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Emotions are data when dealing with conflict

Dec 01, 2024

I find it very telling that when I ask people at the start of my classes and professional trainings what they think of when they think about conflict, the most common responses are emotions (particularly unpleasant emotions) such as frustration, anxiety, anger, or fear.

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We need to talk about dysregulation

Nov 07, 2024

Let me start with a provocative question: How are you feeling about the current state of U.S. politics? I encourage you to take a moment to really sit with this question and tune into how you are feeling.

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Implementing the Public Lands Rule consistent with BLM’s statutory authority under FLPMA

Oct 21, 2024

On Friday, the Bureau of Land Management opened a 30-day nomination period to fill a new federal advisory committee. The committee, appropriately titled Public Lands Rule Advisory Committee, will help inform implementation of the BLM’s newly minted public lands rule.

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Dream job: Alum Steve Bloch reflects on 25 years at the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance

Oct 11, 2024

Steve Bloch (’97) started his career thrilled at the chance to work outside most of the time. He studied botany and political science in college and worked several seasons as a field technician for the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, doing biological surveys in Oregon, Washington and Louisiana.

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To overcome divisiveness, we need to focus on interests (and not positions)

Oct 01, 2024

In the hope that it helps us all navigate this challenging election season, I want to build on ideas I’ve explored in prior blogs to directly address the problem with focusing on positions and highlight some approaches for focusing on what really matters—our interests.

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Achieving flow: Alumna Emily Lewis builds a satisfying career in water law

Sep 25, 2024

Though Emily Lewis has now been practicing water law for 15 years, her love of the outdoors originally spawned a different career.

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All that flows downhill: How mining in Canada threatens downstream communities in Alaska, Washington, Idaho and Montana

Sep 19, 2024

As the world transitions to electric vehicles and renewable energy, the demand for critical minerals like lithium, nickel, cobalt, and graphite is growing rapidly.

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Research Professor John Ruple discusses CEQ appointment and Law and Policy program

Sep 11, 2024

Research Professor John Ruple, who also serves as director of the Wallace Stegner Center’s Law and Policy (LPP) program, recently returned from a two-year appointment as senior counsel in the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). He will discuss his time on the CEQ at a Stegner Center Green Bag on Thursday, Oct. 3, from 12:15-1:30 p.m.

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The problem with compromise

Sep 01, 2024

In my classes and trainings, I often ask people what skills are necessary for effective conflict resolution. One of the most common responses I get is “compromise.” When people say this, I ask them a follow-up question: How does compromise make you feel? I encourage you to take a moment to sit with that question yourself.

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Stegner Center Student Scholarship Recipients and Writing Awards

Sep 01, 2024

The Stegner Center oversees a rich array of scholarships, fellowships, and awards for College of Law students, ranging from cash awards for outstanding papers to […]

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Wallace Stegner Center Fall 2024 Green Bag Series

Sep 01, 2024

The Wallace Stegner Center’s popular noon-hour green bag series includes presentations on a variety of topics this fall semester, including Cancer Alley, the Great Salt […]

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Joshua Macey Joins Stegner Center as 20th Annual Young Scholar

Sep 01, 2024

Professor Joshua Macey, an Associate Professor of Law at Yale Law School, will join the Wallace Stegner as the 20th Annual Young Scholar on November 7, 2024. Professor Macy’s Lecture, […]

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Stegner Center Faculty Updates Fall 2024

Sep 01, 2024

Antony Anghie Panels: “The Authority of Scholarship” (panelist), American Society of International Law Annual Meeting (April 2024). Other activities: Named Goodhart Visiting Professor of Legal […]

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Research Professor John Ruple featured in media about Utah lawsuit to take control of federal lands

Aug 26, 2024

Research Professor John Ruple, an expert on public land and resource management and director of the Wallace Stegner Center’s Law and Policy program, is quoted in several media outlets about the lawsuit Utah has filed targeting unappropriated public land.

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Leveraging the environmental impact analysis to reduce ambiguity and delay in mine permitting

Aug 16, 2024

The Law and Policy Program was honored to join one of the CLDP’s missions as a subject matter expert on strategies for aligning Fiji’s mineral laws and policies with their ambitious climate and environmental laws.

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Extra dialogue required: Get to know EDR Director Danya Rumore

Aug 13, 2024

Research Professor Danya Rumore has been on a mission to figure out how to help people work together since her days as an undergraduate.

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To flourish, we need to teach people how to make conflict productive

Aug 01, 2024

We live in a highly interconnected world in which people from all walks of life interact with each other on a daily basis. This unavoidable reality of modern life creates many amazing opportunities, including for greater creativity and innovation. However, it can be difficult to navigate if we don’t have skills for productively working through our differences. 

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Professor Lincoln Davies returns to Utah Law and co-directs Stegner Center

Jul 31, 2024

Professor Lincoln Davies has returned to Utah Law, where he previously served as the associate dean for academic affairs until 2019 before leaving to serve as dean at The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law.

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Working to close the water gap in Indian Country by filling an information gap

Jul 30, 2024

Heather Tanana, previously a member of the Law and Policy Program, is doing as the team lead for the Universal Access to Clean Water for Tribal Communities Initiative (UACW). She previously wrote on this blog about her personal experience with the water gap in the Navajo nation.

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Stegner Center names Daniels and Davies as incoming co-directors

Jul 23, 2024

The S.J. Quinney College of Law is pleased to announce that professors of law Brigham Daniels and Lincoln Davies have been named co-directors of the Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources and the Environment. Daniels and Davies began jointly leading the Stegner Center on July 1. Together, they will guide the scholarly and educational activities of one of the nation’s top centers for environmental law. 

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Making waves: Utah Law professors and alum Brian Steed partner to save the Great Salt Lake

Jul 15, 2024

In early 2023, a widely publicized report predicted that the Great Salt Lake would disappear within five years if its loss rate continued. To highlight legal pathways to restoring the lake, the Wallace Stegner Center launched the Great Salt Lake Project—and a brand-new class called the Environmental Policy Accelerator to give students firsthand experience working with policymakers to address environmental challenges.

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When dealing with conflict, don’t just be nice—be kind and firm

Jul 01, 2024

As I explain, being kind and firm helps us focus on what really matters and get good outcomes for ourselves and others when dealing with conflict—and, in doing so, it helps us avoid many of the problems people create by focusing on “just being nice.”

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Trees to torts: Rising 3L Natalie Merline pursues interest in environmental justice

Jun 25, 2024

Rising 3L Natalie Merline earned her bachelor’s degree in environmental science and says she always assumed she would work within science. While earning her undergraduate, however, she couldn’t see a clear career path within science.

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Joining ELI’s Summer School Series

Jun 17, 2024

According to Alice Cooper, “School’s out for summer.” But that refrain is a bit outdated. For the past few summers, the Environmental Law Institute has been hosting the Summer School Series for those who see the leisurely summer schedule as a chance to get ahead.

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Professor Nancy McLaughlin speaks to Wall Street Journal about Mar-a-Lago easements

Jun 07, 2024

Professor Nancy McLaughlin, an expert on conservation easements, spoke to The Wall Street Journal about the easements on the Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla., owned by former President Donald Trump.

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The power of “Yes and…”

Jun 01, 2024

“Yes, and” thinking is a mindset and way of speaking that reflects the simple but profound fact that the world is complex, and seemingly contradictory things can—and do—coexist. 

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Environmental Justice Clinic students recognized with CLEA awards for outstanding clinical and externship students

May 31, 2024

Congratulations to recent graduates Ashley DelBalzo, Caitlin Imhoff, and Olivia McQuarrie, who were recognized by the Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA) as Outstanding Clinical and Externship Students.

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The power of “the BOP” when dealing with conflict

May 01, 2024

In this blog, I want to build on those ideas by explaining a key source of power in negotiation and conflict situations: your ability to understand and exercise what I call the BOP–your “best option possible.”

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H.J.R. 26 and Utah’s breach of fiduciary duty to the children of Utah

Apr 29, 2024

This post is an excerpt from a larger work-in-progress examining the history of the administration of Utah’s trust lands and the contexts in which that administration has been legitimately advanced and at other times impaired by non-trust considerations.

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College of Law remembers Professor Emeritus Bill Lockhart

Apr 22, 2024

Professor Emeritus William (Bill) J. Lockhart, who taught at S.J. Quinney College of Law for nearly 50 years, passed away April 16, 2024, at age 90.

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A legal analysis of the Public Lands Rule

Apr 19, 2024

On April 18, 2024, the Bureau of Land Management finalized the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule, a long-awaited rule more commonly referred to as the Public Lands Rule. The purpose of this rule is to advance the BLM’s stewardship mission by focusing on the health and resilience of ecosystems across public lands managed for multiple use and sustained yield.

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Professor Brigham Daniels interviewed by media about endangered bird and its impact on Great Salt Lake conservation efforts

Apr 04, 2024

Professor Brigham Daniels, director of the Great Salt Lake Project, was recently interviewed by The Salt Lake Tribune and ABC4 about the petition to protect the Wilson’s phalarope, a shorebird, under the Endangered Species Act.

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Don’t give up your power when dealing with conflict

Apr 01, 2024

Over my many years of doing conflict resolution and collaboration work, it has become very clear to me that we have a serious problem with power. People involved in conflict often describe themselves as powerless. Or they ask questions such as “How do you negotiate with people who have more power than you?” or “What do I do if they have all of the power?” Or they wonder how parties can collaborate when there are serious power imbalances.

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Thinking beyond the law: Environmental Justice Clinic

Mar 04, 2024

A new clinic at the University of Utah’s S. J. Quinney School of Law is training students to think beyond the law when it comes to matters of environmental justice.

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Register now for the annual Wallace Stegner Symposium, held March 14-15, 2024

Mar 03, 2024

At the 2024 Wallace Stegner Symposium held March 14-15—convened by the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law’s Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources and the Environment—experts from a wide range of disciplines will explore the challenges of the global transition to carbon-neutral energy, along with related sustainability, environmental, and human health concerns.

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Great Salt Lake and the law: Great Salt Lake Project wades through murky policy questions and legislation

Mar 02, 2024

In response to the relentless decline of Utah’s Great Salt Lake, several University of Utah legal scholars have launched a campaign to advise the public and policymakers on ways to avert the lake’s ecological collapse, along with a slew of economic and environmental consequences.

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Commitment: A core conflict competency

Mar 01, 2024

Over the past year, I have published a series of blogs exploring the key skills that are necessary for making conflict productive, or what I call the core “conflict competencies.” Prior blogs have explored the conflict competencies of calm, curiosity, compassion, creativity, courage, and communication. In this blog, I want to explore one final core conflict competency: commitment.

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Stegner Center 2023-2024 programs

Feb 29, 2024

The Stegner Center had a robust lineup of programs this year, attracting over 1500 online and in person registrants. As noted in this newsletter, the Stegner Center’s 29th annual symposium focused on “Renewable Energy Transition: Building a Bright Future”  brought together 35 speakers for a two-day examination of key legal and technical issues involved in transitioning to a carbon neutral economy.

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Environmental Dispute Resolution Program Update

Feb 29, 2024

The Wallace Stegner Center’s Environmental Dispute Resolution (EDR) Program fosters a culture of collaboration around environmental, natural resource, and broader public policy issues by helping […]

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Law & Policy Program Update

Feb 29, 2024

Law & Policy Program by the numbers 4 articles published in top tier environmental law reviews | 2 invitations to testify before Congress on recent […]

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Climate Change Law and Policy Seminar Field Trip

Feb 29, 2024

Professor Lingxi Chenyang recently took her Climate Change Law and Policy seminar on a field trip to Beaver County, Utah to see Utah FORGE, the […]

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Stegner Center Student Team Wins Best Brief at Pace Moot Court Competition

Feb 29, 2024

The College of Law’s Stegner Center student team of Lauren Cormany, Olivia Hope McQuarrie, and Carter Moore won “Best Brief for Petitioners” at the 2024 […]

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Natural Resources Law Forum 2023-24 Activities

Feb 29, 2024

The Natural Resources Law Forum has enjoyed a productive year of events and community-building, with the goal of helping students network and learn about the […]

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Great Salt Lake legislative update: Feb. 27, 2024

Feb 27, 2024

In each week’s report, we will identify the most impactful bills (favorable or unfavorable) that could significantly affect Great Salt Lake.

