Embracing Convergence Research for Grand Challenges
The Institute's strategic plan for the next decade centers on 'convergence research'—a deep integration of disciplines to tackle problems that cannot be solved by any one field alone. We have identified three grand challenges that will be the focus of major, decade-long initiatives. First, 'The Carbon-Neutral Plains Initiative' aims to develop and deploy a suite of technologies and practices—from enhanced rock weathering in soils to bioenergy with carbon capture—that could transform the region from a carbon source to a significant carbon sink. Second, 'The Digital Equity and Rural Vitality Project' seeks to ensure that the benefits of the digital revolution, including AI and automation, accrue to rural communities, preventing a new form of inequality. Third, 'The Health of the Ogallala Initiative' is an all-out effort to achieve sustainable management of the aquifer through a combination of technology, policy, and economic transformation.
Investing in Next-Generation Infrastructure and Data Science
To support this ambitious research, the Institute will make significant capital investments. Plans are underway for a new 'Bio-Economy Innovation Wing' to scale up laboratory discoveries in biomaterials and biofuels. We will also expand our network of field stations, adding a dedicated site in the rapidly changing northern plains to study climate migration patterns. The most significant investment will be in cyber-infrastructure: building a dedicated high-performance computing cluster for complex systems modeling and artificial intelligence. This 'Plains AI Hub' will allow researchers to analyze the petabytes of data generated by our sensor networks and satellites, uncovering patterns invisible to the human eye. We will also launch a School of Data Science for the Plains, training a new cadre of specialists who can wield these tools for the region's benefit.
Deepening Community Co-Design and Equity Commitments
The future vision places even greater emphasis on true partnership with the communities of the Great Plains. We are moving from 'outreach' to 'co-design.' This means community members will be involved from the very inception of research projects, helping to define the questions and shape the methods. A new Office of Community Research Partnerships will facilitate this work and ensure equitable sharing of benefits, such as intellectual property rights from locally-inspired innovations. A major focus will be on racial and social equity, with new initiatives to support Indigenous knowledge sovereignty and to address the historical disparities faced by Black and Latino communities in the region. The goal is to ensure the Institute's work actively contributes to a more just and inclusive plains society.
Expanding Global Leadership and Training the Next Generation
Finally, the Institute aims to solidify its role as a global leader in dryland and semi-arid region studies. We plan to establish a formal 'Global Fellows' program, inviting senior scholars and practitioners from similar regions worldwide for year-long residencies. We will also increase our capacity to host international delegations and to export our models—like the Community Adaptation Labs—through formal partnerships. At the same time, nurturing future leaders remains paramount. The strategic plan calls for doubling the number of graduate fellowships and creating new post-doctoral opportunities focused on the grand challenges. We envision the Institute not just as a center for research, but as the world's premier academy for training the interdisciplinary problem-solvers that our planet's most vulnerable regions desperately need. The next decade is about scaling our impact, deepening our partnerships, and boldly applying our collective intellect to forge a thriving, sustainable future for the Great Plains and beyond.