Building on a Foundation of Impact
As the Nebraska Institute of Great Plains looks toward its next decade, it does so from a position of strength, having established itself as a nationally recognized center for interdisciplinary, place-based scholarship. However, the challenges facing the region are accelerating, demanding an even more ambitious and focused response. The Institute's new strategic plan, "Horizon 2035," outlines a future vision that is both a natural evolution of its core mission and a bold leap into new arenas of impact. The plan is organized around four interconnected strategic pillars designed to deepen, connect, and amplify the Institute's work.
Pillar One: Deepening Research Integration and Translation
The first goal is to move from interdisciplinary collaboration to truly transdisciplinary synthesis. This means not just having historians and ecologists work on parallel tracks, but creating unified frameworks and models that seamlessly integrate social, ecological, and economic data. A major initiative will be the creation of a Great Plains Systems Model, a dynamic computer simulation that allows policymakers to test the cascading effects of a decision—like a new water policy—on farm economics, groundwater levels, biodiversity, and community health over 50 years. Furthermore, the Institute will redouble its efforts in knowledge translation, establishing a professional team dedicated to turning research findings into ready-to-use toolkits, policy briefs, and curricula for specific audiences like state legislators, K-12 teachers, and agricultural extension agents.
Pillar Two: Scaling Community-Engaged Scholarship
The second pillar aims to institutionalize and scale the model of community partnership. The goal is to move from project-by-project engagement to long-term, place-based Community Science Hubs. The Institute will establish permanent field stations or partner offices in 3-5 geographically diverse communities across the state, staffed by Institute fellows and local liaisons. These hubs will co-identify research priorities, host community fellows, and serve as living labs where solutions are developed and tested in real time. This represents a deeper commitment to shared governance and ensuring the Institute's work is directly accountable to community-defined needs and success metrics.
Pillar Three: Cultivating the Next Generation of Plains Leaders
Recognizing that its most enduring product is its people, the third pillar focuses on expanding educational pathways. This includes launching a new Professional Doctoral program in Applied Plains Leadership for mid-career professionals in government, NGOs, and industry. It also involves creating a robust K-12 to Career pipeline through expanded summer camps, teacher residency programs, and paid internships that connect rural youth to futures in plains-focused STEM and humanities fields. The Institute will also establish a Great Plains Policy Fellowship, placing its top graduates in fellowships with federal agencies and congressional offices to directly infuse plains-informed perspectives into national policy.
Pillar Four: Amplifying Influence and Securing Legacy
The final pillar looks outward, aiming to elevate the Institute's role as a national and international voice on issues of drylands, rural sustainability, and regional identity. This involves launching a major public-facing media platform to share stories and research in compelling formats like podcasts and documentaries. It also includes pursuing designation as a UNESCO Category 2 Centre related to sustainable dryland management, connecting the Institute's work to a global network. To ensure financial sustainability for this ambitious vision, the plan calls for a significant capital campaign to grow the endowment, ensuring the Institute's independence and capacity for long-term, risky research for generations to come.
The "Horizon 2035" plan is not a departure, but a distillation and intensification of what has made the Nebraska Institute of Great Plains unique. It is a commitment to think bigger, dig deeper, and connect more meaningfully. By pursuing these strategic goals, the Institute aims to solidify its role not just as a center for studying the Great Plains, but as an indispensable engine for its sustainable and thriving future.