GLOBALSYSTEMSSCIENCEDA&POLICYSGASynergiesandOpportunitiesWorkshop

SkeltonConferenceCenter

GOALSANDOBJECTIVESGOAL#1:IdentifyareasforcollaborativesynergyandcooperationbetweentheGlobalSystemsScienceDAandthePolicySGAGOAL#2:ShowcaseamodelforfutureDA/SGAcollaborationandsharedinnovationOBJECTIVES(inorderofpriority):

• PromoteDA/SGA-levelcollaboration(institutionallevel)• Developproject-levelcollaboration(existingandfutureprojects)• Provideconcept-levelfeedback(existingconcepts/projects)

*Notethatthisworkshopisjustastarttosetaprecedentforongoingcollaborationacrossthese,andotherDAsandSGAs.

GlobalSystemsScienceDA&PolicySGASynergiesandOpportunitiesWorkshop–September29,2017

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WORKSHOPFACILITATOR

Dr.ToddSchenkisanAssistantProfessorintheUrbanAffairsandPlanningProgramoftheSchoolofPublicandInternationalAffairsatVirginiaTech.Hehasextensiveresearchandconsultingexperienceworkingoncollaborativegovernance,andenvironmentalpolicyandplanningissuesinNorthAmerica,Europe,Asia,AfricaandtheMiddleEast.Dr.SchenkreceivedbothaPh.D.inPublicPolicyandPlanningandaMasterinCityPlanningfromtheMassachusettsInstituteofTechnology,andaBachelor’sdegreeinGeographyfromtheUniversityofGuelph.HeservedastheAssistantDirectoroftheMITScienceImpactCollaborative,andheldaresearchfellowshipwiththeProgramonNegotiationatHarvardLawSchool.Dr.Schenk

hasalsoheldpositionswiththeRegionalEnvironmentalCenterforCentralandEasternEuropeandtheConsensusBuildingInstitute(CBI).WithCBI,heworkedasaprofessionalneutralonavarietyofprojectsandtrainingprogramsatdifferentscalesandaroundarangeofissues.Dr.Schenkregularlyuses‘seriousgames’asawaytoengagestakeholdersincollaborativelyexaminingandaddressingtheirchallenges.AcknowledgementsFundingforthisworkshopwasprovidedbytheFralinLifeScienceInstitute.Weappreciatetheirsupport,aswellastheadministrativesupportprovidedbyFralinstaffincludingGloriaSchoenholtz,Dr.JeanClarke,DebbieHairston,DustinCovey,LindsayKey,CassandraHockman,andDr.JanetWebster.

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Friday,09.29.2017|8:30am-3:00pm|CascadesMeetingRoom|SkeltonConferenceCenterAGENDAMorningSession8:30AM Speakercheck-inandcoffee/continentalbreakfast8:45AM Introductiontotheday(Schenk)8:50AM OpeningRemarks,DennisDean,FralinLifeScienceInstitute9:00AM WelcomeandVisionfortheDay,KarenRoberto,ISCE9:10AM Exerciseoncommunicatingscience,CarolynKroehler,CCS9:30AM Concept1:FreshwaterResources(GSS)9:45AM Concept2:RenewableEnergy(Policy)10:00AM Concept3:Environmental-HumanHealthinRuralCommunities(GSS)10:15AM Break10:30AM Concept4:AutisminRuralAmerica(Policy)10:45AM Concept5:SmartFarmsforGlobalFood(GSS)11:00AM Concept6:NuclearScienceandPolicy(Policy)11:15AM Concept7:CoastalResilience(GSS)11:30AM LUNCH(50minutes)AfternoonSession12:20PM ReconveneinCascadesandformatforafternoon(Schenk) 12:25PM Concept8:Synergy&Strategy:Overview&GapAnalysisofPolicyatVT

(Policy)(Khademian)12:40PM Concept9:Synergy&Strategy:SystemsIntegrationofDA/SGAthemes(GSS)12:55PM Outlineformatfortheafternoonandgetintogroups(Schenk)1:00PM Breakoutsessionsbegin2:00PM Reportback,Synthesize,IdentifyPriorities&ActionItems;Wrapup2:45PM Wrapupandfinalthoughts3:00PM Endworkshop

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AFTERNOONBREAKOUTSHomework–Pleasecomepreparedtoengageinthebelowactivity.Youwillbeaskedtoreflectonthefollowingthreethings:

1. ‘Bluesky’visioning-EnvisionwhataperfectinstitutionalarrangementsupportingtheGSSDA,PolicySGA,andtheintersectionofthetwowouldlooklike.