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Great Salt Lake legislative update: Feb. 22, 2024

Feb 23, 2024

In each week’s report, we will identify the most impactful bills (favorable or unfavorable) that could significantly affect Great Salt Lake.

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Great Salt Lake legislative update: Feb. 15, 2024

Feb 16, 2024

In each week’s report, we will identify the most impactful bills (favorable or unfavorable) that could significantly affect Great Salt Lake.

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Great Salt Lake legislative update: Feb. 8, 2024

Feb 08, 2024

In each week’s report, we will identify the most impactful bills (favorable or unfavorable) that could significantly affect Great Salt Lake.

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Communication: A core conflict competency

Feb 01, 2024

In 2023, I wrote a series of blogs exploring key conflict competencies. There are two competencies I identified in that blog that I have yet to fully describe: communication and commitment. In this blog, I am going to discuss communication. In my next blog, I’ll dive into commitment.

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Great Salt Lake legislative update: Feb. 1, 2024

Jan 31, 2024

In each week’s report, we will identify the most impactful bills (favorable or unfavorable) that could significantly affect Great Salt Lake.

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Great Salt Lake legislative update: Jan. 25, 2024

Jan 25, 2024

In each week’s report, we will identify the most impactful bills (favorable or unfavorable) that could significantly affect Great Salt Lake.

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Great Salt Lake Project launches and publishes report on legal risks of declining lake

Jan 24, 2024

The Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources and the Environment at the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law has launched the Great Salt Lake Project (GSL Project)—a new initiative analyzing legal pathways to address the critical environmental challenges facing the Great Salt Lake.

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Great Salt Lake legislative update: Jan. 18, 2024

Jan 19, 2024

A key focus of the Great Salt Lake Project is the Great Salt Lake Policy Accelerator, which encourages policymakers to prioritize and accelerate law and policy to effectuate the meaningful change the lake so desperately needs. This short legislative and policy update will be provided on a weekly basis during the Utah legislative session.

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2023 EDR blog year in review

Jan 04, 2024

As we enter the new year, we are reflecting on where we’ve been and where we’re going. As part of that, we’re looking back at the EDR blog topics we covered last year, which included an overview of the EDR program’s future direction, discussion of why conflict tends to be so challenging for people, and exploration of key conflict competencies—i.e., key skills for making conflict productive.

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Appeal for Donations

Jan 01, 2024

The Wallace Stegner Center depends on donors to support our extensive programs and activities. These include student competitions and scholarships; the annual symposium, lectures, and […]

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Destructive conflict tendencies vs. productive conflict choices

Dec 01, 2023

In my last blog, I described what conflict competence is and summarized the key conflict competencies that empower us to deal with conflict skillfully and productively. In this blog, I build on those ideas to explore the choices we make when dealing with conflict and the way in which different choices lead to very different outcomes.

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The Bureau of Land Management’s Changing Landscape

Nov 09, 2023

In 2003, Bruce Babbitt, former Secretary of the Interior, observed, “The day is coming, I believe, when the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), so often dismissed as the Bureau of Livestock and Mining, will be better known as the Bureau of Landscapes and Monuments.”[1] Twenty years later, it is still uncertain whether Babbit’s statement was prescient or aspirational. However, the BLM appears poised to take a meaningful step toward the latter moniker.

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What is conflict competence and what are the core conflict competencies?

Oct 26, 2023

In this blog, I want to pull these concepts all together by explaining what conflict is, what conflict competence is and why it matters, and what basic skills—or what I refer to as “conflict competencies”—are required to make conflict productive.

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Wallace Stegner Center professors file amicus brief in support of Utah youth-led constitutional climate case

Oct 10, 2023

Professor Erika George and Associate Professor Jamie Pleune, along with Emeritus Professor Robert Adler, recently filed an amicus brief to the Utah Supreme Court in […]

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Professor Brigham Daniels speaks to KSL about heading new initiative to save Great Salt Lake

Oct 05, 2023

Professor Brigham Daniels, an expert in environmental and climate law, recently spoke to KSL about efforts to save the Great Salt Lake through Grow the […]

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Courage: An overarching skill for making conflict productive

Oct 01, 2023

I therefore believe that we need to develop an additional important, overarching skill or conflict competency in order to make conflict productive in our personal and professional lives: courage.

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Conservation Easements class members enjoy hands-on experience in Bonanza Flat Conservation Area

Sep 29, 2023

Professor Nancy A. McLaughlin recently took her class on a field trip to the Bonanza Flat Conservation Area, which sits at the apex of Salt […]

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Sympathy alone cannot close the water gap in Indian Country

Sep 28, 2023

Yesterday the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs held an oversight hearing on tribal access to water—a neglected issue that is increasingly recognized but still unaddressed. […]

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Wallace Stegner Center and Belonging and Access team up for Latinx Heritage Month

Sep 05, 2023

The Wallace Stegner Center kicks off the year in a collaboration with Belonging and Access at Utah Law on Sept. 7 in a cosponsored event, Environmental Justice in Salt Lake City.

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Wallace Stegner Center 29th Annual Symposium

Sep 02, 2023

Wallace Stegner Center 29th annual symposium “The Renewable Energy Transition: Building a Bright Future” March 14-15, 2024 The Stegner Center’s 29th annual symposium will focus on […]

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Compassion: A prerequisite for calm, curiosity, and creativity when dealing with conflict

Sep 01, 2023

To get beyond this limiting mindset and to be calm, curious, and creative when dealing with conflict, I think we need to lean into another word that starts with C: compassion.

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Wallace Stegner Center Fall 2023 Green Bag Series

Sep 01, 2023

The Wallace Stegner Center’s popular noon-hour green bag series will feature the following presentations during the Fall semester: Environmental Justice in Salt Lake City (September […]

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The Great Salt Lake Project at the S.J. Quinney College of Law

Sep 01, 2023

The Great Salt Lake is a keystone ecosystem of hemispheric importance to human civilization and biosphere integrity. The Wallace Stegner Center’s 28th Annual Symposium, focused on […]

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Assistant Professor of Law Alex Erwin Joins Stegner Center as 19th Annual Young Scholar

Sep 01, 2023

Professor John A. (Alex) Erwin, an assistant professor of law at Florida International University College of Law, will join the Wallace Stegner as the 19th […]

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Stegner Center Student Scholarship Recipients and Writing Awards

Sep 01, 2023

The Stegner Center oversees a rich array of scholarships, fellowships, and awards for College of Law students, ranging from cash awards for outstanding papers to […]

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Stegner Center Hosts Natural Resources Law Teachers Workshop

Sep 01, 2023

The Wallace Stegner Center at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law was pleased to host the Annual Natural Resources Law Teachers Workshop […]

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Law & Policy Program Update

Sep 01, 2023

The Law and Policy Program continues to conduct relevant, objective legal research on issues that affect western lands and resource management. The program includes five […]

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Stegner Faculty Accomplishments ~ Fall 2023

Sep 01, 2023

Faculty Accomplishments Building on a long tradition of excellence, Stegner Center faculty continue to engage in today’s cutting-edge issues through legal education, publications, and service. Below […]

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Stegner Center Environmental Dispute Resolution Program Update

Sep 01, 2023

The Wallace Stegner Center’s Environmental Dispute Resolution (EDR) Program believes that with the right skills and awareness, all people can work together to tackle pressing […]

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Wallace Stegner Center Student Writing Award

Aug 31, 2023

The University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law launched the Wallace Stegner Center Student Writing Award during the 2022-23 academic year. The award will […]

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Stegner Center Student Summer Placements

Aug 31, 2023

Students in the environmental and natural resources law program at the S.J. Quinney College of Law held a variety of positions in government agencies, private […]

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Stegner Center Student Moot Court Team

Aug 31, 2023

The University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law Wallace Stegner Center will again send a student moot court team to the National Environmental Law […]

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Determining the reasonableness of permitting timeframes: Lessons from the Canadian criminal justice system

Aug 28, 2023

It has been almost a year since Senator Manchin thrust the phrase “permit reform” onto center stage, arguing that the permitting process for energy projects […]

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Honoring an Indian Law Trailblazer: Colleagues Remember Professor Alex Tallchief Skibine

Aug 21, 2023

The new 1Ls sat in their torts class at Utah Law in 1998, unsure of what to expect. One of them, David Hill ’01, recalls […]

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A permanent homeland for the Navajo Nation requires access to water

Aug 03, 2023

Born on the Navajo Nation reservation, it was several years before I became aware of the stark difference in resources available on the reservation versus […]

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Curiosity is a superpower when dealing with conflict

Jul 26, 2023

So how about curiosity? What does it mean and look like to approach conflict with curiosity, and how do we do this?

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Sharing environmental passions with students: Meet Professor Brig Daniels

Jul 24, 2023

After working one year as a visiting faculty member, Professor Brig Daniels has officially joined the S.J. Quinney College of Law, specifically the Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources and the Environment.

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Conservation Has Always Been a Part of the Bureau of Land Management’s Multiple Use Mandate

Jul 21, 2023

Current Conditions on Public Lands Justify the BLM’s Proposed Conservation and Landscape Health Rule On April 3, 2023, the Bureau of Land Management proposed new […]

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Associate Professor Jamie Pleune testifies on permitting process for projects with potential environmental impacts

Jul 19, 2023

Associate Professor Jamie Pleune, a part of the Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources and the Environment, recently testified before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on […]

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Professor Brigham Daniels featured in Fox 13 article about Supreme Court wetlands ruling

Jul 03, 2023

Professor Brigham Daniels, a visiting professor in the Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources and the Environment, was recently interviewed by Fox 13 News about […]

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To make conflict productive, focus on co-creating mutual gains outcomes

Jul 02, 2023

The mission of the EDR program is to foster a culture of collaboration around environmental, natural resource, and broader public policy issues. In other words, we strive to help people work together to create a better today and tomorrow.

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Tanana speaks to national media about Arizona v. Navajo Nation ruling and Indian Child Welfare Act

Jun 23, 2023

Research Assistant Professor Heather Tanana is speaking to many media outlets about the U.S. Supreme Court’s Arizona v. Navajo Nation ruling and the Court’s decision to uphold the Indian Child Welfare Act.

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Responding to questions for the record

Jun 14, 2023

Ideally, congressional hearings provide a forum for lawmakers to gather information, learn more about specific issues, and make informed decisions. After the hearing concludes, committee […]

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Dean Elizabeth Kronk Warner and Professor Emeritus Robert Adler contribute chapters to new book on sustainable development

Jun 12, 2023

Dean Elizabeth Kronk Warner and Professor Emeritus Robert Adler are among 22 experts who contributed chapters to Governing for Sustainability, a new book from Environmental […]

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Testifying Before Congress on Evidence-Based Recommendations for Permit Reform

Jun 05, 2023

The Law and Policy Program aims to produce actionable, pragmatic research on emerging legal issues to facilitate sound governmental decisionmaking that protects the environment and […]

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The power of calm when dealing with conflict

Jun 01, 2023

To make conflict productive and to avoid it becoming destructive, we have to get out of this win-lose mindset and instead focus on what really matters, and one key way to do this is to ask ourselves and others “What would be a productive outcome in this situation?”

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Professor Robert Keiter appointed to National Park System Advisory Board

May 24, 2023

Professor Robert Keiter, director of the Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources, and the Environment at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, […]

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How to focus on what really matters in conflict

May 01, 2023

Over the last few months, we have published a series of blogs that start to explore why conflict is so hard for us, why it so often results in negative outcomes, and how we can make conflict an opportunity for positive change.

