ISGP Staff
George H. Atkinson, Ph.D
Founder and Executive Director
Dr. Atkinson is an Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Optical Science at the University of Arizona. His professional career includes academic teaching, research, administration, roles as a corporate founder and executive, and public service at the federal level. He is former Head of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Arizona, the founder of a laser sensor company serving the semiconductor industry, and Science and Technology Advisor (STAS) to U.S. Secretaries of State Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice. In 2014, Dr. Atkinson was named president of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society. Based on principles derived from his personal experiences, he launched the ISGP in 2008 as a new type of international forum in which credible experts provide governmental and societal leaders with the objective understanding of the science and technology that can be reasonably anticipated to help shape the increasingly global societies of the 21st century.
Camelia Bou, M.S.
Senior Fellow, Program Manager
Camelia Bou graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachelor’s in International Affairs and Economics, and continued her studies in the Environmental Science and Policy Master’s Program. During her time at Northeastern University, she participated in Genocide and its Aftermath Dialogue of Civilizations Program, a faculty-led study focused on the effects of genocide in Greek society. As part of one of her graduate courses, she was able to attend COP 26 Glasgow virtually as an observer, where she had the opportunity to explore her interest in international climate policy. Camelia worked at the Rian Immigrant Center in the Learning Exchange Program as a program assistant, helping students and recent graduates from Ireland on the J-1 visa on their job search in the United States. She is fluent in English and Spanish, and is at a beginner level French. Camelia hopes to continue to work in the environmental justice and policy field.
Liat Kugelmass
Senior Fellow
Liat Kugelmass graduated from Cornell University with a Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry, after completing her undergraduate studies at Vassar College. Liat’s dissertation was focused on chemical recycling strategies to depolymerize plastics back into their starting materials, to promote a more circular plastics economy. Liat’s passion for environmental issues has carried through to her various research projects, which have ranged from plastics recycling to harnessing energy from microbes. During her graduate studies, Liat also organized and facilitated Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programming for the purpose of diversifying the field of Chemistry and STEM at large. Liat is excited to combine her background in STEM and dedication to environmental and social issues to support a better global future with the ISGP.
Peyton Newsome
Senior Fellow
Peyton Newsome is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Lowell with a B.S. in Criminal Justice and a minor in Psychology. She is currently earning her Master of Public Policy from Northeastern University. In her time at UMass Lowell, Peyton was involved in numerous research projects with the Center for Security and Terrorism Studies and the Psycho-Legal Experimental Applications Lab, and she completed the Immersive Scholars and Emerging Scholars programs. Most recently, Peyton was working with UMass Lowell’s Climate Change Initiative on their Climate Pathways project, which studied the reactions of participants to the climate change model, En-ROADS. She was proud to graduate with the Chancellor’s Medal for Distinguished Academic Achievement and a Trustees’ Key. Peyton also spent some time working with the non-profit, Seeding Success, researching and organizing criminal justice reform efforts in Memphis, TN. Peyton is passionate about utilizing sound scientific research to promote effective policy.
Manuel de la Puerta, B.A.
Adjunct Senior Fellow
Mr. de la Puerta graduated from Eckerd College in 2019 and received a B.A. in French Language as well as a second major in Biochemistry. During his time at Eckerd, he worked as a research assistant on two projects in the chemistry department; the synthesis of potential dopamine transporter inhibitors and the synthesis of novel tridentate ligands to model the active sites of zinc metalloproteases. Upon graduating from Eckerd, he worked for two years as an English teaching assistant in Les Mureaux, France through the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF). Mr. de la Puerta is interested in the fields of International Relations, Climate Change, and particularly the areas where the Natural Sciences and International Affairs converge. Mr. de la Puerta is fluent in English, Spanish, French, and Italian, and has reached intermediate-level fluency in Arabic. Mr. de la Puerta is currently based in Bologna, Italy where he is completing his master’s in International Relations at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and interning at the Center for Constitutional Studies and Democratic Development (CCSDD).