SPARC, the
Spatial Policy Analysis Research Consortium, is a
voluntary association of faculty members and their
students. Our shared interest is quantitative social
science research on public policy issues with important
spatial, regional, state, and local dimensions. We each
conduct empirical research on policies and/or develop
methods and software for conducting policy relevant
research. SPARC has several intertwined objectives:
- bringing together faculty members and advanced
students in collegial ways and settings that
stimulate and hone important research and encourage
additional research-supporting activities,
- mentoring junior faculty members by providing
opportunities for scholarly interaction with each
other, as well as senior faculty members, and
providing useful advice and feedback in preparing
successful competitive research proposals,
- creating the magic, good feelings, productivity
and pride that come from meaningful scholarly
interaction and mutual support of impressive
colleagues one respects.
Among SPARC's activities are:
-
Lectures in which scholars present completed
research at the journal submission stage in an
environment that encourages follow-up
discussion,
-
Research seminars in which scholars present
on-going research for feedback at critical
stages,
-
Research workshops in which scholars try out
research ideas and proposals at early stages or
participate in skill building discussions, such
as how to have more policy impact or how to
monitor grant spending in the UI system,
-
Working papers with widespread electronic
distribution worldwide and internal discussion
and critiques within SPARC,
-
Matchmaking to connect faculty members with
campus units and government agencies trying to
find and fund qualified faculty members and
graduate students for research projects.
Financial and other support is provided by the
ACES Office of Research and the
Institute for Government
and Public Affairs.
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Spatial Policy
Analysis Research Consortium,
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
125 Mumford Hall, MC-710; 1301 Gregory
Drive; Urbana, IL 61801-3605
217-244-1837 |
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