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Applying Lessons from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill to Permit Reform

Apr 21, 2023

Thirteen years ago, on April 20, 2010, an explosion tore through BP’s Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, killing eleven people and spewing over four million barrels […]

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Dean Kronk Warner and 3L Jensen Lillquist Co-Author Rights of Nature Article

Apr 01, 2023

There are few law schools where a student would have an opportunity to work closely with the Dean of the College and co-author a scholarly […]

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Stegner Faculty Accomplishments ~ Spring 2023

Apr 01, 2023

Faculty Accomplishments Building on a long tradition of excellence, Stegner Center faculty continue to engage in today’s cutting-edge issues through legal education, publications, and service. Below […]

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Natural Resources Law Forum 2022-23 Activities

Apr 01, 2023

The student-run Natural Resources Law Forum has enjoyed a busy year of events and community-building, with the goal of helping students network and learn about […]

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Law & Policy Program Update

Apr 01, 2023

The Law and Policy Program continues to conduct relevant, objective legal research on issues that affect western lands and resource management. The program includes six […]

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Stegner Center 28th Annual Symposium: “The Future of the Great Salt Lake”

Apr 01, 2023

The Stegner Center’s 28th annual symposium on March 16-17, 2023, addressed the plight of the Great Salt Lake. One of the world’s largest hypersaline lakes, the […]

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Utah Water Lecture Series

Apr 01, 2023

From mid-January to early March, the Wallace Stegner Center hosted a four-part Utah Water Lecture Series, which explored a variety of issues, including the basics […]

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Stegner Center Spring 2023 Green Bag Series

Apr 01, 2023

The Stegner Center’s spring noon-hour Green Bag Series attracted both in-person and virtual attendees who joined the Stegner Center to hear from a diverse lineup […]

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Wallace Stegner Center Director’s Letter Spring 2023

Apr 01, 2023

With an epic winter now transitioning into spring in Salt Lake City, I’m pleased to report on another successful academic year at the Wallace Stegner […]

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Trying Times: Conservation Easements and Federal Tax Law

Apr 01, 2023

Sponsored by the Cultural Vision Fund and Utah Open Lands in cooperation with the Wallace Stegner Center, “Trying Times: Conservation Easements and Federal Tax Law” […]

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EDR Program Update

Apr 01, 2023

Wallace Stegner Center Environmental Dispute Resolution Program from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law Environmental Law Program The Wallace Stegner Center’s Environmental Dispute […]

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Want to make conflict productive? Focus on what really matters

Apr 01, 2023

If you’ve been reading our recent blogs, hopefully by now you’re convinced that conflict “just is”: it is a healthy, normal, unavoidable part of life. Unfortunately, we tend to see the world through a win-lose, zero-sum mindset, which leads us to treat conflict as a threat. And when we do that, we tend to react poorly in situations of conflict, which leads to bad outcomes and reinforces our belief that conflict is a problem.

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Tanana speaks to national media about SCOTUS cases

Mar 22, 2023

Research Assistant Professor Heather Tanana, a renowned expert on Indian law and water law, spoke to national media outlets this week about Arizona v. Navajo […]

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Stegner Research Professors File Amicus Brief Supporting Water Access for the Navajo Nation

Mar 22, 2023

“For the Navajo people, tó éí iiná até, water is life.” –Amicus Brief of DigDeep Right to Water Project and Utah Tribal Relief Foundation   […]

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The Tension Between Speed and Safety

Mar 15, 2023

On Tuesday, March 21, 2023, the Roosevelt Institute will host a one-day in-person conversation about permit reform in Washington D.C. Common conversations about permit reform […]

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Why we tend to see conflict as a problem—and why it matters

Mar 01, 2023

In our prior blogs, we have explained that conflict just is: It is a normal, healthy, unavoidable part of life. Therefore, we need to learn to deal with it effectively, and that is what collaboration is all about. And the good news is that doing so not only helps make life a lot easier; it can be enormously productive and beneficial for all parties involved in the conflict.

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The Cost of Denial About Carbon Capture and Sequestration

Feb 23, 2023

Carbon capture and sequestration is the latest rage, but is it worth the hype?  In Chasing Squirrels in the Energy Transition, Environmental Law, Vol. 52 […]

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Talking About Permit Reform with the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists

Feb 08, 2023

We recently joined five other experts to explore the nuances of the permit reform debate in an article published by the  Bulletin of Atomic Scientists. […]

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Finding and Leveraging Allies

Feb 02, 2023

Many tribes are matrilineal. In these communities, women historically played a significant role in holding and dispensing traditional knowledge. Women also held positions of leadership, […]

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The problem with conflict is that we see conflict as a problem

Feb 01, 2023

Even after many years of work in the field of conflict resolution and collaboration, I continue to be amazed by the extent to which productively working through conflict provides opportunities for positive change and growth.

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Piecing Together the Fragmented Legal Doctrines Governing “Pore Space”

Jan 27, 2023

As carbon capture and sequestration technologies gain traction, the nature of underground rights is increasingly surfacing as an important, but fractured area of law.  I […]

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The future of the EDR program: Extra (effective) dialogue required

Jan 03, 2023

When Michele Straube founded the Wallace Stegner Center’s EDR program in 2012, she somewhat jokingly suggested the EDR acronym stands for “extra dialogue required.”

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At the Environmental Dispute Resolution program, thorny issues lead to “elegant solutions”

Nov 21, 2022

As you may have noticed, we humans don’t always get along. We fight over land, we argue that we aren’t getting our fair share of water, we dig in our heels about whatever we think should be rightfully ours.

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Distinguishing between Productive and Unproductive Causes of Delay in Critical Mineral Permitting

Nov 15, 2022

Our latest article, Playing the Long Game: Expediting Permitting Without Compromising Protections, recommends three actions to expedite mine permit processing times without sacrificing analytical rigor:  […]

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Wallace Stegner Center Fall 2022 Green Bag Series

Nov 03, 2022

The Wallace Stegner Center featured an all-star lineup of speakers for its Fall 2022 Green Bag Series, including current and former top-level officials from the […]

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I abhor the word “compromise”

Oct 10, 2022

I overheard a conversation the other day in which one person said that marriage is just one compromise after the other. I had a visceral reaction to that statement, partly feeling sad for the person’s marriage, but mostly just mad mad mad about the word “compromise.”

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Wallace Stegner Center Receives Major Gift from C. Comstock Clayton Foundation

Oct 03, 2022

The S.J. Quinney College of Law is honored to announce that the Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources and the Environment has received a new […]

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Podcasting with Center for Western Priorities about Permitting Reform

Oct 01, 2022

We had a great conversation with Kate Groetzinger and Aaron Weiss from Center for Western Priorities on their podcast, The Landscape.  Our conversation can be […]

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White House Taps Utah Law Professor John Ruple for Council on Environmental Quality

Sep 26, 2022

  Ruple’s appointment adds his expertise in public lands and resources management to the White House Council on Environmental Quality, which advises the president and […]

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Introducing the Gateway & Natural Amenity Region (GNAR) Initiative

Sep 26, 2022

The Wallace Stegner Center’s Environmental Dispute Resolution (EDR) program fosters a culture of collaboration around the environment, natural resource, and broader public policy issues, with a particular focus on Utah and the Mountain West.

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Celebrating the Wallace Stegner Center’s New Faculty and Staff

Sep 22, 2022

The Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources and the Environment welcomes the many new faculty and staff members who have joined us in the past […]

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Utah Scholars Ask Lawmakers to Look at the Data with Permitting Reform

Sep 21, 2022

Great article by Zak Podmore in the Salt Lake Tribune about permitting reform.  As he points out, assumptions held by NEPA critics don’t always align […]

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Professor Vanessa Casado Perez Joins Stegner Center as 18th Annual Young Scholar

Sep 15, 2022

Vanessa Casado Perez, Professor and Dean’s Research Chair at Texas A&M School of Law and a Research Associate Professor at Texas A&M Department of Agricultural […]

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Wallace Stegner Center Spring 2023 Green Bag Series

Sep 15, 2022

The Wallace Stegner Center Spring 2023 programing will include a lecture series sponsored by the Audubon Society addressing the timely topic of Utah water law […]

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Memorializing Meg Osswald: A New Fellowship

Sep 15, 2022

Margaret “Meg” C. Osswald died early this year in an accident in the American Southwest. Meg is the daughter of Ellen Maycock and Ken Osswald. […]

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Seeing the forest for the trees: An environmental psychologist’s guide to sharing ranching landscapes with wildlife

Sep 12, 2022

Most aspects of life in the early 21st century go beyond easy analysis and resolution. The subject of ranching, particularly in the context of wildlife conservation in the American West, is bound then to aggravate anyone who demands singular causes and fixed solutions. The stories of ranchers have been told in countless forms over the years, yet rarely have they actually been told by ranchers themselves.

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Wallace Stegner Center Sends Teams to Moot Court Competitions

Sep 01, 2022

The Wallace Stegner Center is proud to support the student teams that compete for the S. J. Quinney College of Law at the National Environmental […]

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S.J. Quinney Students Receive Foundation (FNREL) Scholarships

Sep 01, 2022

S.J. Quinney College of Law and Stegner Center students proved extremely competitive for scholarships funded by the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law (Foundation […]

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Stegner Center Student Scholarship Recipients and Writing Awards

Sep 01, 2022

The Stegner Center oversees a rich array of scholarships, fellowships, and awards for College of Law students, ranging from cash awards for outstanding papers to […]

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Do we have to choose between speedy development and the environment?

Aug 30, 2022

We were thrilled to have an opportunity to speak with Laura Gersony at Circle of Blue  about our research on causes of delay in the […]

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Meet EDR Initiatives Facilitator Jordan Katcher

Aug 29, 2022

Meet Jordan Katcher (she/her), who joined the Environmental Dispute Resolution (EDR) program team at the University of Utah’s Wallace Stegner Center in August 2022.

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Ask better negotiation questions

Aug 15, 2022

It’s not difficult to see the limitations of these negotiation questions. The first one is likely to promote defensiveness. The second one sounds patronizing. The third shuts off discussion, perhaps even before it’s truly begun.

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Ruple Named Trustee of Foundation for Natural Resources & Energy Law

Aug 05, 2022

The Wallace Stegner Center is thrilled to announce that Professor of Law John Ruple was appointed a trustee of the Foundation for Natural Resources and […]

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Interests, positions, and conflict—Oh, my!

Aug 01, 2022

Interests and positions. We hear these terms frequently in negotiation and dispute resolution circles, but what do they really mean? And why is it important to understand the difference?

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Utah Law faculty members present at Law and Society Conference

Jul 18, 2022

Multiple faculty members from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law recently presented at the Global Meeting on Law and Society Conference in […]

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Conflict just is. Let’s make it productive!

Jul 18, 2022

Every year, I train and coach hundreds of professionals and university students in the skills of collaboration and conflict resolution. In working with these diverse individuals and teams from across the country and internationally, I have come to realize that a few simple shifts in how we see, understand, and deal with conflict can totally change our relationships with each other and ourselves—as well as the outcomes of our interactions—in profoundly powerful and positive ways.

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How Can We Break Through Our Narrative of Polarization?

Jun 21, 2022

By Courtney Breese It’s easy to see that our nation is polarized. Watch any national news program or scroll social media and this narrative of […]

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Facilitating Effective Meetings: New Resources from the EDR Program

Jun 06, 2022

By the EDR Team We’ve all sat through poorly planned meetings. When happening in person, these are the meetings where we fidget in our seats, […]

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Better Together: Co-Creating a Factual Foundation in Environment & Public Policy Conflict

May 23, 2022

By Alice Shorett Social media silos of information, separate worlds of news pipelines, advocacy experts—can we ever find a way to talk to one another? […]

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Professor John Ruple invited to White House meeting to discuss mining reform

May 16, 2022

Professor John Ruple was recently invited to the White House as part of a summit featuring over 20 representatives from states, Tribes, the mining industry, […]

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Reporting Out on the Building Bridges Symposium

May 09, 2022

By: Yufna Soldier Wolf, Indigenous Land Alliance of Wyoming, & Deb Kleinman, Collaboration Program in Natural Resources/Lupine Collaborative   At the Building Bridges Symposium in […]

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10 Negotiation Training Skills Every Organization Needs

Apr 25, 2022

By PON Staff This post originally appeared on Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation’s Daily Blog on April 18, 2022. We are reposting it with […]

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Heather Tanana brings crucial Tribal voices to water policy

Apr 18, 2022

When she was in junior high — long before she’d ever heard the term “environmental justice” — Heather Tanana moved with her family from the […]

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Meet EDR Program Manager Emily Gaines Crockett

Apr 11, 2022

Meet Emily Gaines Crockett, who joined the Environmental Dispute Resolution (EDR) program team at the University of Utah’s Wallace Stegner Center in December 2021. Emily manages EDR program administration and communication efforts.

