Confronting Megatrends: Climate, Demographics, and Technology
The Nebraska Institute of Great Plains recently completed an intensive year-long strategic planning process, resulting in the 'Horizon 2035' plan. This roadmap identifies three interconnected megatrends that will define the Institute's focus for the next decade: accelerated climate change, dramatic demographic shifts (including aging populations and new immigration patterns), and the rapid evolution of digital technology. In response, the plan launches three new grand challenge initiatives. The first, 'Climate-Ready Communities 2030,' aims to develop and deploy a comprehensive adaptation toolkit for every county in Nebraska, integrating physical infrastructure, social services, and economic diversification strategies. The second, 'The New Rural Economy,' will study and foster the growth of remote work, digital entrepreneurship, and value-added creative industries in small towns. The third, 'Data for the Plains,' seeks to become the central clearinghouse for high-resolution, publicly accessible data on all aspects of the region, leveraging AI and machine learning to generate predictive insights for decision-makers.
Expanding Reach and Deepening Partnerships
A core pillar of the new strategy is intentional expansion of the Institute's geographic and partnership footprint. While remaining anchored in Nebraska, the plan formalizes a 'Great Plains Consortium' with research institutions in surrounding states to coordinate large-scale, multi-state research projects on transboundary issues like aquifer management and wildlife corridors. The Institute also aims to significantly deepen its partnerships with tribal nations, moving beyond project-based collaboration to co-governance models for certain research programs and establishing an endowed chair for Indigenous Knowledge Systems. Furthermore, the plan calls for strengthening ties with the private sector, creating innovation fellowships that place researchers within companies and forming a corporate advisory board to ensure Institute research remains attuned to market realities and technological opportunities.
Investing in the Next Generation and Infrastructure
To execute this ambitious vision, the strategic plan outlines major investments in people and infrastructure. It includes a goal to double the number of graduate fellowships and post-doctoral positions, with a particular emphasis on recruiting students from underrepresented backgrounds and from within the Great Plains region itself, fostering homegrown talent. A new 'Center for Digital Agriculture and Robotics' is slated for construction, housing advanced labs for robotics, sensor development, and bioinformatics. The plan also commits to achieving net-zero carbon emissions for the main campus by 2030 through renewable energy and efficiency upgrades, making the Institute a living laboratory for sustainable practice. Ultimately, 'Horizon 2035' is not just an institutional plan; it is a statement of faith in the future of the Great Plains. It positions the Institute as an indispensable catalyst and partner, using the power of integrated research, education, and outreach to help the region navigate profound change and shape its own destiny toward greater resilience, equity, and prosperity for all who call it home.