Research and Service Projects

Research Projects (in-progress)

The Potential Application of Consensus Building Techniques: A Case Study of Damascus, Oregon. This study was conducted on behalf on the Oregon Consensus Program in its capacity to assist Clackamas County in understanding how their public involvement processe in quasi-legislative processes might be affected through the application of dispute resolution techniques. Key informants in the Damascus Concept Planmaking process were interviewed in 2007.

Professional Workshops:

China Ministry of Construction, China Academy of Urban Planning and Design Workshop: Beijing, China. June 2008. This workshop will include presentations by four faculty from PSU's Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning about the Portland, Oregon region's ongoing efforts to achieve urban sustainability. Small group discussions with research staff from the Academy will lead to achievign the Workshop's primary objective, which is to further our mutual understandings of urban sustainability and our respective urban systems. We envision this workshop as the first step toward building a foundation from which joint research and implementation projects may be developed.

China Ministry of Construction, Sustainable Urban Planning and Design Training Program, November 13- 19, 2007.This was a week-long program conducted in partnership with the International Sustainable Development Foundation, with funding from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. This year, 21 senior-level planning officials from across China participated. The purpose of this program is to engage participants in a discussion of important sustainable urban planning and governance concepts and provide practical knowledge and experience related to the Portland region's effort to achieve sustainable practices. This program is viewed as a first step toward a meaningful dialogue and exchange of practice and research around issues of shared concern. Featured topics included the urban growth boundary, multi-modal transportation planning, green buildings, affordable housing, and collaborative decision making for interagency coordination and public participation. (This wokrshop will be offered again in Fall 2008.)

Portland Development Commission Negotiation Skills Workshop, November 2007. This was a four-session workshop aiming to equip participants with an understanding of basic negotiation theory and concepts and to provide opportunities for applying and testing such knowledge in order for individuals to improve their individual skills, competence and confidence in negotiations.

China Ministry of Natural Resources, Sustainable Land Use, August and October 2007. We conducted two week-long programs in partnership with the International Sustainable Development Foundation, with funding from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. This year, 53 senior-level officials from across China participated. The purpose of this program is to engage participants in a discussion of important sustainable urban planning and governance concepts and provide practical knowledge and experience related to the Portland region's effort to achieve sustainable practices. This program is viewed as a first step toward a meaningful dialogue and exchange of practice and research around issues of shared concern. Featured topics included management of the urban growth boundary, including the identification of lands for urban uses, local organic food production, water management, interagency coordiantion and public participation. (This wokrshop will be offered again in Fall 2008.)

Housing Authority of Portland, Collaborative Decision Making, April, 2007. This workshop of senior level professionals addressed basic elements of collaborative decision making, starting with basic negotiation concepts.

Research and Service Projects

Research Projects (in-progress)

Professional Workshops:

Reports: