The first Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR) Research In Process Panel of the spring 2013 semester will take place on Thursday, February 7.
In 2010, officials from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the City of Springfield formalized a new Greater Springfield-University of Massachusetts Amherst Partnership designed to promote collaborations that will lead to the revitalization of Springfield’s economy. The partnership aims to position the city in the long term as a center for environmentally beneficial green industries, boost the city’s arts and creative economy, and expand relevant university teaching and outreach initiatives.
From the creation of a skilled workforce for the knowledge economy to the transfer of innovation and research from the university to real-life settings, UMass Amherst and Springfield are working together in many ways to accomplish these goals.
This panel features three social scientists who are engaged in research and engagement projects in Springfield: Sylvia Brandt, associate professor of Resource Economics and Public Policy; Frank Sleegers, assistant professor of Landscape Architecture; and Fred Rose, a researcher and lecturer in the Center for Public Policy and Administration and co-director of the Wellspring Initiative in Springfield. Each of these panelists will address the needs and strengths of Springfield, share advice on connecting with city residents and institutions through research and engagement projects, and share their visions of how the UMass-Springfield partnership might grow in the future. Researchers with ongoing projects in Springfield, or those who are considering conducting locally based studies in the future, are especially encouraged to attend for an opportunity to network with like-minded individuals.