| Release
UAlbany's Center
for Policy Research Receives NSF Grant to Study
Flood Disasters
Contact: Michael Parker (518) 437-4980
ALBANY, N.Y. (June 22, 2004) --The University
at Albany's Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public
Affairs and Policy and its Center for Policy Research
has been awarded a two-year, $200,000 grant by
the National Science Foundation to study flood
hazard mitigation. The awards go to Thomas Birkland,
the director of the Center for Policy Research,
and George Richardson, the chair of the Department
of Public Administration and Policy. Michael Deegan,
a doctoral candidate in Public Administration
and Policy, assisted with the proposal will be
a member of the research team.
The study will apply an analytic tool known as
system dynamics to understand the complex relationships
between various people, organizations, and levels
of government that often argue about what should
be the best way to reduce losses of life and property
damage from floods.
�The application of system dynamic tools to the
study of natural hazards policy making is quite
unusual,� said Birkland. �If successful, we will
extend this study to other sorts of natural and
humanly caused disasters, such as terrorist attacks.
This would result in a better understanding of
how lifesaving policies can be made and enforced.�
Birkland is an expert on natural hazard policies,
while Richardson is recognized in the field of
system dynamics. �By combining our knowledge and
skills, and with Michael Deegan�s hard work in
preparing for this research, we were able to submit
a winning proposal,� said Birkland.
The Center for Policy Research is the public
policy research center of Rockefeller College.
The Center's affiliated faculty conduct research
funded by private and public organizations.
Ranked among the top-10 public affairs programs
in the nation, UAlbany's Nelson A. Rockefeller
College of Public Affairs & Policy's core
mission is to discover, communicate, and apply
knowledge about politics, governance, public policy,
and public management. The college directly helps
public managers, policymakers, and others deal
effectively with the challenges they face, making
democracy stronger and governments more effective
around the world. For more information about the
college, visit www.albany.edu/rockefeller/.
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