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Book Review: Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life* (*And how anyone can harness it. Even you.)

Mar 28, 2022

By Michele Straube My mother loved adages and random quotes. One of her favorites was “laughter is the best medicine.” She had a gift for […]

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A Practitioner’s View on Finding the Words to Describe Our Work

Mar 14, 2022

By Jason Gershowitz It can be difficult to describe our work—the field of conflict. When asked questions regarding my career and work, I have referred […]

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Apply for the EDR program’s Collaboration Certificate course

Feb 28, 2022

The Wallace Stegner Center’s Environmental Dispute Resolution (EDR) Program is currently accepting applications for our 2022 Collaboration Certificate Course. The course will be delivered virtually via highly interactive and engaging sessions that emphasize peer-to-peer learning and networking.

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Professor Heather Tanana appointed to positions with AALS & ABA

Feb 24, 2022

Research Professor and Stegner Fellow Heather Tanana was recently appointed to the position of secretary for the Association of American Law Schools’ Section on Indian […]

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The Colorado River Compact: Navigating the Future

Feb 10, 2022

  The Wallace Stegner Center and the Water & Tribes Initiative co-hosted a symposium convening experts, stakeholders and representatives of sovereign tribes in the Colorado […]

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What is Negotiation?

Feb 07, 2022

By Katie Shonk This post originally appeared on Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation’s Daily Blog on October 14, 2021. We are reposting it with […]

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Professor Heather Tanana joins National Climate Assessment team

Feb 04, 2022

Research Professor and Stegner Fellow Heather Tanana was recently appointed to assist the U.S. Global Change Research Program in the creation of their quadrennial report.  […]

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Supporting Federal Agencies to Make Collaboration the Way of Doing Business

Jan 24, 2022

By Jessica Western As a facilitator living in Wyoming,  I have experienced how collaborative problem solving has increasingly become a tool to unravel any tension […]

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2021 EDR blog year in review

Jan 10, 2022

I am enchanted by stories. Stories with strong character development, riveting plot lines, and happy (and sad!) endings. Stories with conflict, resolution, and lessons learned.

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Utah Law professors present at AALS Annual Meeting

Jan 04, 2022

The S.J. Quinney College of Law is honored to recognize the many faculty members who will be presenting or leading section meetings at the Association […]

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Using Six Thinking Hats in Negotiation

Dec 06, 2021

By James Holbrook Edward De Bono has identified six different ways of thinking using six different color-coded “Thinking Hats.” Too often, negotiation – especially high-conflict […]

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Conflict-Management Styles: Pitfalls and Best Practices

Nov 22, 2021

By Katie Shonk This post originally appeared on Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation’s Daily Blog on October 25, 2021. We are reposting it with […]

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The Wallace Stegner Center and Heather Tanana to receive ABA SEER Awards

Nov 17, 2021

Professor Heather Tanana was selected to receive the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources (SEER) Award for Distinguished Achievement in Environmental […]

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The Problem with Problems

Nov 08, 2021

By Bruce Waltuck   Understanding the types of our lived experiences, and the optimal patterns of response, for improved conflict resolution and outcomes. “The bear […]

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The Opportunities of a New Glen Canyon

Oct 25, 2021

By Eric Balken for the EDRblog News coverage of drought has become inescapable for those of us living in the west. Talk of prolonged water […]

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Utah Law welcomes new faculty members

Oct 21, 2021

The S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah is pleased to announce the addition of new faculty members: Christina Koningisor, who joins […]

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Notes from the Collaborative Governance Rodeo

Oct 11, 2021

By Wendy Willis Since the term started emerging in 1970s, collaborative governance has been a wily beast. Just as scholars start to corral and define […]

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The Pause: Closing the Gap Between Our Best Intentions and Our Actions

Sep 27, 2021

By Marina Piscolish, Ph.D. For years, we, as a field, have been hard at work teaching crucial communication skills for managing conflict, solving problems, and […]

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Conversation Dominators. (When “Step Up, Step Back” doesn’t cut it)

Sep 13, 2021

By Maggie Chumbley This post originally appeared on maggiechumbley.com on October 14, 2020. We are reposting it with the Maggie Chumbley’s permission. Hands down, the […]

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“Pause. Take a breath. What do you see?”

Aug 23, 2021

I sat at my newly-made-up-work-from-home office thinking “Why toilet paper?” and suddenly songs from Urinetown: The Musical burst into my head. It seemed appropriate given the sudden and limited supply of the product. (Yes, that really is the name of the musical. It won three Tonys in 2002.)

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The Benefits of a Situation Assessment

Aug 09, 2021

By Isobel Lingenfelter The situation assessment is often promoted in the facilitation and conflict resolution world, and yet it can be tempting to skip this […]

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Utah Law Students Take on Environmental Issues

Jul 28, 2021

University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law students focused on environmental and natural resources law have proven competitive this year in landing prestigious summer […]

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Moot Court Winners

Jun 23, 2021

The Wallace Stegner Center is proud to announce that our student team of Natalie Beal and Stephanie Hanawalt are the winners of the 2021 National […]

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Ruple article on fossil fuel development featured by Environmental Law Reporter

Jun 07, 2021

Posted on September 2, 2020 University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law Research Professor John Ruple co-wrote an article with Jamie Gibbs Pluene and […]

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New Report Examines Causes of Clean Water Access Deficits Among 30 Tribes in the Colorado River Basin

May 11, 2021

New Report Examines Causes of Clean Water Access Deficits Among 30 Tribes in the Colorado River Basin Tribal communities, disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, continue […]

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WVU First Place Team

May 11, 2021

The Wallace Stegner Center is proud to announce that our student team of Natalie Beal and Stephanie Hanawalt are the winners of the 2021 National […]

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Tanana Authors Report Examining Clean Water Deficits Among Tribes

Apr 28, 2021

University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law Assistant Professor Heather Tanana was the lead author on a comprehensive analysis recently released by the Colorado […]

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Erika George Joins Earthjustice Board of Trustees

Apr 21, 2021

George brings a vital array of expertise that is critical to leveraging gaps between human rights and environmental advocacy. San Francisco, CA — Earthjustice is […]

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A high-wire act: Mediating high conflict online

Apr 19, 2021

As COVID-19 drives our longstanding work with stakeholders, advisory committees, and others onto online platforms, we also are being forced to mediate our most challenging cases in the same online format. These cases often prove to be high-wire acts when we meet face to face.

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Creating Space for Understanding

Apr 06, 2021

I have always been interested in what motivates people. What connects us, what divides us, and why? Increasingly, I feel we are more invested in our divisions than our common ground. But a recent experience reminded me that common ground still exists.

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Cultivating Dignity in a Year of Rupture

Apr 06, 2021

By Merrick Hoben This post originally appeared on Consensus Building Institute’s blog on October 5, 2020. We are reposting it with Merrick Hoben’s permission. If […]

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Wallace Stegner Center 26th Annual Symposium – “The Plastics Paradox: Societal Boon or Environmental Bane?”

Apr 06, 2021

March 25 @ 8:00 am – March 26 @ 2:30 pm The Wallace Stegner Center’s 26th annual symposium on “The Plastics Paradox: Societal Boon or […]

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Apply for the short course on natural resources collaboration

Feb 22, 2021

The Wallace Stegner Center’s Environmental Dispute Resolution (EDR) program is currently accepting applications for our 2021 short course on effective natural resources collaboration. The course will be held online via Zoom. The application is open through April 19, 2021; we anticipate selecting and notifying short course participants by April 30, 2021.

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Floods, fires, drought and more: The climate is changing and dispute resolution tools are needed (now!)

Nov 09, 2020

As I watch the news from California of the absolute devastation from numerous, massive wildfires or hear about repeated hurricanes hitting the Gulf Coast, I see, now more than ever, the critical need for good dispute resolution tools to help address climate change issues.

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Madame C’s lesson on mindful appreciation

Jun 29, 2020

I sat at my newly-made-up-work-from-home office thinking “Why toilet paper?” and suddenly songs from Urinetown The Musical burst into my head. It seemed appropriate given the sudden and limited supply of the product. (Yes, that really is the name of the musical. It won three Tonys in 2002.)

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What Madame C (Coronavirus) is teaching me

Jun 15, 2020

When I was first asked to share my lessons learned from Madame C (the coronavirus), I was a little nonplussed about what to say. My biggest (and most embarrassing) lesson learned was that I.hate.to.clean. That doesn’t really relate to collaboration, or perhaps it does. There are certain collaborators (broom, vacuum, toilet wand) I don’t really like to work with. And, if I clean while listening to podcasts (i.e., change the process), I don’t mind the task and actually do a good job.

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What lessons are you learning from Madame C?

Jun 01, 2020

During these uncertain times, we have all had to adapt how we do our day-to-day activities and how we are being in our lives. This adaptation can be reactionary—changing how we do things without intention or awareness. Or the shifts we make can be intentional—responding to our changing circumstances by seeking and choosing the opportunities (i.e., the “probletunities”) presented by each challenge.

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EDR blog year in review: 2019

Dec 16, 2019

One of the reasons I enjoy managing the EDR blog is the chance to read about the valuable resources, best practices, case studies, ideas, and activities related to collaboration and dialogue.

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Collaboration playlist

Jun 17, 2019

Music has so many magical properties. It can prompt memory. It can help create memories. It can access memory. It can set the mood. It can change the mood. All these characteristics are beneficial to negotiation and collaboration.

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The Utah Resilience Map: Making Connections Between Local Sustainability Projects

May 20, 2019

By Emily Nicolosi for EDRBlog.org Online collaborative community resource mapping is a new phenomenon that helps to connect local organizations and volunteers in building more […]

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Communication Strategies for Engaging Climate Skeptics: Religion and the Environment

May 06, 2019

By Emma Frances Bloomfield for EDRBlog.org In our ongoing disputes and conversations about the environment and climate change, it becomes ever more pressing to uncover […]

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Trust – An Essential Collaborative Component

Apr 22, 2019

By Dianne Olson “Trust is the glue of life. It’s the most essential ingredient in effective communication. It’s the foundational principle that holds all relationships.” […]

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It’s not federal overreach, it’s federal under-listening: Lessons from rural Oregon

Apr 08, 2019

The EDR program interviewed Peter Walker, professor of geography at the University of Oregon, about his 2018 book “Sagebrush Collaboration: How Harney County Defeated the Takeover of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge.”

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Do Cows Come to Consensus? Exploring What Humans and Animals Might Have in Common When it Comes to Dispute Resolution

Mar 25, 2019

By Leanne Bernstein Do elephants experience empathy? Do artic foxes argue? Do narwhals negotiate? Do raccoons reconcile? Dr. Frans de Waal explores these ideas in […]

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Why “Progress” Fits Natural Resource Conflict Management Better than “Success”

Mar 11, 2019

By Steve Daniels for EDRBlog.org As a practicing environmental facilitator/mediator, I am frequently asked if a process succeeded; it seems politicians and the news media […]

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Apply for the short course on effective natural resources collaboration

Feb 25, 2019

Consider words like personal, effective, and awesome. What might they describe? Here’s a hint: Short course.

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The Path of Collaboration in Harney County, Oregon

Feb 11, 2019

By Steven C. Beda for EDRBlog.org Harney County, Oregon is broad, flat, and expansive. Were the title not already claimed by Montana, this place could […]

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A New Era in Collaborative Forest Restoration: Working Towards Long-Term, Large-Scale, and High-Capacity Collaboration

Jan 28, 2019

By William Butler for EDRBlog.org Dr. Courtney Schultz of Colorado State University and I have been researching and engaging with professionals involved in the Collaborative […]

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EDR blog year in review: 2018

Jan 14, 2019

What strikes me most at the close of another year for the EDR blog is the perseverance and determination I see happening in the field of environmental dispute resolution (EDR).

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Collaborating on Air Quality: From Pollution to Solution

Dec 17, 2018

By Danya Rumore This time of year, one thing seems to be on the mind of just about everyone in the Salt Lake Valley: air […]

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Energy siting can be incendiary

Dec 03, 2018

Energy extraction and production have powerfully shaped the American landscape over the last hundred years. Blessed with extraordinary natural resources, among many other attributes, the United States has built the largest economy in the world. But energy land uses, from traditional gas and oil to newer wind and solar, have sparked intense conflict around safety, human health, visual impacts, “industrialization” of the rural landscape, and even national policy.

