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Seminar Outcomes

The four seminar outcomes are described below including the primary goal of each outcome, the methods to achieve that goal, and how the goal will be assessed.

1. Bridging local knowledge and international expertise

Bridging local knowledge and international expertise, we will constructively critique current resilience strategies and develop innovative practices at the household, community, and state levels.  A white paper on the topic will be prepared for interested government agencies. 

To obtain this goal, the seminar is structured in such a way as to create maximum dialogue between local stakeholders and UNU collaborators.  We believe that through discussion resilience strategies will be constructively critiqued and innovative practices from other parts of the world will be suggested.  

The goal will be assessed both during and after the seminar.  During the seminar the amount of dialogue between all groups will illustrate whether strategies are being evaluated.  If participants are found to have waning interest, seminar leadership may change the itinerary to promote increased dialogue.  Afterward, the strength and insight of the white paper will demonstrate the success of the seminar.

2. The development of new interdisciplinary research projects for our faculty and UNU collaborators.  Our goal is to produce at least four top-tier peer reviewed journal articles or policy briefs by October 2016 written by seminar participants.  

Through a significant allowance of time for small group work, participants will be heavily encouraged to develop four themes that will morph into academic papers or policy briefs.  By October 2016, these research projects will be available for pubic dispersion and each donor will receive a copy of all seminar products.

The goal will be assessed post-seminar by evaluating the quantity and quality of publications.  Additionally, the goal will be evaluated as successful if other projects emerge that live beyond the October 2016 deadline.

3. California drought as a case study.  The water crisis in California and its implicit constrains and opportunities for livelihood resilience, will serve as a valuable case study of crisis in slow motion that international researchers can apply to their own work. Climate linked droughts are affecting many parts of the globe, but the same basic questions apply to slow-onset circumstances where communities have time to prepare for coming problems, such as glacier recession and sea level rise. 

The draw for UNU scholars to participate in this seminar is that they may learn new strategies that they can then bring home to their respective institutions, organizations and/or nations.  Through the sharing of best practices and understandings of resilience, innovative practices can be developed that apply to situations throughout the world.  

This goal will be assessed through a post-seminar survey of participants.  The goal is to learn how effective the seminar structure was in promoting innovative ideas, strategy development, and useful networks.

4. Hosting a UNU seminar will be a historic moment for Cal Poly and for the California State University system.

Undoubtedly, bringing a UNU seminar to Cal Poly will be a boon to the university’s reputation.  By inviting media, local and state level politicians, and community stakeholders to discuss a crisis that affects everyone, Cal Poly will demonstrate its leadership in climate change adaptation and livelihood resilience. 

The success of this goal will be evaluated through the quantity and quality of media coverage locally and state-wide.  In addition, this seminar may be credited for influencing policy and creating new initiatives that benefit not only to Californians, but to wherever the UNU colleagues spread their influence.
 

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