Fall 2006 Course Description
Policy Research Project
| Section Title: |
Cross-border Environmental Management |
| Instructor(s): |
David Eaton |
| Course: |
P A 682A - Policy Research Project |
| Unique Number: |
65195 |
| Day & Time: |
Tuesdays, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM |
| Room: |
SRH 3.102 |
| Waitlist Information: | For LBJ Students: UT Waitlist Information |
| Notes: |
Cross-list with MES 381 |
This course fulfills requirements for the following specialization(s):
- International Affairs
- Natural Resources and the Environment
- Public Management and Leadership
- Technology, Innovation, and Information Policy
- Urban and State Affairs
Description: This course is concerned with environmental management across four sets of borders: (a) the Canada-US border; (b) the Mexico-Texas border; (c) the boundaries between the Palestinian Authority and Israel; and (d) the border between Pakistan and India associated with the Indus River Basin.
Clients: North American Development Bank, US Department of State, US Agency for International Development, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas Water Development Board
A. A List of Water Projects
Some of the water topics to be considered by groups within the PRP and their associated clients are:
- water resources in the south Saskatchewan Basin and adjacent US areas (University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Canada; Government of Alberta, Canadian Government; Alberta Irrigation Projects Association; United Nations World Water Program; and others)
- domestic water and wastewater services to the poor in the Palestinian Authority and Israel (clients: U.S. State Department, Palestinian Hydrology Group; Al Azhar University of Gaza; Ben Gurion University of the Negev; The Hebrew University of Jerusalem);
- provision of domestic water and wastewater services in poor communities along the Mexico-US border (clients: North American Development Bank, Texas Water Development Board, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of Education, and U.S. Department of State);
- water resources use in the Indus River Basin (client: Stanford University); and
- water negotiations between cross-border nations, including : Mexico-US (Texas), Palestine- Israel, Pakistan-India (clients: North American Development Bank, U.S. Department of State).
B. A List of Environmental Projects
Some of the topics to be considered by groups within the PRP and their associated clients are:
- developing methods for quantifying the volume of used oil disposed along the Mexico/Texas border and proposing procedures for the management of waste oil. This task will use data from the Juarez/El Paso region. (client: USEPA);
- developing methods for estimating the number and volume/waste tires along the border and proposing procedures for the management of tires. This case will use data from the Juarez/El Paso region (client: USEPA).
Class Activities: Student activities are likely to include: review of records of organizations; field investigations; interviews; mail surveys; and focus groups. Students may: (a) prepare training materials and use them; (b) write policy analyses that can be used by the clients; and (c) develop proposals for projects or investments. Students will be expected to prepare reports that are equivalent to those of professional consultants or research staff.
A student?s performance in the course will be evaluated based on her/his writing (90 percent) and participation in the class activities (10 percent).
Student groups will begin the class by developing proposals for the school year. The proposals will include background, issues, methods, outcomes, schedule, budget and management. For the remainder of the year the class activity will track the proposals.
UT/Austin Policy on Scholastic Dishonesty
?Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the University. Since such dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced. For further information, please visit the Student Judicial Services web site at: deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/.
Grade Policy:Students who register for this course will receive grades on a scale with + and ? options: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, etc. Grades will follow Graduate School rules.Return to Fall 2006 Course Schedule