Engaged Research for Community Resilience to Climate Change

Description

Engaged Research for Community Resilience to Climate Change is a guide to successfully integrating science into urban, regional, and coastal planning activities to build truly sustainable communities that can withstand climate change. It calls for a shift in academic researchers’ traditional thinking by working across disciplines to solve complex societal and environmental problems, focusing on the real-world human impacts of climate change, and providing an overview of how science can be used to advocate for institutional change. Engaged Research for Community Resilience to Climate Change appeals to a wide variety of audiences, including university administrators looking to create and sustain interdisciplinary research groups, community and state officials, non-profit and community advocates, and community organizers seeking guidance for generating and growing meaningful, productive relationships with university researchers to support change in their communities. CHAPTER 1 - Introduction: our global story Chapter outline A community A university Organization of the book A partnership References CHAPTER 2 - A case for engaged research and practice Chapter outline Social problems as “wicked problems” Social theory offers alternatives to positivism that make efforts to address these issues Planning traditions offer alternative methods of bridging the gap between uncertainty and action Engaged research to address environmental change References CHAPTER 3 - Resilience is Rawlsian Chapter outline References CHAPTER 4 - Origin of the Institute for Sustainable Communities Chapter outline Introduction Director and founder of the IfSC TAMU environmental grand challenge The Resilience and Climate Change Cooperative Project (RCCCP) From RCCP to IfSC Living laboratories References CHAPTER 5 - Discovery initiatives Chapter outline Introduction Coastal risk reduction and resilience initiative Community infrastructure initiative Water security initiative Community resilience initiative Health and environment initiative Cross-pollination across discovery initiatives References CHAPTER 6 - Breaking down the walls: challenges and lessons learned in interdisciplinary research Chapter outline Introduction Engaging graduate students Developing a common language and shared conventions Overcoming barriers and challenges What does an interdisciplinary career look like for the next generation of researchers? Where do interdisciplinary scholars seek professional development opportunities, apply for grants, and publish their research? Going slow to go fast? Finding collaborators for interdisciplinary research What happens next? References CHAPTER 7 - The community in work The east end story Furr High School The south side story Jones Futures Academy Conclusion References CHAPTER 8 - Empowering learners Chapter outline Introduction Experiential education for wicked problems Interdisciplinary education for wicked problems Community-based education for wicked problems Projects that benefit all Toxic tour Stormwater infrastructure assessment and planning Surface water quality Green infrastructure designs Discussion: student feedback Diverse perspectives Principles of practice Conclusion Acknowledgment References Chapter 9 - Integrated impact Chapter outline Community and university engagement process Identify the value proposition Demonstrating success Applying data-driven approaches Building community capacity Highlighting community assets Investing time and people Recognize champions and discover leadership Invest in staff Establishing a core team and core faculty Core team Core faculty Connecting to a community task force and students Connecting to students Differences in partnerships Service-learning partnership Engaged research partnership Conclusion References CHAPTER 10 - Ethics of community-based research Chapter outline Introduction Participation rules of thumb First, who designs projects? Second, who holds the knowledge? Third, who benefits? Finally, who stays? Conclusion References Chapter 11 - Program evaluation Chapter outline Introduction Why evaluate? Evaluating program activities of the IfSC Measuring inputs Evaluating the process Identifying and measuring outcomes and impacts of the IfSC programs Conclusion: challenges for the future of the IfSC References CHAPTER 12 - Conclusion-lessons and regrets Introduction Finding synchronicity in theory and practice Institutionalizing and sustaining engaged research: challenges and opportunities Challenges and opportunities external to academe Confluence of climate change and a rapidly growing population Growing economic inequality A lack of capacity in disadvantaged or under-resourced communities Understanding of climate resilience as being linked with other social opportunities is increasing More and more tools, many that are usable by residents, are becoming available Looking within: challenges and opportunities for academe Faculty advancement Value-engaged research in the tenure and promotion process Allow time for building and maintaining community relationships Recognize the “broader impacts” of engaged research The education of funders, grant reviewers, and collaborators to view engaged research as equal, empirical, and as cutting e... Engaged research will produce numerous other research outputs beyond grants and publications and benefit many other learner... Staff involvement and advancement should be integrated with long-term engagement efforts Educating faculty and administration on the real costs of engagement Conclusion Reference