of War and Society, a student-led publication dedicated to showcasing undergraduate research on topics related to war, conflict and society.
Bringing together expertise from across Texas A&M
The Center for the Study of War and Society draws expertise from across Texas A&M, including faculty in history, anthropology, international affairs, archaeology, geospatial technology, military studies and public service.
Faculty affiliates include scholars whose research spans the American Civil War, the Vietnam War, democracy and conflict, Indigenous history, conflict archaeology, public history, wargaming and global security. Together, they represent a broad range of perspectives on how conflict shapes societies across time and around the world.
As the center begins operations, leaders envision it becoming a nationally recognized destination for research, education and public dialogue about the role of war and conflict in shaping societies.