2. Grounding-Identifybarriersinhibitingthis‘perfectworld’scenario

3. Advancing-Brainstormopportunitiesforcapitalizingontheopportunitiesandovercomingthebarriers.Inparticular,whatinvestmentsandinstitutionalsupportarenecessary?Whatarethepriorities?Whilerecognizingthediversityofprojects,seekoutcommonneeds.

GLOBALSYSTEMSSCIENCE

IntegrativeScienceandSolutionsforFreshwaterSystemsAbstractTheoverallgoalofthisfocusareaistodevelopaninterdisciplinaryprogramtomeetthepressingchallengesfacingfreshwaterecosystems(lakes,rivernetworks,andwetlands).ThisIntegrativeScienceandSolutionsforFreshwaterSystemsprogramwillenableintegrationoffreshwaterecosystem-relevantbiophysicalscienceswiththesocialsciences,arts,andcommunication,throughrelevantresearch,education,policysupport,andoutreach.Ultimately,thisentireintegrativeprocesswillhelpinformmanagementandallowforrestorationandsustainabilityofwaterbodiesandtheirwatersheds,whichcurrentlyfacefourcriticalsocio-ecologicalproblems:Anthropogenicpressuresonwatersheds,inadequatequantityandqualityoffreshwater,lossesofbiodiversityandbiosphereintegrity,andtransmissionofwater-bornedisease.Thisnewknowledgewillalsoallowforfurtherexplorationofhowthehumanconditiondependsonfunctioningaquaticecosystemsandtoeffectivelyidentify,discuss,andmanagefundamentalsocialchoicesregardinglivingandworkingwithinwatersheds.

Investmentinsustainableconservationandrestorationoffreshwatersystemsandadaptationtothechangingclimatethroughtraditionalfunding,aswellassupportfromgovernments,industriesandphilanthropicprogramsofmajorfoundations,isalreadyabilliondollarindustry.However,manyrestorationandmanagementprojectsfailbecausetheyaretoofocusedonlimitedsurfacewaterhabitatsorstreamreaches,haveashorttimescaleoverwhichprojectsareassessed,andlackadequateinterdisciplinaryscientificinputandsocietalneedsguidance.Thisprogramseekstodevelopaframeworkallowingmeaningfulengagementfrommultipledisciplinesandmultiplepublicenterprisesincomplexissues.Thiswillbetteraddresswater-relevantgapsinsocialscience,policy,law,communication,conflictresolution,andstructureddecision-makingtohaveon-the-groundimpactsthroughbroadapproaches.

FacultyAffiliatesCollegeofAgricultureandLifeSciences(CALS)BrianBenham(BiologicalSystemsEngineering,BSE),JonathanCzuba(BSE),W.CullyHession(BSE),Leigh-AnneKrometis(BSE),DurelleScott(BSE),KurtStephenson(AgricultureandAppliedEconomics),TessThompson(BSE)CollegeofArchitectureandUrbanStudies(CAUS)DeanBork(LandscapeArchitecture)CollegeofEngineering(COE)ErichHester(CivilandEnvironmentalEngineering),NicholasPolys(ComputerScience)CollegeofLiberalArtsandHumanSciences(CLAHS)JamesIvory(Communication)CollegeofNaturalResourcesandEnvironment(CNRE)PaulAngermeier(FishandWildlifeConservation,FWC),LeandroCastello(FWC),C.AndyDolloff(FWC),VerlEmrickIII(ConservationManagementInstitute),JessJones(FWC),DanielMcLaughlin(ForestresourcesandEnvironmentalConservation),RonaldMeyers(FWC),DonaldOrth**(FWC),StephenSchoenholtz(VAWaterResourcesResearchCenter),JoelSnodgrass(FWC)CollegeofScience(COS)ErinHotchkiss(BiologicalSciences),EricSmith(Statistics)

