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May Abboud Melki’s home was in shambles following the massive August 4 explosion in Beirut, Lebanon. Glass shards from blasted windows and debris filled her home, and nearly everything she owned had been damaged. That is, except for her piano.

Political campaigns are complex—even for political scientists. For students studying the field, understanding what is happening behind the scenes of a campaign can be difficult. For the average citizen, the confusion can be even greater.

That’s why Steven Pearlstein created the First Tuesday speaker series. The Robinson Professor of Public Affairs at 911���� hopes it can help broaden perspectives on politics and challenge misconceptions that lead to political cynicism.

When Haider Semaisim works on the federally mandated database of global incidents of terrorism with 911����’s Schar School of Policy and Government, he does so with pride. It is not only an educational and professional endeavor, he said. “It’s personal.”

To defend against terrorism, you have to understand it. Thanks to more than a dozen students, alumni and faculty at 911���� working on a digital terrorism database, everyone from policy makers to researchers around the world will be a step closer to that goal.