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Science & Society

I am pleased to announce some changes and restructuring of the Institute of Science and Society. When Dean Whiteford announced my appointment as the director, he indicated that we would focus on "water quality and related environmental issues" for the next three years. In light of the literal "explosion" of the bioeconomy in Iowa as well as the nation, the university's growing focus on bioeconomy issues, and the positive and negative consequences of bioeconomy expansion for the environment, with the approval of the Dean, we are expanding the current focus of the Institute of Science and Society to "Bioeconomy Expansion: Environmental, Economic, Social, and Policy Implications for Iowa and the Nation." We believe that this expanded focus will facilitate the integration of social sciences research and education into what is happening in other Liberal Arts and Sciences' departments, centers and colleges, and the university's mission.

The Institute of Science and Society mission is to highlight the role of the social sciences in research and education in the college and university, raise the visibility of interdisciplinary research and education involving the social sciences, grow interdisciplinary and policy research with the natural and engineering sciences as well as the humanities, and highlight policy issues of critical importance to Iowa and the nation. To achieve this mission, we will sponsor the following program of activities:

  • Workshops/seminars highlighting interdisciplinary research involving the social sciences in the college and university as well as at other institutions;
  • Jointly sponsor forums on implications of bioeconomy expansion;
  • Collaborate and cooperate with other institutes and centers in sciences, engineering, agriculture, and humanities at Iowa State University;
  • Seed grants for developing interdisciplinary seminars and research proposals; and
  • Efforts to better position faculty for external funding.

We anticipate being involved with a range of activities and projects addressing the growing bioeconomy from how do markets and policies drive the expansion to what are the water quality and quantity, climate change, risk and science policy, and social and community implications. Shortly, we will be announcing workshops/seminars highlighting interdisciplinary research and seed grant opportunities.

The list of faculty affiliates of The Institute of Science and Society has not been recently updated and many faculty members are no longer even affiliated with the university. If you are interested in being or continuing to be a faculty affiliate, please go to the ISS webpage and sign-up.

If you have questions or comments about ISS, I would enjoy hearing from you. Individuals and groups interested in interdisciplinary research involving the social sciences, I would also be delighted to visit with you.

John A. Miranowski
Director, Institute of Science and Society
131 Carver
Phone: 294-1979
E-mail: jmirski@iastate.edu