3 minute read
Planning Progress
Inaugural scholars tackle urban, regional challenges
by Josh Narrell
Agribusiness major Anna Collins explored factors that impact farmers selling their land in the Midstate, such as internet access, burnout, and a lack of support, as Tennessee loses 50,000 acres of agricultural land annually.
Nathaniel Harrison, who is studying Accounting, researched the pressing issue of urban heat islands in the region, proposing various roof types as a possible solution to the increased temperatures that urban areas experience.
Data Science student Elijah Mitchell conducted research exploring the relationship between a county’s health ratings and the percentage of income spent on health care. His analysis found a significant divide between rural and urban areas in middle Tennessee, with rural areas bearing a significantly higher cost burden.
All three Honors students were part of the MTSU Chair of Excellence in Urban and Regional Planning (COE-URP) Scholars Program, a pilot initiative that spanned the entire last academic year. The eight undergraduate students in the inaugural cohort embarked on a novel journey to identify and research an urban planning challenge related to middle Tennessee’s explosive growth.
Collins said the program’s feature of taking students “through the research process slowly has been really helpful when I don’t have that opportunity with other projects.” She also noted that the initiative’s focus on regional challenges had taught her more about her community through her own research and through the collaboration with other cohort members.
“The students have excelled past my expectations,” said Murat Arik, holder of the chair and assistant professor of Management. “They provided substantive analyses of some very complex issues, and their insights offer valuable perspectives on addressing them.”
Each student was paired with a faculty mentor, provided with in-depth training on the research process, and given the opportunity to hear from experts on topics such as housing, sustainability, livability, mobility, economic development, and growth.
The inaugural cohort’s research, presented May 3, also explored the multifaceted need for community gardens using geographic information systems; the connection between a city’s mental health ratings and walkability score; possible solutions to the region’s traffic congestion; the available and needed skills in the region’s workforce; and the impact of Opportunity Zones on developmental inequality in middle Tennessee.
Honors alumnus Paul Martin Jr., chair of the COE-URP Advisory Committee, praised the program, saying the initiative “begins the rigorous journey to address our most pressing social issues through informed urban planning.”