**Teamleader

POLICY

HitchingtheWindandSun:ATransdisciplinaryRenewableEnergyFacilitiesSustainableSitingProject

AbstractThelegal,moral,andstrategicimperativetoaddressthethreatsposedbyclimatechangenecessitatesanextraordinaryincreaseinthenumberofwindandsolarfacilitiesforsignificantreductioninUSgreenhousegasemissions.Wüstenahngen,etal.,arguedthatsocialacceptancemaybethelimitingfactorforrenewableenergydevelopment.Buildingalargenumberofthesefacilitieswillbechallengingduetoeconomic,environmentalandsocialchallengeswithsitingcommercial-scalerenewableenergyfacilities.

ThetransdisciplinaryRenewableEnergyFacilitiesSustainableSitingProject(REFSS)willconductacoordinatedresearchstrategytoidentifyhowtositerenewableenergyfacilitiesinamorepubliclyacceptablewayviauniversity,industry,government,andcommunitypartnerships.Theactionresearchwillhelpreduceuncertaintyforrenewableenergydevelopersandfinanciers,andallowlocalandstategovernmentstodeveloppoliciesthatwillenableaffectedcommunitiestoengagemoreeffectivelyinthehighlycomplexdecision-makingprocessesrequiredtositerenewableenergyfacilitiessothattheyareeconomically,socially,andenvironmentallybeneficial.

Thisresearchandserviceprojectbringstogetherexpertisefromthesocialsciences(includingpublicpolicy),visualizationandgeospatialtechnology,landscapearchitecture,businessmanagement,andfishandwildlifemanagement,forthedevelopmentofacomprehensivemodelforaddressingsitingchallenges.Theknowledgegeneratedshouldhavesignificantpolicyapplicationatthelocal,state,andnationallevels.Thisprojectisinitsearlystages,soseveraloptionsfordevelopmenthaveyettobeexplored,butdecisionswillbemadeinconsultationwiththePolicySGAonfutureprioritiesanddirections.

FacultyAffiliatesCollegeofArchitectureandUrbanStudies(CAUS)RalphHall(PublicandInternationalAffairs),PatrickMiller(ArchitectureandDesign),ToddSchenk(PublicandInternationalAffairs)CollegeofBusiness(COB)AnjuSeth(Management)CollegeofLiberalArtsandHumanStudies(CLAHS)RichardHirsh(History&ScienceandTechnologyStudies)CollegeofNaturalResourcesandEnvironment(CNRE)MarkFord**(VirginiaCooperativeFishandWildlifeResearchUnit),ScottKlopfer(ConservationManagementInstitute),RonMeyers(FishandWildlifeConservation),PeterSforza(CenterforGeospatialInformationandTechnology),MarcStern(ForestryandResourceConservation)BiocomplexityInstitute(BI)AchlaMarathe

**Teamleader

GLOBALSYSTEMSSCIENCE

EcologicalandHumanHealthinRuralCommunitiesAbstractDespiteconsiderableevidencelinkinghumanindustrialandagriculturalactivitiestoecologicalhealth,verylittledataareavailabledirectlylinkingexposuretoenvironmentalpollutionandhumanhealthinruralareas,eventhoughthesecommunitieshaverepeatedlybeenidentifiedassubjecttothemostextremehealthdisparities.Buildingonexistinginterdisciplinarystrengthsinenvironmentalscience,naturalresources,andpublichealth,thisprogramispoisedtopursueurgentunansweredquestionsregardingthelinkagesbetweenhumans’well-beingandconditionsofthebroaderecologiestheyinhabitinruralareas.Thisinitiative’seducation,research,andengagementactivitieswillfocusinitiallyonCentralAppalachia,simultaneouslyknownforuniqueecologicalrichnessanddramaticlandscapes,aswellasworseninghealthdisparitiesthatcannotbefullyexplainedbysocio-behavioralfactors.Astheinitiativegrows,activitieswillexpandtoruralcommunitiesworldwide,potentiallycollaboratingwithongoinguniversityinitiativesandinvestmentsinIndia,China,Malawi,andEcuador.Motivatedbythemotto,“UtProsim,”servicetothesurroundingregionwillfulfillVirginiaTech’smissionasalandgrantuniversity,withtheglobalreachgoing“beyondboundaries.”

