The research conducted by AEI's scholars and fellows is intended to have a practical effect: to achieve sensible and effective public policies. It is essential that the Institute be able to communicate its findings to those in positions to act upon the research and to those concerned with the topics it addresses. Therefore, AEI invests in marketing, government relations, academic relations, media contacts, and publications as part of its outreach efforts.

The following pages illustrate how AEI contributes to public policy discourse. AEI distributes a monthly newsletter, online summaries of its conferences and books, and On the Issues--a series of the best general-interest articles by its scholars. The Institute also publishes seventeen Outlooks, a series of longer analytical essays on pressing policy issues. The Outlooks include monthly publications on developments in economics and financial services; a quarterly report on Russia; and frequent editions on Asia, Europe, Latin America, education, the nvironment and energy, economic development, health policy, liability law, and national security. This fall, AEI launched a new Outlook on international economics.

The Institute continues to improve its electronic communications, notifying thousands of AEI's friends and subscribers about its latest activities through daily, biweekly, and periodic e-mail updates on its work in specific policy areas, including health, the economy, and foreign policy. In 2008, AEI initiated a series of conference reports, short summaries that provide the highlights of AEI events.

One of AEI's main avenues of outreach is its website, which had more than 1.5 million visits in the first eight months of 2008. AEI.org visitors can learn about and contact the Institute's scholars; read and download op-eds, reports, books, and event transcripts; order AEI materials; view event multimedia; and register for conferences, e-newsletters, and other online content.

The AEI website also provides a way to reach potential donors--the individuals, foundations, and corporations that together provide more than 70 percent of the Institute's support. The website highlights the Institute's planned giving arrangements, which enable donors to achieve personal and family financial goals while supporting current and future endeavors for AEI. The website also provides access to the Associates Program, an introductory donor program that allows members to tap into the same intellectual resources upon which many government officials, business executives, and journalists rely.

AEI has several areas of outreach targeted toward the academic community. In addition, the Institute has an eleven-member Council of Academic Advisers, chaired by Pepperdine University political scientist James Q. Wilson, that advises AEI's president on the Institute's research agenda, publications, and appointments. The council selects the recipient of the Irving Kristol Award.

In the spring and summer of 2008 alone, the highly regarded AEI internship program hosted more than 116 interns from fifty-six colleges and universities.

In this section:

• The AEI Press
• National Research Initiative
• Conferences
• Media Relations
• The American
• Government Relations
• How to Support AEI

Other sections within the Annual Report:

• Economic Policy Studies
• Foreign and Defense Policy Studies
• Health Policy Studies
• Legal and Constitutional Studies
• Political and Public Opinion Studies
• Social and Cultural Studies
• Finances