14 DAY TRIAL // Approaching the study of large cities as if they were living organisms, and parts of a system, yielded some fairly interesting results over the past few years. As a direct consequence, more and more experts have begun investigating issues in this area, which contributed to a surge in global interest on the topic. Now, in the latest effort to be added to this list, researchers at the Rice University have set up the Institute for Urban Research (IUR), whose primary job will be to study patterns of change in Houston, as well as in other major metropolises. It will also conduct additional investigations on other urban issues, experts at the university say.
The new institute will, in fact, be made up of two existing RU centers, which will merge with each other. The Center on Race, Religion and Urban Life (CORRUL), and the Urban Research Center (URC) will fuse in IUR, and their two directors, RU sociology professors Michael Emerson and Stephen Klineberg, will become co-directors for the new organization. One of the specified goals for the Institute is public outreach, which means that results obtained here will be applied towards the benefit of many individuals. Scientific research and sponsor educational programs will also be conducted.
Another important objective is the in-depth analysis of pressing urban issues, including the heat island effect, as well as discovering how to better foster development in today's world. The IUR will also attempt to identify methods through more humane and sustainable cities could be constructed, in a way that ensures starvation and other factors hinder the population in any way. It is the goal of the Institute to become a leader in this type of research, and to be recognized for its contribution to the respective fields in which the knowledge derived from its studies will be applied.
“With the Institute for Urban Research, the Houston surveys are now assured of continuing into the future to provide valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing this region. The institute will also enable us to augment the survey findings with other urban research and public programs, to greatly enhance their value to the wider community,” says Klineberg. Funding for the IUR comes from the Sterling Bank, the United Way of Greater Houston, ExxonMobil, The Marek Family of Companies, HEB, Gallery Furniture, Wells Fargo, CenterPoint Energy and Fiesta Mart.
“The new institute will focus on three interconnected endeavors: social research in the urban context, public outreach and academic programs. Scholars at the institute will study both the macro changes in the economic, demographic and sociocultural patterns of large metropolitan regions and the micro experiences of life in local neighborhoods and communities,” adds the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology at RU, Michael Emerson.
“The Institute for Urban Research will help to train students in modern social research methodologies, develop interdisciplinary academic programs bringing together scholars with shared interests to foster collaboration and host annual symposia exploring the policy implications of its research. It will also issue published reports each year on the latest results of the Houston Area Survey and make use of blogs and other social media tools to disseminate its research findings to the wider community,” says the dean of the RU School of Social Sciences, Lyn Ragsdale.