There’s little doubt Vandals James and Louise McClure (1950) would beam with pride at the work of the University of Idaho center bearing their names. Throughout his many years in the U.S. Congress, representing Idaho in both the House of Representatives and Senate, James McClure was a champion for evidence-based policy making. His wife Louise also was a public servant who promoted public engagement and stressed the importance of sound research when it came to policy decisions. The U of I’s McClure Center for Public Policy Research serves the state with nonpartisan information and resources that are essential for decision making at multiple levels. Agencies, elected officials, businesses, non-profit organizations and Idahoans rely on their research. The center’s latest major work is the Idaho Climate-Economy Impacts Assessment. The assessment synthesizes the latest science specific to Idaho and presents challenges and opportunities to multiple sectors of the economy. “Businesses in Idaho recognized there was not a lot of Idaho-specific information available on the economic impacts of the changing climate,” said McClure Center Director Katherine Himes. “The assessment is the result of two-plus years of work. Research experts from the U of I and other Idaho universities and a 40-member advisory board were essential. The assessment is made in Idaho, for Idaho.” Along with nonpartisan research, the McClure Center, located across from the Idaho State Capitol, works closely with U of I students. They gain valuable experience connecting their academic training in political science, journalism, history, law, engineering and other fields with public policy. Since 2015, 73 students have participated in a variety of programs at the center. The McClure Center also holds events throughout the year. The Denton Darrington Lecture, a partnership with the U of I College of Law, Idaho Supreme Court and Idaho State Bar and Law Foundation, is slated for this spring in Boise and Moscow. The center hopes to resume the Policy Pub series soon. The model of sharing knowledge and engaging Idahoans across the state reflects the U of I’s land-grant mission and embodies the McClure’s noble legacy. |