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Great Salt Lake Stink Tank: Moving a Dialogue on Collaboration Forward

Nov 19, 2018

By Skye Sieber and Jaimi Butler for EDRBlog.org Earlier this summer, we attended the Dialogue on Collaboration focused on Great Salt Lake. One prominent theme […]

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Can EDR Practices Benefit from Learner-Centered Teaching Strategies?

Nov 05, 2018

By CK Miller for EDRBlog.org It’s a lush forest scene: trees surround you, the ground is moist and spongy with moss, and above you stretches […]

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Building Trust with the Public in Your Decision-Making Process

Oct 22, 2018

By Leah Jaramillo for EDRBlog.org Public participation can be considered risky or a chore, particularly when an issue or decision is highly technical and requires […]

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Addressing Complex Issues with Trauma-informed Approaches

Oct 08, 2018

By Mary Dumas, Dumas & Associates, Inc. for EDRBlog.org Complexity & Confusion In conditions of complexity, it’s important to remember that data do not make […]

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Wisdom from the Experts: Collaboration and Alternative Dispute Resolution in the West

Sep 24, 2018

By Danya Rumore for EDRBlog.org I often find myself wishing I had more opportunities to learn from other facilitators’ and collaboration professionals’ trials, tribulations, and […]

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Don’t Believe Everything You Think: The Pitfalls of Cognitive Bias

Sep 10, 2018

By Douglas Thompson This post originally appeared on Consensus Building Institute’s blog on May 22, 2018. We are reposting it with Douglas Thompson’s permission. A […]

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Rock and Roll: Use the Triangle of Satisfaction to Design and Facilitate Effective Collaboration

Aug 27, 2018

By Nedra Chandler This post originally appeared on Cadence blog February 28, 2018. We are reposting it with Nedra Chandler’s permission. Humans can be Bermuda […]

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State invests millions in conflict resolution: A case study

Aug 13, 2018

This year, one state in the nation will invest more than $1 million to support public policy and community-based conflict resolution and collaborative implementation. Perhaps more surprising is the fact that this amount is appropriated every year, and that the state has slowly and steadily increased its funding for conflict resolution and collaboration for more than two decades.

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The Power of Vulnerability in Conflict Resolution

Jul 30, 2018

By Rachel Caldwell for EDRBlog.org “Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, change” – Dr. Brené Brown Stepping into Vulnerability I recently joined fifteen peers […]

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What We Can Learn from Bees About Building Consensus

Jul 16, 2018

By Michele Straube for EDRBlog.org At times, a group of outraged stakeholders can feel like a swarm of bees. Initially, stakeholders are sweet as honey […]

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Unraveling Complex Issues – Collaboration around the Great Salt Lake

Jul 02, 2018

By Dianne Olson for EDRBlog.org Discussing something as significant as the Great Salt Lake involves landscape level topics such as water use among three states […]

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Teamwork and Shared Interests to Improve Tribal Relations with the BLM in Utah

Jun 18, 2018

By Nate Thomas and Nizhone Meza for EDRBlog.org Starting, conducting and completing a “situation assessment” for inexperienced yet enthusiastic protégés in the Environmental Dispute Resolution […]

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Coming Full Circle: Using Litigation as a Tool to Facilitate Collaboration

Jun 04, 2018

By Hannah Satein for EDRBlog.org Though it may seem paradoxical, litigation filed by a participant in a collaborative process may offer a tool to help […]

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Four Strategies for Effective Science Communication

May 21, 2018

By Dr. Emma Frances Bloomfield for EDRBlog.org Why is the sky blue? If you have ever tried to explain the answer to this question to […]

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FACULTY: Craig files amicus brief in case challenging Obama designation of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument

May 07, 2018

Professor Robin Craig and a team of pro bono attorneys at Fried Frank have filed an amicus brief in Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association v. Ross, the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia that is challenging former President Barack Obama’s designation of the Northeast Canyons & Seamounts Marine National Monument 130 miles off the Atlantic coast in 2016.

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Finding Shared Interests at the Fort Douglas National Historic Landmark

May 07, 2018

By Kelly Beck Today, Fort Douglas is home to the bustling student residences at the University of Utah. A university managed hotel and conference center […]

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Collaboration is Improv or is Improv a Collaboration?

Apr 23, 2018

By Leanne Bernstein for EDRBlog.org I raced around the room, trying desperately to keep my bodyguard in between me and the paparazzi. But with every […]

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More Peaceful Winters Reign in Yellowstone

Apr 09, 2018

By Nedra Chandler “Winter use in Yellowstone National Park is, at root, a conflict over deep public values…” –Mike Yochim, member of Yellowstone Grand Teton […]

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What Environmental Dispute Resolution Can Learn from Civity and Complexity Science

Mar 26, 2018

By Daniel Friedman for EDRBlog.org Successful environmental dispute resolution (EDR) requires long-term cooperation among stakeholders, who often have incongruent values and interests and may have […]

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Helping Collaborative Groups Get Real

Mar 12, 2018

By Steve Greenwood for EDRBlog.org One of the key characteristics of successful collaborations, particularly when parties are trying to resolve difficult issues, is authenticity.  As […]

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Apply for the short course on effective natural resources collaboration

Feb 26, 2018

As we usher our second cohort toward short course graduation, we invite all “doubting Thomases,” “converts to collaboration,” and everyone in-between to apply for the 2018 short course on effective natural resources collaboration.

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The Sweet Sound of Collaboration

Feb 12, 2018

By Cody Lutz for EDRBlog.org As a graduate student fellow with the Environmental Dispute Resolution (EDR) Program, I’ve been working on various community-based conflicts and […]

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Cultivating a Culture of Environmental and Natural Resources Collaboration in Utah

Jan 29, 2018

By Danya Rumore Unhealthy air quality. Growing demands for water in an arid state. Conflicts over public lands and how those lands should be managed. […]

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EDR blog year in review: 2017

Jan 16, 2018

As I look back on the EDR blogs we’ve posted in the last 12 months, I find myself inspired and energized by the many examples of collaboration and strategies for how to build bridges among individuals, stakeholder groups, and communities our authors have shared.

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S.J. Quinney College of Law honors memory of Page Stegner, 1937-2017

Jan 10, 2018

A prominent member of the family who is the namesake behind the Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources and the Environment at the University of […]

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Mindfulness for mediators, innovators and problem solvers

Dec 18, 2017

By Mary Dumas for EDRBlog.org Complexity and conflict can interfere with our ability to listen accurately and sustain focused attention when serving as a mediator […]

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A New Way of Doing Business? Collaborating with the U.S. Forest Service

Dec 04, 2017

By Kailey Kornhauser for EDRBlog.org In 2012 the US Forest Service adopted a new Planning Rule. Planning Rules are policy that regulate how the Forest […]

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Finding Common Ground on Public Lands

Nov 20, 2017

By Susan Crook for EDRBlog.org I kept dreaming of Hayley Mills singing “Let’s Get Together” from The Parent Trap and found myself humming the tune […]

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A Practical Roadmap for Resolving Conflict

Nov 06, 2017

This post originally appeared on Arbinger Institute’s blog May 30, 2017. We are reposting it with Jim Ferrell’s permission. If you want to help people […]

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The Three F’s of a Successful Watershed Partnership

Oct 23, 2017

By Sue Fearon for EDRBlog.org Earlier this year, Stan, a conversation partner, asked me “Why are you still here? That’s what I want to know. […]

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Conflict Mapping Is No Spaghetti Bowl

Oct 09, 2017

By Dena Marshall for EDRBlog.org Conflict mapping is a roll-up-your-sleeves pencil and paper exercise that I have come to appreciate and incorporate into my collaborative […]

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Collaborating for Cleaner Air

Sep 25, 2017

By Ashley Miller for EDRBlog.org I was all set to start learning on the first day of the Environmental Dispute Resolution (EDR) Program’s Short Course […]

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Establishing Collaboration: Breaking Down Silos to Effectively Manage Ecosystems

Sep 11, 2017

By Craig Walker for EDRBlog.org In 2016, I was offered the opportunity to participate in a Short Course on Effective Natural Resources Collaboration hosted by […]

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Daring to Dialogue: Stories of “Being the Change”

Aug 28, 2017

By Michele Straube and Danya Rumore for EDRBlog.org On June 15, the EDR Program co-hosted “Fostering Productive Dialogue in Divided Times,” the third in the […]

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Taking the Leap: A Collaborative Process – and Life! — Journey

Aug 14, 2017

By Theresa Jensen for EDRBlog.org Have you ever stood on the edge of a new beginning, noticing all of those excited anxious squiggly feelings dancing […]

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A Cow Runs Through It: Reflections on 20+ Years as an Environmental Mediator

Jul 26, 2017

By Michele Straube for EDRblog.org.  I realized recently that my projects involved cows at the beginning, middle and end of my career, and a squishy […]

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Breaking the Natural Resources Gridlock with Consensus Building

Jul 17, 2017

By Gina Bartlett for EDRblog.org. This post originally appeared on Consensus Building Institute’s blog Feb. 6, 2017. We are reposting it with Gina Bartlett’s permission. […]

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Fostering Productive Dialogue in Divided Times

Jul 03, 2017

By Griffin Smith for EDRBlog.org People being viciously attacked—verbally and physically—just because they are a certain race, ethnicity, religion, or simply trying to fly war […]

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A Need—and an Opportunity—for Leadership

Jun 19, 2017

By Danya Rumore for EDRBlog.org In every challenge, there is an opportunity. There is no doubt that we live in challenging times. One need only […]

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I’ll See You in Court: Litigation and Collaborative Land Management

Jun 05, 2017

By Ian Summers for EDRBlog.org Litigation over public land management has become a contentious topic in recent news. Industry groups and ranchers are pressuring the […]

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The Future of Indian Water Rights in the West

May 22, 2017

By Nils Lofgren for EDRBlog.org Water is an important and essential commodity for people living in the western United States today. Water is just as […]

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Making Room for Give and Take

May 08, 2017

By Dan Adams for EDRblog.org Recently, I spent 17 days on the islands of Cebu and Negros in the Philippines.  It was a powerful cultural […]

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“Town Halls” Are Dead. Long Live Town Halls?

Apr 24, 2017

By Larry Schooler This post originally appeared in The Huffington Post on 03/29/2017 05:25 pm ET, updated Mar 30, 2017. We are reposting it with […]

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Accomplishing the Impossible: The Spokane River Story

Apr 10, 2017

By Adriane P. Borgias for EDRBlog.org “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the […]

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Empowering Collaboration Through Dark Sky Protection

Mar 27, 2017

By Janey Heyman Moving from a small California beach town to Salt Lake City, I realized the night sky was a severely under-utilized resource in […]

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Apply for Short Course on Effective Natural Resources Collaboration

Mar 20, 2017

By Michele Straube The 23 participants in the inaugural Short Course will attend their last session on April 27, walking away with a Certificate of […]

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For living room candor, keep the conversation casual

Mar 13, 2017

When is it possible for someone to express their honest thoughts and feelings about an important issue? Is it possible for that person to do so while acting in their professional capacity?

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Two Sources of Turmoil in a Divided America

Feb 27, 2017

By James R. Holbrook for edrblog.org The Sixties and early Seventies were a time of great turmoil in a divided America, including the assassinations of […]

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E Pluribus Unum (out of many one)

Feb 13, 2017

This post originally appeared on Consensus Building Institute’s blog in October 13, 2016. We are reposting it with the Patrick Field’s permission. By Patrick Field for […]

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EDR blog year in review: 2016

Jan 30, 2017

In 2016, we posted 26 blogs from 24 authors. Many of our blog posts featured inspiring examples of collaboration.