Specificresearchquestionsinclude:1)Areecologicalhealthindicators,suchasspeciesdiversity,predictorsofhumanhealthinnearbycommunities,andviceversa?2)Howdolong-termexposurestodifferentcombinationsofenvironmentalcontaminantsaffecthumanandecologicalhealthacrossgenerations?3)Howcanresearchersandeducatorsconnectwithcommunitiestoinformandsupporttheirdecision-making,andstrengthentheopportunityforcommunityvoicestoinfluenceresearchpriorities,policy,andeducation?Substantialconnectionsandongoingcollaborationswithotherdestinationareas,includingDataAnalyticsandDecisionSciences,IntelligentInfrastructureforHuman-CenteredCommunities,andAdaptiveBrainandBehaviorwillbenecessarytoaddresstheseoverarchingissues.Addressinghealthdisparitiesrelatedtogeography,socialclass,andrace,willrequirestronglinkageswiththeStrategicGrowthAreasinPolicyandEquityandSocialDisparityintheHumanCondition.

FacultyAffiliatesCollegeofAgricultureandLifeSciences(CALS)SusanClark(Horticulture),Leigh-AnneKrometis**(BiologicalSystemsEngineering)CollegeofEngineering(COE)LinseyMarr**(CivilandEnvironmentalEngineering)CollegeofLiberalArtsandHumanSciences(CLAHS)EmilySatterwhite**(AppalachianStudies,ReligionandCulture),RebekahHester(ScienceandTechnologyStudies),ShannonBell(Sociology)CollegeofNaturalResourcesandEnvironment(CNRE)PaulAngermeier(FishandWildlifeConservation),KorineKolivras**(Geography),StephenSchoenholtz(ForestResourcesandEnvironmentalConservation)CollegeofScience(COS)ShyamRanganathan(Statistics),ChrisThompson(Neurosciences)CollegeofVeterinaryMedicine(CVM)JuliaGohlke**(PopulationHealthSciences),SusanMarmagas**(PopulationHealthSciences),TerrySwecker(LargeAnimalClinicalSciences)BiocomplexityInstituteSamarthSwarup(NetworkDynamicsandSimulationScienceLaboratory)

**Steeringcommittee

POLICY

RuralityasaSocialDeterminantofHealthinAutismSpectrumDisorder(ASD):UsingTechnologytoImproveAccesstoCriticallyImportantServices

AbstractThisinitiativewillconductpolicyresearchontheuseoftechnologytofacilitateaccesstoevidence-basedautismspectrumdisorder(ASD)servicesinruralcommunities,addressingruralityasafactorcausingsocialinequity.Theprojectwill1)conductasystematicassessmentofbarrierstoservicesaccessforparentsofchildrenwithASDinrural,under-servedcommunities,2)conductaworkshoppanelonruralneedstoprovideleadershipandpolicyimplications,and3)applytheinformationtodevelopaninternet-basedparenttrainingforASDinaruralagencyforfuturetesting.

Additionally,theaimisforthistobeacommunity-basedparticipatoryresearchdesignbetweenVTandaruralagency,tocollectqualitativeandquantitativedatainaspecificruralsetting.ThiswillpositionVTforimplementationofevidence-basedparenttrainingthatinnovativelyintegratesface-to-faceandtelehealthformatstoservespecifiedclientneeds.Thereafter,thismodelcanbetestedinlargerfeasibilityandeffectivenesstrials,andcanbedisseminatedforuseinotherlocalestoaddressplace-basedsocialdisparitiesintheiraccesstoASDcare.

TheprogramwillcapitalizeonamultidisciplinaryteamfromtheVTCenterforAutismResearch,theCenterforHumanComputerInteraction,theCenterforPublicAdministrationandPolicy,andtheVTCarilionResearchInstitutetocollectpilotdatainformingacollaborativeNSFgrant.ThisprojectalsoalignswiththeEquityandSocialDisparityintheHumanConditionSGA,theAdaptiveBrainandBehaviorDA,andtheIntelligentInfrastructureforHumanCenteredCommunitiesDA.

