Open Forum

I am looking for insitutions working with their communities to identify needs and develop resources to make their communities more resilient in the face of environmental changes.  

Are your communities talking about how to respond to an increase in the frequency and scale of storm events?

Are they concerned about developing alternative energy networks to be more responsive to power outages during disruptive events?

Are they looking into how to make their economy more diverse so outside disruption may have less economic impact?

Are they working to plan for emergency housing and support if there is a disasater?

Museums can be marvelous resources for community convenings, educational programs, competition and educational exhibit spaces, and as data resources for research and planning for the future.  Please let me know if you are doing this work.

Hi Sarah,

Great project! Two particular avenues of inquiry in addition to the AAM you might pursue for your survey of resilience programming is through the Transition Towns network (and other similar resilience/sustainability networks that probably partner with museums) and two professional organizations: American Public Gardens Association (APGA) and the Association of Zoos and Aquaria (AZA). I know the APGA has been working on this with their members and they may have staff dedicated to the initiative that can point you to some leading institutions, such as the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden in Pittsburgh. Cheers, Tim

------------------------------
Timothy Hohn
Department Head, Horticulture

Edmonds Community College
Lynnwood WA
------------------------------