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From Question to Connection: Building Bridges with Appreciative Inquiry

Jan 17, 2017

By Barbara E. Lewis for EDRBlog.org Now more than ever, those of us who practice community engagement are acutely aware of how polarized ”the publics” […]

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Keep your knees bent while facilitating

Jan 03, 2017

By Wendy Green Lowe for EDRblog.org.  I grew up in a household of skiers.  The lessons I earned about staying upright while skiing hold true […]

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Putting another E in EDR (Electronic)

Dec 19, 2016

By Noam Exner for EDRblo.org. Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) is an area of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) that has been developing over the past twenty […]

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My Own Worst Nightmare

Dec 05, 2016

By Lucy Moore for EDRblog.org.  This post originally appeared on Lucy Moore’s blog in September 2016. We are reposting it with the Lucy Moore’s permission. […]

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The Power of Human-to-Human Connections

Nov 21, 2016

By Heather Gilmartin Adams for EDRblog.org. On Saturday, November 12, the first Utah Citizens Summit was held in downtown Salt Lake City. The event – a […]

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Noble Water Pursuits: How the Nobel Prize for Contract Theory Highlights Promising Movements in Utah Water Law

Nov 07, 2016

By Emily E. Lewis for EDRblog.org.  Complex situations call for creative solutions. Nowhere is this maxim more relevant than in addressing modern environmental problems. Finding […]

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Using Serious Games to Help Communities Make Progress on Serious Problems

Oct 24, 2016

By Danya Rumore for EDRblog.org Addressing environmental, natural resource, and public policy issues is serious business. Making progress on concerns such as water resources management and […]

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The Western Klamath Restoration Partnership Uses the Open Standards Process

Oct 06, 2016

This post originally appeared on the Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network’s blog in May 2016. We are reposting it with the permission of both the […]

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Be the Thermostat, not the Thermometer

Sep 25, 2016

By Heather Gilmartin Adams for EDRblog.org. On a break in a recent workshop, I reflected to my co-facilitator on the energy of the group during a […]

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Willard Spur: Resolving Conflict through Collaboration

Sep 12, 2016

This post by Jeff Ostermiller is reprinted with permissions from the Utah Department of Environmental Quality for EDRblog.org Sometimes it’s hard for me to keep […]

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So Little Time, So Much to Read: Conflict Management Blogs I Follow

Aug 29, 2016

By Michele Straube It’s class prep time in academia, and I’ve been looking through my “new topics” collection to update my Conflict Management lesson plans. […]

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Working with Elected Officials on Water Issues: What can Collaboration Bring to the Table?

Aug 15, 2016

By Jamie Holmstead for EDRblog.org.  A few weeks ago I had the privilege to attend the Environmental Dispute Resolution Program’s Dialogue on Collaboration seminar. This […]

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Collaboration Is a Better Way to Solve Our Most Difficult Problems

Aug 02, 2016

By Lauren Barros for EDRblog.org. Several years ago, I became a member of the Collaborative Family Lawyers of Utah.  It made sense to me to […]

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Citizen referendum? I vote “needs review”

Jul 18, 2016

Did the United Kingdom’s Brexit vote resolve anything? What does such a narrow margin of victory for the Leave (EU) position really mean?

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In the Footsteps of Many: Collaboration is Key to Preserving the National Park Experience

Jul 04, 2016

By Cory MacNulty for EDRblog.org. Just under 12 million people visited Utah’s 13 national park sites in 2015.  Park enthusiasts are flocking to these iconic […]

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“Endless pressure, endlessly applied:” Idaho’s Boulder-White Clouds Wilderness bill

Jun 20, 2016

It’s a special day when the President of the United States opens the door and invites you in. As Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) would later say to President Obama as we stood in a circle around the presidential seal on the Oval Office rug, “You know, Rick here has been working on this for 30 years.”

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EDR Year in Review (American Bar Association report)

Jun 06, 2016

By Andrew Ognibene The American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources (ABA-SEER) publishes an annual ADR Year in Review report, which includes notable […]

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Going fossil-free collaboratively

May 23, 2016

On May 2, the University of Utah made steps to join more than 30 colleges and universities that have pulled investments in fossil fuels since 2011.

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How dialogue can help small rural towns navigate planning challenges

May 09, 2016

Rockville is a small town located at the edge of Zion National Park that has a proud history of being a quiet, rural, agricultural community.  Like many other locations in the Intermountain West, Rockville is experiencing stresses on its infrastructure and way-of-life as tourism grows, specifically around Zion National Park. In part as a result of pressure from increased visitation, Rockville has faced a variety of challenges in recent years, such as issues associated with increased traffic, all-terrain vehicles (ATV) use on surrounding public lands, uncertain water supplies, and budgetary woes.

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Fireside Q & A with Professor Larry Susskind

Apr 25, 2016

by Natalie Watkins for EDRblog.org.  Larry Susskind is the Ford Professor of Urban and Environmental Planning at MIT, the founder of the Consensus Building Institute, […]

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What I Say vs. What You Hear: Flexing Your Style for Effective Communication

Apr 10, 2016

By Heather Adams for EDRblog.org It really gets my goat when colleagues do not read my emails. I write amazing emails – with tons of […]

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The Power of Collaborative Tinkering and Creative Problem Solving

Mar 28, 2016

By Danya Rumore for EDRblog.org Environmental and natural resource conflicts tend to be enormously complicated, emotionally and politically fraught, and seemingly intractable. Take, for example, issues […]

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Apply for Short Course on Effective Natural Resources Collaboration

Mar 14, 2016

By Michele Straube for EDRblog.org. If my sense of reality about the discourse around environmental and natural resources (ENR) issues was limited to what I […]

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EDR blog year in review: 2015

Feb 29, 2016

In 2015, we posted 27 blogs from 26 guest authors. Here is a summary, in case you didn’t get to read them all.

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Let Those Affected By Decisions Really Affect Those Decisions

Feb 16, 2016

By Larry Schooler for EDRblog.org There’s a lot that our government could do beyond giving people three minutes at a public-hearing podium. “This is America. […]

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Four principles of conflict resolution and collaboration

Jan 29, 2016

This month marks my 20th anniversary of being a mediator and facilitator! I have been pondering my career, assessing my experiences, and thinking about areas in which I want to grow and develop.

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Civity: The Other Keystone XL Story

Jan 19, 2016

By Palma Strand for EDRblog.org On November 6, 2015, President Obama endorsed a decision by the U.S. State Department that the Keystone XL Pipeline – […]

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Adaptive Governance: Collaboration and Then Some

Jan 04, 2016

by Robin Kundis Craig for EDRblog.org. Many environmental problems, especially if they are grounded in natural resource use, face the governance challenge of changing conditions. […]

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Keeping Sandpoint’s Quality of Life Strong through Collaboration

Dec 21, 2015

By Susan Drumheller for EDRblog.org. Sandpoint is a small community in the Idaho Panhandle which, like most communities across the United States, suffered economic setbacks […]

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Whiskey is for Drinking, Water is for … Mediation?

Dec 07, 2015

By Nathan S. Bracken, Smith Hartvigsen, PLLC, for EDRblog.org. Anyone who has ever attended a water law conference has almost certainly heard the phrase: “Whiskey is for […]

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Whiskey is for Drinking, Water is for … Mediation?

Dec 07, 2015

By Nathan S. Bracken, Smith Hartvigsen, PLLC, for EDRblog.org. Anyone who has ever attended a water law conference has almost certainly heard the phrase: “Whiskey is for […]

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A River Between Us: Lessons in Conflict Resolution

Nov 21, 2015

By Jen Reynolds for EDRblog.org.  A River Between Us is a new documentary by former Oregon Senator Jason Atkinson and filmmaker Jeff Martin. (Disclosure: the […]

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Through Bears Ears, Tribes Lead the Way for True Collaboration over Utah’s Public Lands

Nov 09, 2015

By Anna Brady EDRblog.org. “We are not stakeholders here. We are relatives to these lands, and we have something to say.” That’s what Eric Descheenie, […]

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So Little Time, So Many Expectations—Are they Manageable??

Oct 26, 2015

By Cherie Shanteau-Wheeler for EDRblog.org. For several years my role has been as a mediator, facilitator and/or attorney working in complex, multi-party environmental settings. I […]

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Ready or Not: Enhancing the Readiness of Communities to Prepare for and Manage Climate-Related Risks

Oct 12, 2015

By Danya Rumore for EDRblog.org. Climate change can no longer be avoided. Here in the mountain west, this will mean more frequent and more severe drought […]

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NEPA’s Fatal Flaw, an Impediment to Collaboration

Sep 28, 2015

By Kelsey Kahn for EDRblog.org.  Background Straddling the Oregon-California border, the Klamath Basin is home to the PacifiCorp-owned Klamath Hydroelectric Project; six power-generating dams along […]

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A is for A**hole

Sep 14, 2015

By Michele Straube for EDRBlog.org While preparing for a particularly difficult facilitation recently, I decided to consult my Conflict Resolution Reading List for inspiration. I […]

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Finding Joy in Complexity: Managing Sage-Grouse

Aug 31, 2015

By Lorien Belton for EDRblog.org The greater sage-grouse give us the opportunity to find solutions in the midst of complexity.  Background Greater sage-grouse, a chicken-sized […]

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Responding to Climate-Related Risks: Why Collaboration is Key

Aug 17, 2015

By Hannah Payne for EDRblog.org. As I write this blog, 13,000 Californians are evacuating their homes to escape wildfires, which are spreading with unprecedented speed […]

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Canyonlands Research Center Collaboration, a Student’s Perspective

Aug 03, 2015

By Alice de Anguera for EDRblog.org. The Canyonlands Research Center (CRC) in Southeast Utah is an excellent case study of collaboration between scientists and land […]

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Water Diplomacy… in the West?

Jul 17, 2015

By Danya Rumore for EDRblog.org Throughout the western US, drought conditions have made water a pressing issue on many people’s minds. While the water shortage […]

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Facilitation… or Something More?

Jul 06, 2015

By Patrick Field So what is different about facilitation by seasoned environmental conflict resolution (ECR) practitioners? After all, there are countless individuals, small organizations, and […]

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Let’s Be Honest: Doing Group Processes Right

Jun 22, 2015

By Renette Anderson for EDRBlog.org. It seems intuitive: Vocal opposition to an issue? Bring the sides together in a problem-solving group. It’s the best way […]

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Still Brokering Peace… Between People and Prairie Dogs

Jun 08, 2015

By Kevin Bunnel for EDRblog.com. It’s been over a year since my Prairie Dog EDR Blog highlighted the collaborative effort that helped develop the Federal […]

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Bridging a Utah Cultural Divide: What’s Environmental Education Got to do With it?

May 26, 2015

by Paul Parker for EDRblog.org.  With over 100 groups, involved in environmental education (EE) in Utah, why don’t we talk to each other about issues […]

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The Value of Iterative NEPA and Collaboration

May 11, 2015

By David Loomis & Jay Strand “Iterative and collaborative design are complementary, as at each increment various stakeholders are consulted. These methods do not map […]

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Cultivating a culture of dialogue rather than debate

Apr 27, 2015

By Danya Lee Rumore for EDR Blog.org. Earlier this month, I attended an MIT campus-wide debate. Watching the event play out, I was struck by the […]

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Utah program on collaboration

Apr 13, 2015

“We’re bureaucrats and we have tendencies,” but “when there’s a high level of collaboration, there’s trust and decisions can be made quickly and efficiently.” –ENR agency leaders

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Fracking in Populated Areas: The Most Literal Application of ‘Not in My Backyard’

Mar 31, 2015

By Kirstin Lindstrom for EDRblog.com. With a not-insignificant modicum of success, a recent sea change in public, industry and non-profit collaborative efforts on public land […]

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Fracking in Populated Areas: The Most Literal Application of ‘Not in My Backyard’

Mar 31, 2015

By Kirstin Lindstrom for EDRblog.com. With a not-insignificant modicum of success, a recent sea change in public, industry and non-profit collaborative efforts on public land […]

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Ingenious EDR Designs are Human Centered

Mar 16, 2015

“When you let people participate in the design process, you find that they often have ingenious ideas about what would really help them. And it’s […]

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College of Law Climbs Seven Spots in 2016 U.S. News Rankings; Rated 7th Nationally For Environmental Law

Mar 10, 2015

University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law also Improves in Bar Passage, Student Employment, and Student Quality March 10, 2015 — The University of […]

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First Annual Winter ULaw Clean Air Competition Results

Mar 06, 2015

Written for GreenTeamBlog.org. This February, the College of Law Green Team held the 1st Annual Winter ULaw Clean Air Competition to change commuting behavior to […]

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EDR: Three pieces of advice

Mar 02, 2015

“Starting complex negotiations without an assessment is like performing surgery without any diagnostic tests.” This is one of the jewels of knowledge in Howard S. Bellman and Susan L. Podziba’s article titled, Public Policy Mediation: Best Practices for a Sustainable World.

