University of Kansas
PAE-2: Strategic Plan

The first of the four strategic initiative themes in the strategic plan is "Sustaining the Planet, Powering the World". The statement is made that an economy vital for the long term demands both a sustainable environment and the availability of affordable energy, making multidisciplinary research on climate change, renewable energy and chemicals, extraction of fossil fuels from unconventional formation, and environmental impacts important to achieve a secure future and protect a fragile global environment. Exemplars given in the plan for this strategic theme are: 1) Because understanding the relationships among physical systems, living systems, and social systems is crucial for addressing complex scientific and environmental issues, such as climate change, energy use, biodiversity, and the ecosystem, as well as economic and political vitality. KU researchers will advance their investigations of the causes and consequences of environmental change and pursue new research opportunities at the intersection of energy and environment. 2) KU advances in remote sensing will lead to improved models for predicting how large ice sheets contribute to the rise of the sea level. Discoveries in astrobiophysics will provide deeper understanding of the Earth's structure and the terrestrial biosphere and their relation to events in the greater universe. Informatics and modeling of natural and human systems will expand the discovery and forecasting of Earth's biological diversity under scenarios of climate change. 3) Fundamental discoveries at KU in catalysis for biomass conversion can revolutionize the $720 billion U.S. chemical and plastics industry into an eco-friendly economic engine for Kansas. KU is also poised to make significant contributions to the generation, storage, distribution, and policy issues of energy from biomass, solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, oil, and natural gas sources. 4) KU research on the re-engineering of vehicles, built environments, fuels, water resources, and transportation infrastructure can revitalize agriculture and industries while promoting sustainable development, energy conservation, and economic growth. KU can serve as a living sustainability laboratory for transportation systems, water quality, "green" construction, public understanding, and the humanistic and socio-cultural implications of sustainability in daily life.

The third of the four strategic initiative themes in the strategic plan is "Building Communities, Expanding Opportunities". The statement is made that a civil community depends upon equality of opportunity, a broader understanding of cultures, and respect for differences. International peace and prosperity demand a renewed spirit of civic engagement. Exemplars given in the for this strategic theme are: 1) In a political era of growing skepticism and cynicism, we have as a public university a signal responsibility to address civic issues to develop well-educated, skilled, and engaged citizens. KU research, discourse, and service learning experiences will draw students from all disciplines into public life to help address the difficult choices facing our democracy. 2) The migrations of peoples, ideas, and resources across geographic and technological borders make Kansas and the U.S. more interconnected globally. KU research will inform our understanding of the important dynamics behind the development of civic communities - both rural and urban - and the longstanding divisions that occur based upon citizenship, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, class, cultures, and religion. 3) The economic, educational, social, public health, and developmental problems facing America's children and their families are highly interlinked and can be addressed most effectively by bringing together researchers from multiple perspectives to explore and develop comprehensive interventions, education, public policy, and best practices. 4) The impact of cities on the vitality of the state can be enhanced through interdisciplinary KU programs that attract students from these communities and marshal the university's research and service engagement strengths for enhancing an increasingly urbanized Kansas.