FacultyAffiliates

CollegeofArchitectureandUrbanStudies(CAUS)LauraJensen(PublicandInternationalAffairs)CollegeofEngineering(COE)DenisGracanin(ComputerScience)CollegeofLiberalArtsandHumanStudies(CLAHS)SharonRamey(HumanDevelopment)CollegeofScience(COS)AngelaScarpa(Psychology)

GLOBALSYSTEMSSCIENCE

SmartPlants/AnimalsandSmartFarmsforGlobalFood,Feed,andFiberSecurityAbstractMeetingthefood,feed,andfiberneedsofagrowingworldpopulationrepresentsoneofthesignaturechallengesofthiscentury.Thischallengenecessitatesimplementationofadvancedtechnologies,sustainablemanagementofnaturalresources,andcoordinationofpoliticalforces.

ThefirstcomponentofthevisionisSmartPlants/Animals,inwhichcrops,livestock,andtheirassociatedmicrobes,willbedesignedtooptimizeyieldsinagro-ecosystemscompromisedbydiseaseandpests,climatedisruption,andotherenvironmentalstressors.Fundamentalresearchwillbeconductedonanimalandplantgenotype-environmentinteractions,integratedwithtranslationalresearchinbreedingandbiodesign.Theseeffortswillexploitcutting-edgetechnologiessuchasgeneediting,geneticselection,genomicbreeding,andengineeringofmicrobiomes.

Equalinimportancetoresilientcropsandlivestockareinnovationsinprecisionagricultureandmanagementofresourcestoincreaseefficiency,reducepollution,andenhanceecologicalhealth(agricultureaccountsfor30%ofgreenhousegasemissionsand70%ofallfreshwateruse).Thus,thesecondcomponentofthevisionisthe“SmartFarm.”Thisisthefarmofthefuture—efficient,productive,sustainable,andautomated.Irrigationsystemswillharvestanddeliverappropriateamountsofwatertotherightareasofthefarmattherighttime.Coordinatedunmannedrobotsontheground(tractors)andintheair(drones)willgatherdataonanimalandplanthealthanddevelopmentalstatusthatinformstargeted,automateddeliveryofinputsandenablesoptimalharvestschedules.Turbineswillharvestwindenergy,andpowermeteorologicalsensorstoforecastweatherandtheonsetofdiseases.Farmdatawillbestoredandaccessedthroughthecloud.Bigdatatechniqueswilltransformtherawdataintoactionableintelligenceavailabletostakeholdersonmobiledevices,anywhere,anytime.ThisparadigmcanbeextendedtoSmartForestsandintourbanareas,whereSmartGreenhousesandSmartRoofswillenablecropstobegrownincloseproximitytolocalmarkets.Architectsandcivilengineerswillworkcloselywithanimal,plant,andenvironmentalscientiststocreateopportunitiesforaesthetic,yetpurposeful,farms,structures,andfacilitiestoinventthefutureofagriculture.

FacultyAffiliatesCollegeofAgricultureandLifeSciences(CALS)OzzieAbaye(CSES),MariaBalota(PPWS,TidewaterAREC),AurelianoBombarely(HORT),SusanClark(HORT),RebeccaCockrum(DairyScience),GregEvanylo(CSES),ElizabethGrabau(PPWS),DavidHaak(PPWS),JohnMcDowell**(PPWS),ScottLowman(HORT).M.A.SaghaiMaroof(CSES),DavidSchmale(PPWS),WadeThomason(CSES),RichardVeilleux**(HORT),BorisVinatzer(PPWS),JamesWestwood(PPWS),RobinWhite(AnimalandPoultrySciences),BingyuZhao(HORT)**Teamleader(s)CollegeofEngineering(COE)PratapTokekar(ElectricalandComputerScience)CollegeofNaturalResourcesandEnvironment(CNRE)ThomasFox(ForestResourcesandEnvironmentalConservation,FREC),JasonHolliday(FREC),PeterSforza(GeologicalSciences),RandolphWynne(FREC)CollegeofScience(COS)DorotheaTholl(BiologicalSciences)CenterforCommunicatingScienceCarrieKroehler,PattyRaun(SchoolofPerformingArts)CollegeofVeterinaryMedicineKevinPelzer(LargeAnimalClinicalSciences),WilliamPierson(BiomedicalSciencesandPathobiology),WilliamSwecker(LargeAnimalClinicalSciences)

