Who We Are

We are an internationally based think tank, run by students from around the world. Born out of a partnership between students at Johns Hopkins University and Sciences Po, our organization strives to be at the forefront of collaborative scholarship. Run entirely online, Vanguard Think Tank brings together researchers and academics from all different backgrounds and walks of life to investigate today’s most pressing issues. We endeavor to be a model for international scholarship, looking at the world through the lens of what connects, not divides, us. 

We are currently comprised of 70 students spanning five continents! Our researchers come from Johns Hopkins, Sciences Po, the University of Hong Kong, and other universities, and balance their work at Vanguard with work at other international organizations and companies.

What We Do

We are committed to discussing current affairs, encouraging societal developments, and nurturing global perspectives. At Vanguard Think Tank, we divide our researchers into research groups based on region- making up the Americas, Eurasia, Middle East and Africa, East Asia, and Southeast Asia groups. In addition to that, researchers participate in research groups based on themes, including the American Hegemony and Women’s Month, to produce longer-form content such as op-eds. We publish our research in many forms, including on our website, in newsletters, on our social media, and in our annual journal. 

Vanguard Think Tank partners annually with US-China Better Relations Coalition to put on a global conference- Vanguard-Better Relations Youth Global Exchange (V-BRYGE)- which focuses on China’s emerging role in a developing world and strives to form connections between academics and citizens across the world.

Vanguard members also enjoy frequent professional development events and unique networking opportunities with our vast network of alumni. Research fellows have the opportunity to be promoted into management and work in one (or a few) of our many departments, including Publications, Public Relations, Editing, and more. 

Our Mission