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Tracking EDR Progress: Looking to the Past to Guide the Future

Feb 17, 2015

By Micah Fisher and Tina Sablan for EDRblog.org. Environmental challenges seem to have become more difficult and polarized over the years – climate change is a case in […]

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Open Discussion is the Answer

Feb 02, 2015

By Jim Keyes for EDRblog.org. As human beings we have the ability to form thoughts and ideas in our mind. If not expressed, these notions […]

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Federal Lands Takeover Would Harm the Public

Jan 29, 2015

Press release dated January 27, 2015 – The Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources & the Environment at the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College […]

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Making Nice Isn’t for Everyone

Jan 20, 2015

By Lucy Moore for EDRblog.org. There are moments that stick with me and seem to gain significance as time goes by, as my life and […]

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Book review: Everything Is Workable: A Zen Approach to Conflict Resolution

Jan 05, 2015

Diane Musho Hamilton’s new book “Everything is Workable: A Zen Approach to Conflict Resolution” is deeply personal and practically useful. It gives readers the overwhelming feeling that everything truly is workable.

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Environmental Dispute Resolution Year in Review

Dec 22, 2014

By Michele Straube for EDRBlog.org. Since the initial EDR Blog post on March 24, 2014, we have posted 19 entries from 14 authors. Our last […]

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Collaboration is the Solution to Ozone Pollution

Dec 08, 2014

By John Robinson Jr. for EDR Blog.org. Late last month, EPA proposed a new national ozone air quality standard that would reduce the permissible ambient ozone […]

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A Better Building: Biomimicry Glass Working with Nature to Reduce Bird-Window Collisions

Dec 03, 2014

GreenTeamBlog.org. One of the most innovative and interesting features of the new College of Law building is its incorporation of a new bird-safe glass to […]

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Recycling at SJ Quinney: Where Does It Go and What You Should Know

Dec 02, 2014

GreenTeamBlog.org. S.J. Quinney College of Law is always looking for ways to improve and leave a lighter environmental foot print. One such practice embraced by […]

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Alternative Visions Fund: Looking Towards a More Sustainable Future

Dec 01, 2014

GreenTeamBlog.org. Thanks to a generous gift from the Alternative Visions Fund of the Chicago Community Trust, the new S. J. Quinney College of Law building […]

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The LEED Certification Process: Guiding Sustainable Design, Construction, and Practices for the New Building

Nov 25, 2014

GreenTeamBlog.org. I am sure you have heard the term LEED in relation to the new Law School, but do you really know what it means? […]

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Welcome to the Green Team Blog!

Nov 25, 2014

GreenTeamBlog.org. With the pursuit of LEED Platinum Certification, the new S.J. Quinney College of Law building is not only a world class learning institute – […]

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Please Take Responsibility for the Energy You Bring Into This Conversation

Nov 24, 2014

By Michele Straube for EDRblog.org Recent experiences have made me feel bi-polar about our capability to have respectful dialogue on environmental and natural resource issues. I […]

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Risks were Taken in Daggett County, Reaping Public Lands Rewards for All

Nov 10, 2014

By Michele Straube for EDRblog.org. A landmark agreement in Daggett County demonstrates the value of dialogue on public lands issues. On October 22, negotiators jointly […]

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Getting Past Politics on Climate Change

Oct 27, 2014

By Carri Hulet for EDRblog.org. The polarizing debates over climate change are often about the wrong questions. I go nuts when I hear people debating […]

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Seeking Middle Ground – or New Ground?

Oct 13, 2014

By Mike Lunn for EDR Blog.org. I appreciated the thoughtful and thought-provoking blog posted by Lucy Moore on May 28, 2014, where she discussed her […]

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The Wonderful Discomfort of Changing Your Mind

Sep 29, 2014

By Kirstin Lindstrom for EDR Blog.org. In reflecting on the most important things she learned in the seven years of writing her literary blog, brainpickings.org, […]

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Finally Sitting at the Grownups’ Table

Sep 15, 2014

By Jim Holtkamp for EDRblog.org. Last March I had the once-in-a-career experience of meeting with senior officials of the China National Peoples’ Congress (NCP) and […]

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Comfortable with Uncertainty: Collaboration in the Time of Forest Plan Revision

Sep 02, 2014

By Kathleen Bond for EDR Blog.org. What’s the key to involving stakeholders in the plan revision process? Be adaptive, flexible, and strive to provide a meaningful, […]

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Longson, Tipple Awarded Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Scholarships

Aug 22, 2014

Mitch Longson and Kate Tipple, both 3Ls, have been awarded scholarships from the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation for the 2014-2015 academic year. The scholarships […]

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Adler Named New College of Law Dean

Aug 21, 2014

Robert W. Adler, current Interim Dean of the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law and Distinguished Professor of Law, will continue as the […]

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Taking a Risk in the Public Lands Debate: Dialogue about What Really Matters

Aug 18, 2014

by Michele Straube for EDR Blog.org – Politicians on both sides of the public lands debate should be lauded for suggesting field trips. Such outings […]

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CDR Serves Up “A Good Bowl of Soup”

Jul 08, 2014

By Anna Elza Brady for EDR Blog.org “A good bowl of soup attracts chairs.” That was the old African proverb quoted by Jonathan Bartsch, Principal […]

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Preemptive “Mediation” at Energy Conference in Helena, Montana

Jun 23, 2014

By Britt Ide for EDR Blog.org Energy issues are complex and controversial.  They have many local, regional and national stakeholders with divergent viewpoints.  Building relationships early […]

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What We Don’t Know About Great Salt Lake…

Jun 11, 2014

By Rob Dubuc for EDR Blog.org One of my great privileges these last five years or so has been to serve as attorney for, and president […]

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There. I Said It.

May 28, 2014

by Lucy Moore for EDR Blog.org I recently posted on the Island Press blog (Field Notes) a rant about Cliven Bundy and the Nevada dust-up over […]

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Can Litigation Provide an Opportunity for Collaboration in Capitol Reef NP?

May 13, 2014

By Michele Straube for EDR Blog.org Cactus photo ©Dorde Woodruff We often think of the initiation of litigation as a shot across the bow. A thrown […]

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EDR and the Built Environment: Addressing Homelessness

Apr 29, 2014

by Shane Stroud for EDR Blog.org Think about the word “environmentalism.” What do you think of? If you’re like me, you think of protecting crystal-blue mountain streams […]

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Brokering Peace Between People and Prairie Dogs

Apr 14, 2014

by Kevin D. Bunnell for EDR Blog.org I am new to Cedar City and Iron County, but it didn’t take long to understand that “Utah prairie dog” […]

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The Mountain Accord: A Model of Environmental Conflict Resolution for the Wasatch Mountains?

Mar 28, 2014

By Mayor Ralph Becker for EDR Blog.org Our urban communities adjacent to the Central Wasatch Mountains have an intimate and interdependent relationship with the mountains.  […]

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Are We Wired to Cooperate?

Mar 28, 2014

By Michele Straube for EDR Blog.org Maybe, maybe not … but if not, our brains are easily re-wired to cooperate. I recently participated in a panel […]

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Collaboration and Partnerships in Public Land Management

Mar 25, 2014

By Cheryl Probert  for EDR Blog.org Partnerships and collaboration seem to be all the rage in public land management.  But do the feds truly understand what collaboration […]

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Welcome to the EDR Blog

Mar 24, 2014

By Kirstin Lindstrom  for EDR Blog.org Welcome to the EDR Blog, hosted by the University of Utah’s Environmental Dispute Resolution Program (EDRP). Established in 2012 as […]

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Reitze Air Pollution Op-Ed Appears in SL Trib

Feb 12, 2014

An op-ed by Arnold Reitze, Professor of Law at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, appeared in The Salt Lake Tribune on […]

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Davies Appointed to State Energy Task Force

Jan 09, 2014

Governor Gary Herbert has appointed Professor Lincoln Davies to a state energy task force.  The task force, called the Energy Team, is a part of […]

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Adler Defends Role of Independent Federal Judiciary in Tribune Op-Ed

Dec 24, 2013

In a December 24 Salt Lake Tribune op-ed, Bob Adler, Interim Dean of the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, stressed the importance […]

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National Parks Traveler praises Professor Robert Keiter’s book

Oct 23, 2013

Professor Robert Keiter’s new book, “To Conserve Unimpaired:  The Evolution of the National Park Idea,” earned a rave review on the National Parks Traveler website.

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Perpetual Conservation Easements Conference

Oct 18, 2013

The public is investing billions of dollars in conservation easements, which now protect more than 40 million acres throughout the United States. But uncertainties in […]

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Fall 2012 to Spring 2013 Year in Review

Oct 18, 2013

For the Stegner Center, the 2012-2013 academic year was both busy and rewarding. As noted in this newsletter, the College of Law received a $4.5 […]

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Katrina Kuh Joins Stegner Center as 9th Annual Young Scholar

Oct 18, 2013

Katrina Kuh, an Associate Professor of Law at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, joined the Wallace Stegner Center as the […]

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Jason Steiert Presents Paper at Statewide Water Conference

Oct 18, 2013

While a 2L at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, Jason Steiert was invited to present his paper at the American Water […]

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Brett Wiersum Awarded Second Place in the Energy and Public Lands Student Writing Competition

Oct 18, 2013

While a 3L at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, Brett Wiersum took second place in the Energy and Public Lands Student […]

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Douglas Naftz Awarded 3rd Place in the 2013 Smith-Babcock-Williams Writing Competition

Oct 18, 2013

A paper 3L Douglas Naftz wrote for Professor Robin Craig’s Water Law course was recently awarded third place in the Smith-Babock-Williams Writing Competition. In the […]

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Energy Law Moot Court Team Competes Admirably at National Competition

Oct 18, 2013

The University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law’s Energy Law Moot Court Team of Kimberly Barnes, David Mooers-Putzer, and Tera Woods competed admirably at […]

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Wallace Stegner Center team offers strong performance at Pace Environmental Law moot court competition

Oct 18, 2013

The University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law’s National Environmental Law moot court team—Douglas Crapo, Sarah Carlquist, and Megan McKay—very ably and professionally represented the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law at the national competition at Pace Law School in White Plains, New York.

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Faculty Updates

Oct 18, 2013

Bob Adler is currently serving a two-year term as Interim Dean for the S.J. Quinney College of Law. Dean Adler is overseeing the College’s day-to-day […]

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Your Support is Appreciated

Oct 17, 2013

The Wallace Stegner Center depends on donors to support our student activities, scholarships and other programs, including the annual symposium, evening lectures, and green bag […]

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S. J. Quinney College of Law Green Building Fund Donors 2012 to 2013 Fiscal Year

Oct 16, 2013

 July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013 Benefactors$1,000,000 to $7,499,999 Alternative Visions Fund of the Chicago Community Trust Founder’s Club$50,000 to 499,999 Randy Dryer  Dean’s […]

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Stegner Center Donors 2012 to 2013 Fiscal Year

Oct 16, 2013

 July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013   University Patrons $500,000 to $999,999 Alternative Visions Fund of the Chicago Community Trust  Dean’s Counsel$25,000 to $49,999 R. […]

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Stegner Center 2013-2014 Events

Oct 16, 2013

The Stegner Center has a robust lineup of programs for the 2013-2014 academic year.  The Center’s nineteenth annual symposium, to be held on March 27 […]

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College of Law Students Awarded RMMLF Scholarships

Oct 16, 2013

This year, two students from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney of Law—Kevin Funkhouser and Douglas Naftz—were awarded Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation scholarships. In […]

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2L Scott Hutchins Awarded David C. Williams Fellowship

Oct 16, 2013

Scott Hutchins, a 2L at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, recently received a David C. Williams Fellowship. The David C. Williams […]

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Stegner Center Student Scholarship Recipients

Oct 16, 2013

The Wallace Stegner Center would like to congratulate our student scholarship recipients for the 2013-2014 academic year. The Stegner Center oversees a rich array of […]

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Environmental Law Clinic Update

Oct 16, 2013

The environmental clinic continues to provide valuable services to the community and hands-on-learning opportunities for students.  Supervised by Clinical Associate Professor Jamie Pleune,  the Utah […]

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Environmental Dispute Resolution Program Update

Oct 16, 2013

The Stegner Center’s Environmental Dispute Resolution Program (EDRP) was established in February 2012 with generous funding from the Alternative Visions Fund, a fund of the […]

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Stegner Center faculty publish books on national parks and water law

Oct 16, 2013

Stegner Center Director and Professor Robert Keiter’s book “To Conserve Unimpaired: The Evolution of the National Park Idea” was published this year. Dean Robert Adler and Professor Robin Craig also published books.