POLICY

IntegratingSafety,Security,andSafeguardsinNuclearScienceandPolicyAbstractThisprojecttakesaninterdisciplinaryperspectiveonissuesofnuclearsafety,security,andsafeguards.Nuclearenergyhasgreatpotentialasacarbon-neutral,base-loadenergysource.Yet,nuclearenergyalsoposesgraveconcernsabouta)safetyandtheriskofaseverenuclearaccident,b)securityandtheriskthataterroristornon-stateactormightstealnuclearmaterials,andc)safeguardsandtheriskthatnuclearprogramsmightbeusedtodevelopweapons.Safety,security,andsafeguardsarecloselyinterconnected,butoftenevaluatedasdistinctelements.Moreover,thoseinvolvedinoverseeingandevaluatingsafetyrisksoftenhavelittletrainingorunderstandingofsecurity,andviceversa.

Thisprojectproposesanintegrativeapproachtosafety,security,andsafeguardsbydevelopingtheideaofnuclearculture,andthewaydifferentcountrieshandletheserisksandapproachinternationalstandardsandnormsforthemanagementofnuclearenergy.Throughpublications,curriculardevelopment,programming,andpursuitofexternalgrants,theprojectaimstobridgegapsbetweenpolicy-makersandnuclearscientistsandengineers,andbetweenthoseinvolvedinsafetyversussecurityandsafeguards,tobetterevaluateriskanditsmanifestations.

FacultyAffiliatesCollegeofArchitectureandUrbanStudies(CAUS)ArielAhram(PublicandInternationalAffairs,SPIA/GovernmentandInternationalAffairs),PatrickRoberts(SPIA/CenterforPublicAdministrationandPolicy)CollegeofLiberalArtsandHumanSciences(CLAHS)SonjaSchmid(ScienceandTechnology)

GLOBALSYSTEMSSCIENCE

Coastal@VirginiaTech(VT):SustainingProsperity,IncreasingDiversity,andAchievingResilience

AbstractThecoastalzonehostsmorethanhalfoftheworld’shumanpopulation,largeportfacilitiesvitaltotheglobaleconomy,andmilitaryinstallationsimportanttonationalandglobalsecurity.Acceleratingsea-levelrise,coastalhazards,oceanacidification,populationgrowth,andrapideconomicdevelopmentthreatenlivelihoods,tourism,health,fishandwildlifespecies,andecosystemservicesinthisarea.Thecascadingimpactsofthesestressorsrepresentacomplexandformidableproblemthatcanonlybeaddressedbycoordinatedinvestmentinresearch,teaching,outreach,andinclusiveengagementefforts,bringingtogetheracademia,industry,foundations,non-governmentalorganizations,governments,andlocalstakeholders.

ThefocusofCoastal@VTincludescoastalsystemsresearch,teaching,outreach,andinnovation,andischaracterizedbydisciplinarystrengthandexcellence,andbystronginterdisciplinarylinksamongthedifferentdisciplines.Theseinterdisciplinarylinkages,developedthroughresearchandeducationprograms,areinstitutionallymanifestedthroughtheDestinationAreas,suchasDataandDecisions,IntelligentInfrastructureforHuman-centeredCommunities,IntegratedSecurity,andGlobalSystemsSciencethemesinfood,infectiousdiseases,andwater.CollaborationacrosstheseDestinationAreaswillbevitaltothedevelopmentofnewmethodologies,suchasadvancedquantitativetechniquesandscenarioplanning,newtechnologies,fore.g.,autonomousvehicles,andnewvirtualinteractivetools,inordertocommunicatemoreeffectivelyinformationonhazards,risk,adaptation,andresiliencetostakeholdersincoastalareas.Coastal@VTwillserveasanincubatorforadvancingtechnology,policyinnovation,andknowledgeexchange,aswellasforforgingsustainedandlong-lastingpartnershipswithindustryandotherorganizationsthatworktomakecoastalzonesmoreresilientandcapableofadaptingtorapidlychangingenvironments.

