OU has research excellence related to the promotion of societal welfare and is uniquely positioned to conduct meaningful interdisciplinary research to address the global issues related to flourishing societies in an integrated manner. We look to build upon our research expertise to create solutions for inequality in opportunity, including issues of such importance as health, social justice and education. There is also great opportunity to leverage our institutional resources to produce research that responds to the needs of Native nations. We also have an opportunity to utilize expertise within OU that can put us at the forefront of the national discussion on issues of artificial intelligence and the impact of technology adaptation. The following three areas of focus detail approaches to address challenges while discussing the benefits of proposed research collaborations.
Technology profoundly influences global human flourishing in positive and negative ways. Some societal benefits include medical technologies and information systems bringing health care to people lacking access, learning technologies facilitating educational endeavors, e-commerce and business analytics transforming how and what businesses are doing, communication technologies enabling unprecedented levels and types of human connectedness, and artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies influencing work (e.g., health diagnostics) and non-work domains (e.g., self-driving cars). However, new technologies have introduced challenges such as cyber-security threats, automating jobs and replacing people who are difficult to train or reassign, increased screen-time, and biased algorithms that result in discriminatory practices and political interference in U.S. elections. While there is extensive research in technology development, research on how technologies impact key aspects of human existence—where and how people work, health and well-being, education quality, the practice of law, social interaction and discourse—is still in its infancy. Existing and emerging research at OU will extend and enhance knowledge about the beneficial and harmful impacts of technology on society at state and national levels.
Oklahoma is home to 39 culturally distinctive Native nations and nearly 500,000 American Indians, representing approximately 16% of the total state population. In spite of the very real socio-economic disparities wrought by historical circumstances, Native nations are key actors in Oklahoma’s culture, economy and governance structures. Building on the progress made over the past 50 years, Oklahoma Native nations are setting a national standard in governance, economic health, citizen accomplishment and other attributes through significant nation-building efforts. Through building roads and bridges, funding schools, operating health care clinics and hospitals, providing social services and child welfare programming, shepherding environmental and natural resource management and research, and preserving and revitalizing languages and cultural practices, tribal institutions are, more now than at any time in U.S. history, creating greater opportunities for everyone who lives and works in the communities in which they are active. As has become clearer in recent decades, Native nations are a key element of Oklahoma’s health, stability and prospects for a strong future.
In addition to numerous world-class archives and collections, our exceptionally high numbers of Native students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and our high number of Native instructional faculty members in nearly every college and each campus of the university focuses on this area in some capacity. OU’s institutional resources and collections, faculty capabilities, and geographic location in the state provide an unmatched opportunity for community-engaged, collaborative partnerships that places the sovereignty of Native nations and the cultural continuance of Native peoples at the center of academic research and forms a key area for OU’s growth and national distinction. Nevertheless, there is much more to do, including performing research that responds to the needs of Native nations as the nations have articulated them. Our grand challenge is to seek out and address these needs through collaborative partnerships.
Societies that provide safe, stable and nurturing environments for children and families are those that flourish. However, individuals and communities flounder when there is unequal access to opportunities and supportive environments. These inequalities are reflected in vast disparities in education and health outcomes and in disproportionate and excessive incarceration. Emerging interdisciplinary research shows promise of discovering actionable solutions to help all caregivers of young children provide nurturing environments, improve education and health outcomes at the individual and community level, and prevent involvement in the criminal justice system.
OU is uniquely positioned to conduct meaningful interdisciplinary research to address these issues in an integrated manner through linking and expanding existing pockets of research expertise in early childhood, carceral studies and health disparities. OU’s expertise in technology, policy and Native studies can complement and extend this work, as do ample opportunities to partner with diverse Oklahoma communities. This work has implications not just for Oklahoma, but is as significant for other states, our nation and international contexts.
