Building an Electric Car Future: Technology, Infrastructure and Policy

December 10, 2008

The Humphrey Institute’s Center for Science, Technology and Public Policy (CSTPP) and the Center for Transportation Studies (CST) at the University of Minnesota will hosted a forum to discuss strategies to advance wide scale adoption of electric car technology and supporting infrastructure in Minnesota. University of Minnesota faculty will presenedt the latest in electric vehicle technology research and CST’s July, 2008 report, “Transportation Policy and Technology Options to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Minnesota.” Also on hand was a Better Place, a Silicon Valley firm exploring innovative business models to rapidly bring electric cars to market. Representative Frank Hornstein and Senator Scott Dibble also discussed ideas for a public policy framework to advance transportation sector carbon emission reduction goals and greater energy independence in the coming legislative session.

Assessing, Managing and Communicating Environmental Risk: A Call to Action

December 3rd, 2008

Government, scientists, industry, the media and society in general face increasingly complex challenges in assessing, managing and communicating potential environmental risks. We can now detect compounds at levels previously unimaginable, but scientific studies into the human health consequences of exposure to these compounds can remain uncertain. This conference will provide Minnesota’s policy makers, agency and industry practitioners, environmental and public health advocates, journalists and citizens the opportunity to shape new approaches to evaluating risks and providing meaningful communications about those risks.

Cafe Scientifique
Electing Science: Science and Public Policy Tuesday

November 18, 2008

Join former state senator Steve Kelley, director of the Humphrey Institute's Center for Science, Technology, and Public Policy, for a conversation about science and public policy. Kelley will tackle such topics as whether our elected officials are prepared to make smart science policy decisions, how scientific leaders might better communicate their work on issues of public concern, and the future of science in America.

Natalia Pecherskaya: Science, Ideology, Religion. Is there immunity to ideology in either scientific or religious consciousness? (Looking from Russian perspective)

Friday, October 31, 2008

Natalia Pecherskaya, President of St. Petersburg School of Religion and Philosophy, one of the first non-state, non-church educational institutions in Russia, will discuss the problem of the human being in science and theology.

Innovation 2008

The goal of Innovation 2008 is to bring scientists together with policymakers and the public, to help move the United States toward policies that are better informed by scientific realities, and to help scientists, engineers and the scientific community as a whole become more engaged in the political process.  The conference will also explore ways to bridge the divide between science and the broader culture as a way to broaden public appreciation of science.

System Dynamics Workshop: David Ford

October 23rd

The Center for Science, Technology and Public Policy host David Ford, Ph.D., P.E., Associate Professor, Texas A&M University

We invite you to join us for an interesting and informative introduction to system dynamics for public policy.  David Ford, Ph.D., P.E., an Associate Professor from Texas A&M University, will be directing a workshop to introduce policymakers and analysts to simulation and modeling using system dynamics.  The workshop will focus on developing not only a conceptual understanding of modeling policy and social systems, but also the technical knowledge required to use system dynamics in solving problems and predicting policy outcomes.

Using system dynamics to model carbon reduction policies in the transportation sector”

September 9th, from 3:30-4:30

Ethan Warner, research assistant in the Center for Science Technology and Public Policy, will be presenting the model and discussing the process of its creation. The model was produced collaboratively with Steve Taff, Associate professor in Applied Economics, Mahri Monson, recent graduate of the Humphrey Institute and environmental scientist at the EPA, and Michael Bean of Forio Business Simulations.

This seminar will consist of a brief exploration of the model and its structure, a discussion of the process of constructing the model, and finally results from modeling various scenarios. In discussing the construction of the model a number of theoretical issues will be explored including the process of deciding on assumptions, bounding the issues one wants to explore, and establishing realistic feedback loops. Additional practical lessons learned from model collaboration will also be presented.

Please RSVP to Sophia Ginis at gini0003@umn.edu if you plan to attend.

Reorienting Climate Change Communication for Effective Mitigation - Forcing People to be Green or Fostering Grass-Roots Engagement?

Dr. Ockwell's Presentation

Dr. Ockwell from the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom will presented his work on public attitudes towards “being green”.  The United Kingdoms has launched major campaigns to shift public attitude towards more sustainable behaviors. The country has also implemented regulatory policy, such as congestion charges imposed on those driving into London, some of which have been hugely unpopular.  Dr. Ockwell will discussed his research on what they have found to be effective or counterproductive, and how that could inform decision making here.

Green Chemistry: Enter conference home page.

System Dynamics Interest Group Meeting

Friday, April 18

George Richardson will talk about the use of systems dynamics modeling tools for policy research generally, and specifically for a school of public affairs.

George P. Richardson's teaching and research center on computer-based tools and analyses for public administration and policy. His recent work has focused on public policy problems in social welfare and the use of formal computer-based modeling methods to help groups move toward policy consensus in complex dynamic systems.

Science and Science and Innovation Policy
March 11, 2008

Professor Kaye Husbands Fealing has worked for the National Science Foundation.  During that time she has assessed the impact of the global science and engineering enterprises and national and international science policies.  She has contributed to developing an evidence based platform for science policy, and has worked to promote international partnership for science and technology advancement.

She will present her work, and a panel discussion will follow which will include Gary Holmes from Carlson Ventures.