Texas A&M University
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy

The University raises awareness and contributes to the body of knowledge through its research and scholarly engagement in speakers programs, public testimony, presentations, summer camps, and community events. The Institute for Sustainable Coastal Communities (ISCC) is a joint initiative between the College of Architecture at Texas A&M and Texas A&M University at Galveston that helps prepare coastal communities absorb, adapt and respond to disturbance such as hazardous events. ISCC shares findings with community decision makers, residents, and interested parties about their roles in creating a sustainable and resilient community. The institute also provides knowledge that will help decision makers reduce hurricane/storm impact.

The University raises awareness and contributes to the body of knowledge through its research and scholarly engagement in speakers programs, public testimony, presentations, summer camps, and community events. 1) Indirectly Texas A&M provides information for elected officials at the state level regarding entities within Texas A&M that promote sustainability and energy efficiency. One example is the Engineering Energy Systems Lab (ESL), a premier facility in the state regarding evaluation of energy-related research, energy efficiency, and emissions reduction, thus providing sustainable solutions for building use efficiencies. This is one of several energy efficiency related initiatives in which the university helps support and advocates funding for at the state level. 2) Another program Texas A&M has officially requested support for at the state level is the Texas Sea Grant College Program, a program that seeks to improve the understanding, wise use and stewardship of Texas coastal and marine resources. 3) The Soil Security Grand Challenge team at Texas A&M advocates for collaboration between public and private institutions as appropriate, to develop solutions at the state level for an effective valuation of soil and soil services to contribute to better decision-making and engagement of the public relating to soil security. 4) The Institute for Sustainable Coastal Communities (ISCC) is a joint initiative between the College of Architecture at Texas A&M and Texas A&M University at Galveston that helps prepare coastal communities absorb, adapt and respond to disturbance such as hazardous events. ISCC also shares findings with community decision makers, residents, and interested parties. The institute also provides knowledge that will help decision makers reduce hurricane/storm impact.

1) Texas A&M has also successfully advocated funding at the federal level for the Texas Sea Grant College Program through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The program is a collaboration of NOAA, the State of Texas and universities across the state. at the national level through Advocate for NOAA to have the cooperative institutes in the Gulf. Water resources natural something bill – always advocate. Sea grant also receives federal funding. 2) On March 22, 2016, a Texas A&M professor was invited to, and participated in, the White House Water summit to “help build a sustainable and secure water future.” 3) On August 1, 2016, a Texas A&M researcher was invited to, and participated in, a White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) workshop on “Gaining Ground-Soil as a Renewable Resource.” Included in this workshop were “lightning talks” focused on creating sustainable soil ecosystems. 4) In August 2016, Texas A&M also responded to a “Call to Action” by the White House OSTP to save America’s soils, by sending examples of Texas A&M’s efforts in this area of soil sustainability, which included an overview of Texas A&M’s Soil Security Grand Challenge Team for an effective soil valuation of soil and soil services to contribute to better decision-making and engagement of the public regarding soil security to help protect this resource. 5) Some of Texas A&M’s Congressional appropriations requests support funding for sustainability activities, including research in USDA’s Agriculture and Food Initiative (AFRI), the Forest Service’s Forest Inventory and Analysis program, and NSF’s Food-Energy-Water Nexus program (INFEWS: Innovations at the Nexus of Food, Energy and Water Systems). 6) Texas A&M also advocates for, and receives, federal funding through the U.S. Department of Energy for the Industrial Assessment Center. The center conducts free assessments for mid-sized industries to help them stay competitive through reduction of costs. The assessments include energy efficiency and productivity improvements, waste minimization, and pollution prevention. The center has also been recognized by the Department of Energy as a “Center of Excellence.”

The University raises awareness and contributes to the body of academic knowledge through its research and scholarly engagement in speakers programs, public testimony, presentations, summer camps, and community events.

Not applicable since Texas A&M University is a public university.