FacultyAffiliatesCollegeofAgricultureandLifeSciences(CALS)KevinBoyle(Director,PrograminRealEstate),VenkatSridhar(Sri)(BiologicalSystemsEngineering)CollegeofArchitectureandUrbanStudies(CAUS)YangZhang(UrbanAffairsandPlanning),ToddSchenk(SchoolofPublicandInternationalAffairs)CollegeofBusiness(COB)ChristopherZobel(BusinessInformationTechnology,BIT),LorenRees(BIT)CollegeofEngineering(COE)JenniferIrish(CivilandEnvironmentalEngineering,CEE),RobertoLeon(CEE)CollegeofLiberalArtsandHumanStudies(CLAHS)PriyaDixit(PoliticalScience)CollegeofNaturalResourcesandEnvironment(CNRE)AnamariaBukvic**(Geography),AshleyDayer(FishandWildlifeConservation,FWC),JimFraser(FWC),SarahKarpanty(FWC),DanielCatlin(FWC),LukeJuran(Geography,VAWaterResourcesResearchCenter),RandyWynne(ForestResourcesandEnvironmentalConservation,CenterforEnvironmentalApplicationsofRemoteSensing)CollegeofScience(COS)RobertWeiss**(Geosciences)CollegeofVeterinaryMedicine(CVM)JuliaGohlke(PopulationHealthSciences)

**Teamleaders

GLOBALSYSTEMSSCIENCE

GlobalSystemsScienceDA-SystemsIntegrationThereisgrowingrecognitionoftheneedforasystemsapproachwhenattemptingtosolvecomplexsocietalproblems.Buildingonourstrengths,wewilldevelopaninterdisciplinary,system-of-systemsframeworkthatfocusesonsocietalchallenges,usingsustainabilityandresilienceascommonintegratingthemes.WithinGlobalSystemsScience,thefiveinitialconceptstobeconsideredincludeInfectiousDisease,RuralHealth,FreshwaterSystems,SmartFarms,andCoastalSystems.Theinitialsetofsystemsincludelanduse,watershed,air,soil,andclimate.Ecosystemswillalsobeincluded,butneedtobenarroweddowntomorespecificecosystems.Wewillconsidereconomicandsocialsystemstobe“implicitly”includedinallconcepts,althoughwealsoneedtofocusthese.Wewillemployatieredframeworkwithdifferentlevelsofabstractiontomodelcomplexinterdependentsystems.Eachsystemwillhaveamoredetailedmodelattheprocesslevelandamoreaggregatedmodelatthesystemslevel.Oursystem-of-systemsframeworkwillbedesignedsothatitcanbeextendedtoincludeadditionalsystemsinamodularfashion.ThiswillenableustocontinuetoaddsystemswithinGlobalSystemsScience,aswellasconnecttosystemswithinotherDAsandSGAs.Ourcurriculumwillhaveananalogousoverridingconceptualframeworkthatembracessystemsthinkingandcomplexity,crossesdisciplinaryboundaries,andencouragesinnovativeapproachestointractableproblems.Collectively,weenvisionanewgenerationofspecially-trainedscientists(includingnaturalandsocialscientists),engineers,andprofessionalswhoarefamiliarwithmodelsatboththeprocessandthesystemslevel,andwhoserolewillbetocouplethesystemsmodelsinacommon,computationalframework,whileactingasfacilitatorsforcommunicationbetweentheprocesslevelandthesystemslevel.FacultyAffiliatesCollegeofAgricultureandLifeSciences(CALS)SusanClark(Horticulture),Leigh-AnneKrometis(BiologicalSystemsEngineering),DavidSchmale(PlantPathology,PhysiologyandWeedScience),DurelleScott(BiologicalSystemsEngineering)CollegeofBusiness(COB)ChristopherZobel(BusinessInformationTechnology)CollegeofEngineering(COE)GeorgeFilz(CivilandEnvironmentalEngineering),JohnLittle**(CivilandEnvironmentalEngineering),AdrianSandu(ComputerScience)CollegeofNaturalResourcesandEnvironment(CNRE)BruceHull(ForestResourcesandEnvironmentalConservation)CollegeofScience(COS)RobertWeiss(Geosciences)**Teamleader

