Course Description
“‘Ridiculous’ heat keeps tormenting Texas, with no end in sight” says an August 2023 Washington Post headline (Cappucci 2023). While preparing for and responding to extreme heat, residents in many neighborhoods worry about the severe thunderstorm that could quickly bring extreme precipitation and flooding or the poor air quality from nearby wildfires. During the summer of 2023, three-fourths of Texas was declared a wildfire disaster (Martinez 2023). As climate impacts become more frequent and longer in duration, how to prepare for and respond to interacting, cascading, or multi-hazard risk is increasingly important. Yet, significant gaps in how cities assess and prepare for extreme weather and the policies that bolster resilience.
This Policy Research Project will focus addressing climate extremes in Austin in partnership with the first in the nation, University-City Climate CoLab (hereafter COA Climate CoLab) that bridges academic, city, and community partners to conduct community-engaged climate research (University Marketing and Communications 2023). This two-semester PRP has three high level objectives: 1) work with downscale climate data and models to assess exposure to a range of climate hazards – extreme heat, winter storms, drought, wildfires, and flooding – and conduct human impact vulnerability assessments; 2) conduct policy benchmarking and prepare a roadmap for future policy development that includes sets of actions (investment, standards, programs, and policies) that Austin families, businesses, and governments can take to mitigate the severity of each hazard and mitigate Austin’s exposure to a hazard; and 3) Create a roadmap for future technical and financial assistance, including opportunities for self-financed policy expansions.
Objectives for this course include:
• Conducting primary and secondary research and analysis on a policy-relevant topic of your interest.
• Utilize an array of research tactics and methods: interviews, focus groups, surveys [semi-structured/structured], case studies and best practices.
• Manage client engagement [especially on a project that is ever-changing and evolving], including
project updates, engagement sessions and deliverable feedback.
Master the principles of teamwork, including collective writing, task management, conflict management and team facilitation.
• Develop external- and client-facing writing and oral communication skills, including completion of final policy report and presentation of draft and final products.
• Learn how to remain flexible, creative, and professional under stress, time and budget constraints.
Important to note that a level of ambiguity is inherent in all client-based work and experiential learning; you will co-create this engagement with your clients to better understand their needs and expectations.
Students who embrace this as an opportunity will be more successful than students who expect a clear
vision from start to end. Additionally, professionalism is essential. Your team will be representing the
LBJ School, and maintaining our exceptional reputation is imperative.
For more information:
Cappucci, Matthew. 2023. “‘Ridiculous’ Heat Keeps Tormenting Texas, with No End in Sight.” Washington Post, August 10, 2023. https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2023/08/09/texas-heat-record-sum….
Martinez, Alejandra. 2023. “Gov. Greg Abbott Declares Wildfire Disaster for Three-Fourths of Texas.” The Texas Tribune, 2023. https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/14/texas-wildfires-2023-governor-d….
University Marketing and Communications. 2023. “Project to Tackle Effects of Extreme Climate Unveiled by Doggett, UT and City of Austin.” UT News, 2023. https://news.utexas.edu/2023/09/07/project-to-tackle-effects-of-extreme….