Scenario Planning for State Agencies: A Toolkit for Policymakers
We help government bodies break free from linear forecasting. Our workshops build capacity for robust decision-making under deep uncertainty.
The Future of Prairie Arts: Cultivating Creativity Rooted in Place
Artists are essential futurists. Our residency program supports work that interprets scientific research and envisions new cultural forms for the Plains.
Precision Conservation: Using AI and Drones to Target Restoration Efforts
We deploy machine learning algorithms on satellite and drone imagery to identify biodiversity hotspots and prioritize conservation interventions.
The Philosophy of the Anthropocene on the Great Plains
What does it mean to be a responsible ancestor in a human-altered world? Our resident philosophers grapple with ethics, agency, and hope.
Archival Futures: Preserving Digital and Biological Knowledge for Millennia
How do we ensure our discoveries outlast our civilization? We explore long-term data storage in DNA and the creation of a 'Doomsday Vault' for prairie genetics.
Distributed Energy Futures: Solar, Wind, and Geothermal for Remote Communities
The future of prairie energy is decentralized. We model microgrids combining renewables with green hydrogen storage for resilience and independence.
The Ethics of Assisted Migration: Helping Species Adapt to a Warming World
As climate zones shift, should we actively relocate prairie plants and animals? Our ethics board debates the risks and responsibilities of intervention.
Mycorrhizal Networks: The Hidden Internet of the Prairie and Its Future
Beneath the grass lies a vast fungal network crucial for nutrient exchange and resilience. We study how to protect and harness this 'Wood Wide Web.'
Climate Models for the Northern Plains: Beyond Global Averages
Global climate models are too coarse. We are downscaling projections to understand hyper-local impacts on precipitation, wind, and extreme weather events.
Rural Re-Population: Attracting the Next Generation of Prairie Stewards
Depopulation is a central threat. Our models identify key investments in connectivity, housing, and culture that can make small towns magnets for newcomers.
The Prairie Carbon Bank: Monetizing Ecosystem Services for Communities
We are designing robust markets for carbon, biodiversity, and water credits rooted in prairie ecology. This could fund a new conservation economy.
Bison 2.0: Integrating Genomic Insights into Rewilding Strategies
Restoring the American bison is more than symbolism. Our genetics team is mapping herds to ensure genetic health and ecosystem function for centuries ahead.
The Narrative Futures Lab: Storytelling as a Strategic Tool
We believe the future is built with stories as much as with policy. Our lab crafts compelling narratives to explore and shape possible prairie tomorrows.
Hydro-Futures: Navigating the Decline of the Ogallala Aquifer
Our most sobering work models the inevitable drawdown of the vast Ogallala Aquifer. We are developing strategies for a transition to dryland economies and managed retreat.
Perennial Polycultures: Re-Engineering Agriculture for the Next Century
Our agronomy team is developing deep-rooted crop mixtures to replace annual monocrops. These systems promise greater drought resilience and carbon sequestration.