Core Research Programs
The new economy, economic development and sustainability
Is there a relationship between regions at the forefront of the new economy and sustainable development? Over the past decade the leading edge of global economic development has been concentrated in 'new economy spaces' in North America and Western Europe. These new economy spaces are dominated by knowledge-based industries and jobs, such as biotechnology, computer technologies and producer services. Competition among these new economy spaces is fierce, as localities seek to attract key workers by providing various amenities associated with quality of life. The dominant strategy for delivering quality of life has largely been developed around ideas drawn from sustainable development such as "smart growth" in the USA and Local Agenda 21 in Europe. This research examines factors in process of social change (e.g., policies, institutions, coalitions of actors) to understand how and why these policies are developed and implemented in the most economically competitive regions of the world. A more practical angle of this research is to work with local policy makers in regions with more conventional economies to place their economic development and land use policies on a more sustainable course.
Energy policy and climate change strategies
Concern about global warming and climate change has become the focal point of a global "sustainable energy" movement aimed at meeting the needs of underserved populations and reducing the enormous social and ecological problems of present energy systems. This research focuses particularly on trends in greenhouse gas emissions and climate change policy at the state and local levels, where questions of environmental fact ("How quickly are emissions levels increasing in different places?") relate closely to policy strategies ("How do policy actors contest the significance and implications of emissions trends?") and policy options ("How might states and localities best promote transitions from fossil fuels to more renewable and efficient energy systems?"). Theoretically, this work explores how competing environmental philosophies and questions of scientific uncertainty impact energy policy debates and strategies. Other research aims to provide state, local and institutional decision-makers practical information with which to make better energy decisions.
Establishing new urban knowledge infrastructures
How a city gathers, stores and disseminates knowledge about itself, within the organization and to key constituents outside, affects its ability to promote sustainable development. City Lab is dedicated to the study of cities and to the development of urban information technologies – both soft and hard – to assist municipalities in their maintenance, management and planning activities. The lab focuses on the collection, archival, manipulation and analysis of municipal information that can be used for urban and environmental maintenance, management and planning. The lab focuses first and foremost on the collection, archival, manipulation and analysis of city knowledge starting from the raw data used for urban maintenance, including the organized information that guides urban management, with the goal of arriving at the deeper knowledge that inspires urban planning. Principles of City Knowledge are applied from the middle-out in emergent fashion throughout the sphere of operation of City Lab.
Resource management and infrastructure for urban and rural sustainability
Cities and rural communities alike often struggle to meet the needs of citizens and businesses for basic services such as water supply and sanitation, transportation, waste management, land preservation, and the like. IGSD faculty working in Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Namibia, Thailand, the US and elsewhere work closely with local agencies, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions to develop policies, practices and knowledge necessary to meet local needs in an economically viable and environmentally sustainable manner. IGSD researchers also work on federally funded projects around brownfield redevelopment, community vulnerability, and community risks associated with decommissioned nuclear weapons facilities.
Experiential Education
WPI's core educational mission to develop technologically sophisticated professionals capable of responding effectively to pressing human needs is epitomized in the Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP) for advanced undergraduates. As part of the IGSD's responsibility to provide academic leadership in defining and delivering the educational requirements of this innovative program, our faculty have long engaged in research on experiential, project-based, and cross-cultural undergraduate education. This research is built upon synergies between IGSD teaching and research achieved through the WPI Global Project Centers that serve both as a platform for applied research in sustainability and as a venue for students to become confident, socially-informed problem solvers and citizens.
Last modified: April 03, 2007 10:30:26