About the Institute

The Institute's work includes :

• The production of white papers - research documents that explore public policy issues by drawing on the expertise of stakeholders, communities and university researchers.
• Contract services for local and state government agencies. The Institute works with agencies to apply research in ways to creatively solve problems and address community needs.
• Organizing conferences and workshops that share new and informed perspectives with business, academic, legislative and other audiences.

The Institute stresses :

• credibility in all of its policy papers, research proposals, conferences and other activities. The Institute emphasizes accuracy, expertise, multiple perspectives and research-based information in all it does.
• interdisciplinary research and decision-making models. An interdisciplinary focus brings fresh energy and ideas to problem-solving and is essential to addressing today's complicated public policy issues.
• partnerships with local, state and regional stakeholders. Partnerships are crucial to identifying and fully addressing public policy concerns - and translating knowledge so it's most useful.

With these guiding principles, the Institute works to establish networks that create, translate and apply new knowledge to address some of the most pressing public-policy concerns of our times.

Below are a few examples of policy topics that fall within the mission of the Institute

• water management in times of drought and population growth
• transportation planning, air quality and human health
• wildfire risk and tourism
• the spread of wildlife disease and ecosystem health
• food safety and public education
• higher education and economic prosperity in the state
• endangered species and recreational development
• agricultural biotechnology, valued added produce, and rural viability
• changes in agricultural production and products
• the interface of urban and rural areas