Kiran Sood's Reporting, Work, and History

Separating fact from fiction on the big screen

Kiran Sood — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:25:21 +0000

On December 21, 2012, the world is supposed to end. At least according to the film “2012,” released last week. But scientists and members of the academic community are debunking widespread myths from the movie with some Internet fire of their own. You’ll want to check this out.

Leaders meet to talk online security

Kiran Sood — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:21:25 +0000

Industry leaders met this week to plot the future of secure information on the Web and supporting networks. A look at the nature of the discussion at the meeting of the Open Web Application Security Project, or OWASP.

Open government and the role of media

Kiran Sood — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:19:49 +0000

Here’s the thing about openness: Complete transparency lies in the inherent inability to control exactly what emerges. If you ask citizens to participate in a conversation, you better be prepared for responses from all levels of the spectrum. Welcome to the new distributed media economy. For our Washington Reporting 2.0 column, I wrote this piece. Feel free to add your own thoughts.

Using science to ease tension and build international bridges

Kiran Sood — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:18:15 +0000

I wrote a piece for the Medill News Service that was picked up by UPI.com. Members of the scientific and technical community are increasingly using science as a tool to promote dialogue between foreign nations, create greater access to data and solve problems on an international level. Take a look at the piece here.

NASA should not pursue path to moon, Mars without more money, special panel says

Kiran Sood — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:16:33 +0000

A special White House committee issued its report highlighting alternatives to the current human space flight program, suggesting that NASA not go to the moon or Mars and use commercial aircraft to transport astronauts from Earth to the space station. Find out more here.

The race for faster, more available Internet

Kiran Sood — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:15:38 +0000

As the demand for broadband Internet access continues to grow, how are the government and the nation’s leading service providers going to keep up? At a panel that’s part of the three-day “Entrepreneurs’ March on Washington,” leaders and experts discussed the strategy for broader broadband implementation. Read the full post here.

This Tweetup’s shooting for the stars

Kiran Sood — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:14:07 +0000

Check out this post I wrote for the Medill News Service about an opportunity for social media geeks who love space to take part in an unprecedented NASA Tweetup.

Helping connect communities across the country, one computer at a time

Kiran Sood — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:10:42 +0000

For this piece, I got to speak with a community in rural Tennessee and find out about efforts to provide computers and high-speed Internet access to those who cannot afford it. I started off hoping to do a piece about the digital divide, and it ended up having a focus on this specific community. It was also picked up for publication by the Nashville Tennessean. I writing another piece about the speed of connectivity on a national level.

Sec. Gates, Clinton defend presidential chain of command

Kiran Sood — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:05:52 +0000

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates are surrounded by Russell Ramsey, chairman of the board of trustees at George Washington University, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, GW’s Frank Sesno, and GW President Steven Knapp. (Kiran Sood/MNS)

I had my first encounter with political celebrity at George Washington University while attending the interview entitled “Power and Persuasion.” The conversation was taped as part of a CNN telecast featuring Christian Amampour. I got to sit in the official press area with a colleague of mine, we were the only two credentialed reporters from the Medill News Service who were present. It was eye-opening to listen to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton discuss the future of the war in Afghanistan, the war in Iraq, as well as the possible conflict in Iran and Pakistan as well.

Take a look at photos from the event on my Flickr page.

A new telescope at the Air and Space Museum promises to offer dazzling views

Kiran Sood — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:58:28 +0000

Looking upward through the ceiling of the new public observatory. (Kiran Sood/MNS)

Take a look inside the newest exhibit at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC.