Civios

Persistent link for this communityhttps://hdl.handle.net/11299/181310

Public affairs research provides important insights into issues that impact all of us—from urban planning and design to environmental policy and human services. Typically, this research is published in academic journals that are not accessible to people outside of academia. When important policy research is not seen by practitioners, policymakers, and the broader public, we lose the opportunity to inform policy decisions with researched-based information. Civios aims to change that.

An initiative of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, Civios offers short and visually engaging digital materials to inform public affairs discussions. These materials translate policy-relevant scholarly research for policymakers, practitioners, and the broader public.

Taking research one step further

In today's digital age, important research often fails to reach its target audiences in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. To address this problem, Civios includes a strategic communication plan to disseminate each research-based "product" developed—whether it is a podcast, mixed media material, or case study—to relevant audiences. Not only does this make Civios a gateway for the research, but it becomes a vehicle for sharing the research far and wide. This targeted distribution produces what we call knowledge networks—or "hubs of influence"—that are most effective for communicating public affairs research in the digital age.

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Now showing 1 - 20 of 99
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    Criminal Liability Issues Created by Autonomous Vehicles
    (Santa Clara Law Review, 2012-12-13) Douma, Frank; Aue Palodichuk, Sarah
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    Legal Accelerators and Brakes for Deployment of Automated Vehicles
    (Springer International Publishing, 2015) Stanley, Karlyn D.; Partridge, Ellen; Douma, Frank
    This chapter will review three questions that prompted significant discussion at the 2014 Symposium on Vehicle Automation sponsored by the Transportation Research Board (TRB) and the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) as potential accelerators or brakes for deployment of automated vehicles: (1) Where are uniform laws needed? (2) What deployment will come first and will it be evolutionary or revolutionary? (3) How should tests be devised for ratings or certification? Participants in the “Legal Accelerators and Brakes” session noted that the legal environment does not appear to be the obstacle, or “brake” to autonomous vehicle deployment that many fear it will be. Greater uniformity in operational laws, such as tailgating and distracted driving, as well as in safety testing standards, could potentially accelerate deployment. Participants in the session concluded that key privacy and security questions will be informed by legal developments that are not unique to driving.
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    Self-Driving Vehicles and Policy Implications: Current Status of Autonomous Vehicle Development and Minnesota Policy Implications
    (Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology, 2015) Leri, Adeel; Douma, Frank; Onyiah, Ify
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    The SDVs Are Coming! An Examination of Minnesota Laws in Preparation for Self-Driving Vehicles
    (Minnesota Journal of Law, Science, and Technology, 2015) Peck, Spencer; Fatehi, Leili; Douma, Frank; Lari, Adeel
    Self-driving vehicles (SDVs) are predicted to be the future of automotive transportation. The significant potential benefits of SDVs to safety, congestion reduction, land use, and productivity are hard to ignore. Although fully automated vehicles are still a ways away, the technology is rapidly advancing and becoming more legally accepted. For example, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) requires all newly manufactured cars to have at least a low-level of autonomous vehicle technology and suggests widespread adoption of more advanced technology by 2020. Four states and the District of Columbia have some form of legislation expressly allowing SDVs or the testing of such vehicles within state boundaries. In fact, two states—California and Nevada—have even issued comprehensive regulations for both private use and testing of SDVs. Several companies, most notably Google, are aggressively pursuing the technology and advocating for legal changes in support of SDVs. But what does this all mean for Minnesota drivers, laws and lawmakers, and local economies? This Article explores the development of SDVs and related technology and how states have responded to this development as context for more substantive discussion about why and how Minnesota might move to adopt and adapt to this transformative technology. Specifically, this Article will explore how current laws may already permit SDVs and how the law could be, or in some cases must be, modified to authorize testing and use of SDVs in the state. Finally, this Article will describe why SDVs and the related legal changes needed to support their development and adoption can greatly benefit Minnesota’s citizens and economy.
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    Reforming Occupational Licensing Policies
    (2015-03) Kleiner, Morris M.
    Occupational licensing has been among the fastest growing labor market institutions in the United States since World War II. The evidence from the economics literature suggests that licensing has had an important influence on wage determination, benefits, employment, and prices in ways that impose net costs on society with little improvement to service quality, health, and safety. To improve occupational licensing practices, I propose four specific reforms. First, state agencies would make use of cost-benefit analysis to determine whether requests for additional occupational licensing requirements are warranted. Second, the federal government would promote the determination and adoption of best-practice models through financial incentives and better information. Third, state licensing standards would allow workers to move across state lines with a minimal cost for retraining or residency requirements. Fourth, where politically feasible, certain occupations that are licensed would be reclassified to a system of certification or no regulation. If federal, state, and local governments were to undertake these proposals, evidence suggests that employment in these regulated occupations would grow, consumer access to goods and services would expand, and prices would fall.
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    Interview with Mike Gregerson
    (2015-06-01) Gregerson, Mike; Monti, Marta
    Mike Gregerson has over 30 years of management, executive, and consulting experience in the electric utility arena including environmental and regulatory affairs, customer service, and energy policy negotiations. He worked for 30 years at Northern States Power/Xcel Energy before retiring. Mr. Gregerson is currently an energy policy program consultant with Great Plains Institute, with a focus in supporting regional and state expansion of renewable energy and transmission development in the Midwest.
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    Interview with Terry Grove
    (2015-06-08) Grove, Terry; Monti, Marta
    Terry Grove is the Transmission Policy Program Manager at Great River Energy. Mr. Grove is also the Co-Executive Director of CapX2020, and has provided executive level leadership to assure the successful permitting, siting, and construction of CapX2020 projects.
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    Interview with Graham Arntzen
    (2015-06-09) Arntzen, Graham; Monti, Marta
    Graham Arntzen is a Senior manager at Pioneer Management Consulting. Graham worked in the Project Management Office supporting the CapX2020 initiative, managing vendor alliances, negotiating sourcing contracts, and managed best practices across multi-disciplinary project teams.
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    Interview with Igor Lenzner
    (2015-06-11) Lenzner, Igor; Monti, Marta
    Igor Lenzner is a shareholder and attorney with Rinke Noonan. Mr. Lenzner’s practice concentrates in assisting individuals and government on eminent domain, condemnation, and property acquisition and relocation.
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    Interview with Allen Gleckner
    (2015-06-16) Gleckner, Allen; Monti, Marta
    Allen Gleckner is a Senior Policy Associate at Fresh Energy. He is focused on aligning transmission market rules and state permitting towards broader regional deployment of clean electricity resources. Mr. Gleckner has worked on utility-scale and distribution-scale projects and policy.
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    Interview with Michael Noble
    (2015-06-16) Noble, Michael; Monti, Marta
    Michael Noble is the CEO and Executive Director of Fresh Energy, an independent non-profit organization working to speed the transition to a clean energy economy by working to shape and drive progressive energy policies.
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    Interview with Brian Kalk
    (2015-06-18) Kalk, Brian; Monti, Marta
    Dr. Brian Kalk is currently serving his second term in the North Dakota Public Service Commission, which will expire in 2020. Mr. Kalk also serves as President of the Mid-American Regulatory Commissioners (MARC) and serves as Chair of the Clean Coal Subcommittee for the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC).
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    Interview with Gordon Pietsch
    (2015-06-19) Pietsch, Gordon; Monti, Marta
    Gordon Pietsch is the Director of Transmission Planning and Operations at Great River Energy.
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    Interview with Will Kaul, June 2015
    (2015-06-19) Kaul, Will; Monti, Marta
    Will Kaul serves as the Vice President for Transmission at Great River Energy, and has worked there or for its predecessor companies for over 33 years. Mr. Kaul is a founder of CapX2020 and has served as its chair since its formation in 2004. This is interview 1 of 2.
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    Interview with Mark Nisbet
    (2015-06-19) Nisbet, Mark; Monti, Marta
    Mark Nisbet is the North Dakota Principle Manager with Xcel Energy. In his role, Mr. Nisbet is involved with strategy, government and community relations. During the CapX2020 initiative, he was responsible for keeping local officials up to date on project work, as well as community outreach.
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    Interview with Greg Rislov
    (2015-06-23) Rislov, Greg; Monti, Marta
    Greg Rislov serves as the Commission Advisor to the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, advising the commission on financial and policy issues related to electric, natural gas, and telecom regulation. Mr. Rislov also serves as the commission’s staff representative for the Organization of MISO States.
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    Interview with Beth Soholt
    (2015-06-30) Soholt, Beth; Monti, Marta
    Beth Soholt is the Executive Director of Wind on the Wires, an NGO that works to overcome barriers to delivering wind power to market in 10 Upper Midwest states. Ms. Soholt has more than 15 years’ experience working with the electric industry in various capacities. At WOW she directs work in the areas of technical/transmission planning, state regulatory proceedings, legislative education and outreach. Ms. Soholt holds a seat on the Midwest Independent System Operator Advisory Committee representing the Environmental Sector.
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    Interview with Clair Moeller
    (2015-07-09) Moeller, Clair; Monti, Marta
    Clair Moeller is the Executive Vice President of Transmission and Technology at the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO). Mr. Moeller is responsible for MISO’s transmission planning functions, transmission services, and information technology. Mr. Moeller is skilled at identifying and implementing best practices in transmission planning and operations. His current focus is infrastructure planning in collaboration with the utilities that serve the 15 states and one Canadian province that comprise the MISO region. Under his guidance, transmission planners in the region have begun to explore transmission infrastructure value by utilizing techniques borrowed from generation and strategic planners in an effort to give policymakers context for the decisions they will face as the electric energy future unfolds.
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    Interview with Mark Alhstrom
    (2015-07-09) Alhstrom, Mark; Monti, Marta
    Mark Alhstrom is the Vice President, Renewable Energy Policy at NextEra Energy Resources. A founder and CEO of several technology companies, Mark focuses on the integration of utility wind and solar energy into the power grid. Mr. Alhstrom was involved in the CapX2020 initiative by way of Wind on the Wires, providing technical analysis and expertise.
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    Interview with Jamie Schrenzel
    (2015-07-10) Schrenzel, Jamie; Monti, Marta
    Jamie Schrenzel is a State Principal Energy Planner with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and worked on the environmental permitting of CapX2020 lines.