Center for Science, Technology & Economic Policy

CSTEP research focuses on science policy, scientific labor markets, education policy, state and local economic development, and economic policy.

Science Policy and Scientific Labor Markets

CSTEP affiliated researchers have received funding from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Kauffman Foundation, and Sloan Foundation to study diversity in scientific labor markets, high skilled immigration, the relationship between innovation and entrepreneurship, and the economic impact of federal R&D funding. CSTEP Director, Donna Ginther has advised the National Academies of Science, the National Institutes of Health, and the Sloan Foundation on the diversity and future of the scientific workforce.

Kansas City Area Education Research Consortium (KC-AERC)

Social science, economics and education researchers at the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, Kansas State University and University of Missouri-Kansas City established the Kansas City Area Education Research Consortium (KC-AERC) in 2009 to conduct quantitative research using student achievement and teacher quality data to inform elementary and secondary education practice and policy. Thirty-two regional school districts, various private and charter schools, foundations, community colleges, economic development organizations, and the Departments of Education in Kansas and Missouri are collaborating with KC-AERC in this effort. KC-AERC aspires to become a national laboratory for educational research as it studies education in a region that spans two states, includes rural, urban and suburban environments, and serves a diverse student population.

More information on KC-AERC can be found here: http://www.kcaerc.org

Economic Analysis

Through a systematic program of basic research, IPSR has developed models of impact of alternative tax structures on Kansas business sectors; cost-benefit model to assess property tax abatement decisions by local communities; and models of the longer-term impact of changing public policies or economic conditions. Modeling applications are available to the public on a contract basis.

A list of previous reports based on economic models can be found here: http://www.ipsr.ku.edu/resrep

KU Entrepreneurship Works for KS Initiative

The purpose of the KU University Center Project (UC), Entrepreneurship Works for Kansas, is to enhance economic conditions and drive employment in Kansas and the Midwest through unique and pragmatic programs in entrepreneurship, the biosciences, and technology. To accomplish this the KU UC combines the entrepreneurial strength of the KU Center for Entrepreneurship in the School of Business with the information and policy resources of the Institute for Policy & Social Research (IPSR) at the University of Kansas. Specifically, the KU UC employs three strategies to enhance the regional economic ecosystem: 1) business development expertise is harnessed to identify, analyze and prepare new business opportunities, 2) information and analyses is provided to support regional economic development initiatives; and 3) new business concepts are identified, incubated, and staffed by UC personnel to achieve job growth.

For more information about the KU University Center, visit: http://www.ipsr.ku.edu/KUforKS/

CSTEP Faculty/Staff

Dr. Donna Ginther, Director
Dr. Leigh Anne Taylor Knight, Executive Director, Kansas City Area Education Research Consortium
Sarah Frazelle, Research Associate, Assistant Director Kansas City Area Education Research Consortium
Genna Hurd, Research Associate, Co-Director KU Entrepreneurship Works for Kansas
Emily Kennedy, Project Coordinator
Dr. Wally Meyer, Co-Director KU Entrepreneurship Works for Kansas
Patricia Oslund, Research Economist
Dr. Jiaxi Quan, Database Manager