POLICY

PolicySGA-SystemsIntegrationAbstractToday’sglobalproblemsdefydisciplinarysilosandgovernmentjurisdictions.Thechallengesofgrowinginequalities,strainedfamiliesandcommunities,accesstohealthcare,crumblinginfrastructure,unstablepoliticalregimes,nationalsecurity,cyberthreats,energyscarcity,watercrises,andclimatechangerequirecomplexcollectiveeffortstoanalyze,understand,engageandsolveormitigate.

Effectivelyengagingtheseproblemsrequiresamultidisciplinarycapacityinpolicyto(i)understandthecomplexitiesandimplicationsofdecisionmakingatmultiplescales,acrossjurisdictions,andthroughoutinstitutionalprocesses,(ii)workwithscienceandtechnologytocaptureandtranslateSTEMknowledgeandexpertiseand(iii)bringthatinsightforwardtoinformreal-timedecisionmaking.Thiscapacityiskeytothedevelopmentofacomprehensivegloballandgrantuniversity.

VirginiaTechhasthisexpertise,butitextendsacrosscolleges,andacrosstheBlacksburg,AlexandriaandRichmondcampuses.ThePolicyStrategicGrowthArea(SGA)isaforceformobilizingthisexpertisetoinventorywhatisinplace,toconnectandenhanceexistingareasofexpertise,andtofosternovelinnovativeapproachestopolicymakingandpolicyanalysis,throughthesynthesisofresearch,curriculum,andoutreachacrossmultipledisciplinesincollaborationwiththeDestinationAreas.Buildingacapacityforpolicyresearchandcurriculumacrosstheuniversitywillsetusapartfromleadersinthepolicyspacebyextendingourstrengthsbeyonda“policyschool”toincludethesciences,engineering,andanetworkedandcollaborativeapproachtothepolicy-relevantsocialsciencesandhumanitieslinkingwithscience,technology,engineeringandmath,amongotherareas.

Workingattheintersectionofscientificevidence,governance,analysis,andcomplexdecision-making,thePolicySGAfacilitatesthetranslationandinterplaybetweenscholarshipandpractice.Inthisuniquespaceofcollaboration,expertsfromnon-policyrelateddisciplineswillgaininsightsintothecomplexityofworldwideissues,organizationaldynamics,regulatorypolicy,andmore,andpolicyexpertswillgaininsightsintothescience,technology,andanalyticalstrategiesthatmustbeincorporatedintocomplexdecision-makingacrossmultiplejurisdictions.Weenvisionstudentslearninginthepolicystrategicgrowthareaas“bridgingprofessionals”,uniquelytrainedfortranslatingcomplextechniquesandconceptsasinnovativepolicymakers,andusinganalyticaltechniquestobringevidencetopolicyprocesses.

FacultyAffiliatesCollegeofArchitectureandUrbanStudies(CAUS)AnneKhademian**(PublicandInternationalAffairs,SPIA),PatrickRoberts(SPIA)CollegeofAgricultureandLifeSciences(CALS)WenYou(AgricultureandAppliedEconomics)CollegeofBusiness(COB)SueGe(ECON),AnjuSeth(Management)CollegeofEngineering(COE)NavidGhaffarzadegan(IndustrialandSystemsEngineering)CollegeofLiberalArtsandHumanSciences(CLAHS)KarenHult(PoliticalSciences),DouglasLind(Philosophy),WornieReed(Sociology),SonjaSchmid(ScienceandTechnologyinSociety)CollegeofVeterinaryMedicine(CVM)ValerieRagan(PopulationHealthSciences)InstituteforSociety,CultureandEnvironment(ISCE)KarenRoberto**

**Co-chairs