Community Partners

Frontier resilience science emphasizes the importance of problem-based scholarship in transdisciplinary research, education and training. Portland State University is a national leader in fostering student success through engaged service and learning. The RECHARGE NRT program features extensive community engagement in the Portland, Oregon region, one of the world’s leading laboratories for community resilience.  A diverse array of collaborating local, state and national government agencies and private non-profit and business partner organizations (see below) offer varied internship opportunities to NRT trainees. Students from multiple disciplines work in teams on internships and research projects with the partner organizations to create a transdisciplinary approach that integrates the latest on-the-ground knowledge of the issues. NRT trainees who wish to pursue an internship or project in an international setting will be assisted in seeking funding support to complete the project.

As noted above, the RECHARGE NRT education and research program involves collaboration with a diverse set of community partners who are addressing cascading hazards and community resilience. Portland and Oregon have many government, private and non-profit organizations to identify solutions to tackle climate or non climate-related geohazards, with recognized national and international leaders in innovative approaches to these solutions. This leadership role usually results from novel collaborations of local, state and national government agencies working with business and non-profit organizations. NRT trainees benefit from the insights of community partners in the classroom and in the field through internships and research projects. Community partner organizations include:

* Federal agencies – e.g., FEMA, NOAA, USGS, and Bureau of Land Management

* State agencies – e.g., Oregon Department of Geology and Mining Industry (DOGAMI); Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
* City/regional agencies – e.g., City of Portland Bureau of Emergency Management, Clackamas County
* Non-Profit Organizations – e.g., Neighborhood organizations

* Business– e.g., Geotechnical and geological engineering companies, insurance companies