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Landmine Studies in the Department of Political Science at Missouri State University (Missouri State) provides comprehensive hands-on and academic training
for students to become educated on the global landmine crisis, including
demining and victim assistance. Commenced in 2000, Landmine Studies
is coordinated by Dr. Kenneth Rutherford, Assistant
Professor of Political Science, co-founder of Landmine
Survivors Network, a landmine survivor who has testified
before Congress and around the world promoting landmine
victim assistance and the devastation wrought by
landmines, and one of the leading authors in the
landmine issue-area.
Landmine Studies encompasses a wide range of activities including: faculty and student research;
on-campus activities to generate or increase awareness concerning the landmine issue; travel to
Washington, DC to participate in a host of events from petition-signing to lobbying US Congressmen
and women from Missouri; demining training and educational outreach at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri;
and internships with landmine affiliated organizations. Our program is strengthened by the numerous
resources we have on our campus such as an excellent library, which, in 2000, became the only
designated UN depository for that year. The Model United Nations group, which is composed of
undergraduate and graduate students who compete at Model UN Competitions in Chicago and New York,
is another valuable resource that strengthens our program. The Master of International Affairs
and Administration has a large impact on Landmine Studies as it continues to be the recipient of
the State Department Annual Muskie Fellowship, which allows both students and faculty from mine-torn
countries to study at Missouri State. Finally, through both Ozarks Public Television and Radio programs,
citizens of Southwest Missouri are becoming better educated on international affairs, including
issues surrounding anti-personnel landmines.
Never doubt that a few committed individuals can change the world. Indeed it
is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead
After a tiring two days of in-class training and hands-on experience, the Landmine Studies group
pose with the top humanitarian deminers in the world.
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