The Gazette Iowa Ideas conference was recently held in Cedar Rapids, IA with a focus on  topics which included agriculture, energy and environment, health care, higher education, K-12 education, regionalism/workforce, transportation and workplace (r)evolution. Iowa Ideas is designed to explore key questions and big ideas that affect the state and was held over three days. A number of URP faculty, alumni and one student were involved in presenting research and professional opinions among the 80 total discussions offered.

In the energy and environment track, Professor Lucie Laurian presented on a panel discussion of Environmental Impacts on Health. Current master’s student and Outreach Coordinator for the Iowa Flood Center, Breanna Shea, was part of the panel on Water Quality: Research and New Ideas. Recent alum Tom Petersen, Director - Public Affairs at ITC Midwest, was on the panel for The Role of Landowners in Energy and Environmental Needs.

Others affiliated with URP spoke in sessions related to the Regionalism/Workforce track. URP Adjunct Instructor and alum, Dave Swenson, spoke on a panel addressing Rural Iowa: Challenges and Triumphs. Dave is an Associate Scientist in the Department of Economics at Iowa State University. Professor Emeritus, Peter Fisher, addressed Immigrants in the Workforce as a panel member. He is now working as Research Director at the Iowa Policy Project in Iowa City. Jeff Schott, who teaches a course on Planning and City Administration, joined three other panel members speaking in a session on Working Across Political Boundaries. Jeff is Director of the Institute of Public Affairs at The University of Iowa.

In the Transportation track, three alums presented. Mary Rump, Transportation and Regional Development Director at East Central Iowa Council of Government, spoke on Public Transportation and Accessibility. Dylan Mullenix, Assistant Director, Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization contributed to the panel discussion on Smart Cities. And Sarah Walz, Assistant Transportation Planner, City of Iowa City served on the Trails and Biking panel.

Director of our School of Urban and Regional Planning, Charles Connerly, was involved with the Placemaking panel discussion in the Community Vitality track.

The event was created by the Cedar Rapids Gazette newspaper. Success of the conference has already led to plans for its return next year.