About the Institute
Mission
The mission of the PLACES Institute is to conduct and coordinate scientific research as a service to the Greater Oneonta community and region that encompasses the nine counties linking the Catskill to the Adirondack Mountains (dubbed the Catirondack region). The institute focuses on emerging public health, demographic, sociocultural, economic, and environmental trends, with the aim of understanding issues and crafting evidence-based, long-term systemic solutions. As a sanctioned arm of SUNY Oneonta that reports to the School of Sciences, the institute seeks to deploy existing expertise and resources of SUNY Oneonta to actualize a positive future for the region and its people. Finally, the institute seeks to enhance the capacity of SUNY Oneonta as a local and regional research partner.
History
The PLACES Institute was established under the Centers for Excellence Initiative and officially approved by Provost Melendez in 2019. PLACES is short for Program for Local Area Community and Environmental Science and is an official research center of SUNY Oneonta charged with coordinating and conducting research as a service to the Greater Oneonta and wider “Catirondack” region. The founding members included the Executive Director, Alexander Thomas, and Divisional Directors, Gregory Fulkerson (Environmental Demography) and James Zians (Community Outreach and Evaluation). In 2023, the institute received support from President Cardelle's Regaining Momentum grant program, providing generous support for our research efforts. Since its inception, the institute has sought to build internal and external linkages between faculty and organizations relevant to our efforts. The institute has provided junior faculty and students with opportunities to participate in locally relevant and vitally important projects.
Coordination with SUNY Oneonta
The major goal of the institute is to perform research that can be applied in the short and long term to address regional issues. Though housed in the School of Sciences, the institute is open to all members of the SUNY Oneonta community interested in using science (mathematical, natural, and social) to inform public policy. To this end, the institute administers a faculty research program, a student research program, an evaluation research program, and sponsors specific interdisciplinary research projects. Through these opportunities, the PLACES Institute plays an integral part in the wider goals of SUNY Oneonta, which is to the support the development of faculty and students and to elevate the reputation of the University.
Coordination with Community and Region
As the mission of the PLACES Institute shows, we are committed to being a partner to the local community and wider region. Part of our function is providing seed grants that encourage research collaborations between community organizations and experts in various fields on campus. Please see the Campus and Community Engagement page for information about starting such a collaboration.