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Robert Adler Appointed Interim Dean at College of Law

Oct 16, 2013

Robert Adler was appointed Interim Dean of the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law in February 2013, with his appointment being effective on […]

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Stegner Center 19th Annual Symposium on “National Parks: Past, Present and Future”

Oct 16, 2013

The Wallace Stegner Center’s 19th annual symposium will address the topic of “National Parks: Past, Present, and Future.” The symposium will be held on Thursday […]

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College of Law Green Team Encourages Sustainability Programs in New Building

Oct 16, 2013

Buildings are more than edifices of brick and mortar. They’re also physical manifestations of our priorities as a society. With the pursuit of LEED Platinum […]

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Alternative Visions Fund Makes $4.5 Million Gift for Sustainability Features in New College of Law Building

Oct 16, 2013

The Alternative Visions Fund of the Chicago Community Trust has provided a $4.5 million gift to the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, […]

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Director’s Letter – Fall 2013

Oct 16, 2013

On the eve of its 20th anniversary, the Wallace Stegner Center continues to extend its reach through its faculty, students, and supporters who have enabled […]

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Craig interviewed by Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Florida-Georgia water rights dispute

Oct 02, 2013

Professor Robin Craig was interviewed for an Oct. 2 story in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about the latest chapter in a long-standing dispute between the states of Florida and Georgia over water rights in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River basin.

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Craig’s blog criticizing Texas court’s private water rights definition leads to BNA interview

Sep 01, 2013

A new posting on the Environmental Law Prof Blog by Professor Robin Craig focuses on a decision by the Texas Court of Appeals confirming that “implementation of the Edward Aquifer Act resulted in a constitutional ‘taking’ of landowners’ property rights in groundwater.”

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College of Law Green Team Encourages Sustainability Programs in New Building

Aug 27, 2013

Buildings are more than edifices of brick and mortar. They’re also physical manifestations of our priorities as a society. With the pursuit of LEED Platinum […]

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Craig serves as first Vermont summer distinguished environmental law visitor

Jul 22, 2013

From June 17-28, 2013, Robin Craig, professor of law at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, was Vermont Law School’s first summer distinguished environmental law visitor.

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RMMLF awards Keiter grant for federal-state land exchange research

Jul 08, 2013

On July 2, Professor Robert Keiter was awarded a $5,000 grant from the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation. The grant will support research regarding the legal requirements applicable to federal-state land exchanges, identifying the existing barriers to exchanges, and setting the stage for a comprehensive analysis of the legal reforms needed to facilitate large federal-state exchanges.

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Craig authors blogs for World Oceans Day, June 8

Jun 07, 2013

Professor Robin Craig has authored two blogs for World Oceans Day on June 8.

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Keiter to read from new national parks book June 6 at 15th Street Gallery

May 13, 2013

Professor Robert Keiter will read from and sign copies of his new book, “To Conserve Unimpaired: The Evolution of the National Park Idea,” on June 6 at 7 p.m. at the 15th Street Gallery (1519 S. 1500 E.) in Salt Lake City. The reading will be preceded by a 6 p.m. reception and is free and open to the public.

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Alternative Visions Fund Makes $4.5 Million Gift for Sustainability Features in New College of Law Building

May 06, 2013

As the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law prepares to break ground on its new home this June, the Alternative Visions Fund of […]

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Stegner Symposium Draws Attention from Media

Apr 25, 2013

The 18th Annual Stegner Symposium, focused on Religion, Faith, and the Environment, attracted a great deal of media attention, including multiple articles in The Salt […]

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SL Trib Quotes Adler on Failed Utah-Nevada Water Deal

Apr 05, 2013

On April 5, The Salt Lake Tribune quoted Robert Adler, Professor of Law at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, on Utah’s […]

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3L Wiersum Wins Award for Paper on Ocean Energy Management

Mar 26, 2013

Brett Wiersum, a 3L at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, has taken second place in the Energy and Public Lands Student […]

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Feb. 15 Conference Focuses on Perpetual Conservation Easements

Feb 08, 2013

Conservation easements now protect more than 18 million acres of land throughout the United States.  But uncertainties in the law and abusive practices threaten to […]

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Tribune quotes Craig on public trust doctrine

Jan 28, 2013

In a Salt Lake Tribune article, Craig explains that the public trust doctrine is a long-established concept that maintains certain natural resources, including lakes, shorelines, and riverbeds remain public domain because of the important role they play in commerce.

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Straube Op-Ed Published in SL Tribune

Jan 22, 2013

Michele Straube, Director of the Environmental Dispute Resolution Program at the College of Law’s Wallace Stegner Center, published a Salt Lake Tribune op-ed on January […]

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Photo Gallery: Escalante River Watershed Partnership Field Trip

Nov 07, 2012

Photos from the Escalante River Watershed Partnership field trip, part of the Wallace Stegner Center’s Environmental Dispute Resolution Program Photos by Barbara Blundell barbarabphotography. com

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Professor Robin Craig selected as Vermont Law School distinguished environmental scholar

Nov 02, 2012

Professor Robin Craig has been selected as one of Vermont Law School’s four Distinguished Environmental Scholars for Summer 2013. From July 14-27, she will serve as the sustainable agriculture and food systems scholar, working with Vermont’s new Agriculture and Food Systems Center.

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Your Donation Makes a Difference

Nov 01, 2012

The Wallace Stegner Center depends on donors to support our student activities, scholarships and other programs, including the annual symposium, evening lectures, and green bag […]

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Donors 2011-2012

Nov 01, 2012

University Associates$100,000 to $700,000Alternative Visions Fund Founders Club$50,000 to $99,999S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney Foundation Dean’s Counsel$25,000 to $49,999R. Harold Burton FoundationMurray and Barbara Warnock in […]

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Environmental Law Clinic Update

Nov 01, 2012

The current version of our environmental clinic, founded by Robert Adler, the James I. Farr Chair and Professor of Law, is now in its fourth […]

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Wallace Stegner Center student team participates in Pace Environmental Law moot court competition

Nov 01, 2012

The University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law’s National Environmental Law Moot Court Team—Thad Garlick, Kurt Gasser, and Megan McKay—very ably and professionally represented the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law at the national competition at Pace Law School in White Plains, New York.

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College of Law Students Awarded RMMLF Scholarships

Nov 01, 2012

This year, two students from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney of Law—Maureen Toomey Armos and Sarah Jan Carlquist—were awarded Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation […]

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Student Scholarship Recipients

Nov 01, 2012

The Wallace Stegner Center would like to congratulate our student scholarship recipients for the 2012-2013 academic year. The Stegner Center oversees a rich array of […]

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Davies Awarded McCloy Fellowship to Study Energy Policy in Germany

Nov 01, 2012

Lincoln Davies, Associate Professor of Law at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, was recently awarded the prestigious McCloy Fellowship in Environmental […]

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Keiter elected VP and president-elect of Mineral Law Foundation

Nov 01, 2012

Professor Robert Keiter was elected vice president and president-elect of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (RMMLF) at the Foundation’s annual trustee meeting in Newport Beach, California on July 18, 2012.

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Robin Kundis Craig joins College of Law faculty and is named Leary professor

Nov 01, 2012

After visiting at the S.J. Quinney College of Law during the spring semester of 2012, environmental law scholar Robin Kundis Craig has joined the faculty as a tenured professor of law.

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Faculty Updates

Nov 01, 2012

Bob Adler published an article in the Florida Law Review entitled Balancing Compassion and Risk in Climate Adaptation: U.S. Water, Drought and Agricultural Law, and […]

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Environmental Dispute Resolution Program Update

Nov 01, 2012

The Stegner Center’s Environmental Dispute Resolution Program (EDRP) was established in February 2012 with generous funding from Alternative Visions Fund, a fund of the Chicago […]

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Alumni John Ruple Is Stegner Center’s First Research Associate

Nov 01, 2012

John Ruple (2004) joined the Wallace Stegner Center at the College of Law as our first Research Associate in April 2012. He is currently collaborating […]

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Chinese Water Law Scholar Visits College of Law

Nov 01, 2012

TAO Lei, Deputy Director and Assistant Professor of the Research Institute of Environment and Resources Law at Hohai University in Nanjing, China, is serving as […]

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Interior Secretary Selects Environmental Dispute Resolution Program’s Project Selected as One of America’s Great Outdoors Rivers

Nov 01, 2012

On May 22, 2012, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar identified the Escalante River Watershed Partnership as one of America’s Great Outdoors Rivers.  One project […]

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Fall 2011 to Spring 2012 Year in Review

Nov 01, 2012

For the Stegner Center, the 2011-2012 academic year was both busy and rewarding. The Stegner Center launched its Environmental Dispute Resolution Program (EDRP) in 2012, […]

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Noah Hall Joins Stegner Center as 8th Annual Young Scholar

Nov 01, 2012

Noah Hall, a Professor of Law at Wayne State University Law School and a frequent visiting professor at the University of Michigan Law School, will […]

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Stegner Center 2012-2013 Events

Nov 01, 2012

The Stegner Center has a robust lineup of programs for the 2012-2013 academic year.  The Center’s eighteenth annual symposium, to be held on April 12-13, […]

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Director’s Letter – Fall 2012

Nov 01, 2012

With the passage of another year, the Stegner Center continues on its growth trajectory, both in terms of new people and programs. As reflected in […]

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Tasch Discusses Sustainable Economics, Sustainable Agriculture Nov. 7

Nov 01, 2012

On Wednesday, November 7, the Wallace Stegner Center will present a lecture and book signing by Woody Tasch, founder and chairman of Slow Money, titled […]

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Straube Invited to Speak at AALS and Publishes Article on Environmental Dispute Resolution in Utah

Oct 01, 2012

On January 5, 2013, Michele Straube, Director of the Wallace Stegner Center’s Environmental Dispute Resolution (EDR) Program, will speak about Environmental Dispute Resolution in Utah […]

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National Geo Photographer Attracts SRO Crowd for Antelope Lecture

Sep 19, 2012

On September 12, National Geographic photographic Joe Riis drew a full house of approximately 265 to the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law’s […]

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Chinese Water Law Scholar Visits College of Law for 2012-13 Academic Year

Aug 22, 2012

TAO Lei, Deputy Director and Assistant Professor of the Research Institute of Environment and Resources Law at Hohai University in Nanjing, China, will be a […]

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Keiter elected VP and president-elect of Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation

Aug 20, 2012

Professor Robert Keiter was elected vice president and president-elect of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (RMMLF) at the organization’s annual meeting held at the Foundation’s annual trustee meeting in Newport Beach, California, on July 18, 2012.

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Stegner Symposium Addresses the Legacy of Rachel Carson, March 9-10

Mar 01, 2012

Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring is considered one of the foundational texts of the modern environmental movement.  The 1962 book exposed the dangers that pesticides and […]

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Park Service Anthropologist to Discuss American Indians and the Constructed ‘Wilderness’ of Yellowstone, Feb. 14

Feb 06, 2012

On February 14, Rosemary Sucec, a cultural anthroploogist with the National Park Service, will deliver a Green Bag lecture titled “American Indians and the Constructed […]

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College of Law Co-Hosts Author Richard Louv as Part of Feb. 16 Sustainability Symposium

Jan 30, 2012

On February 16, the University of Utah will host a “Symposium for Community Engagement”, titled Exuberant Sustainability.  As part of that symposium, the S.J. Quinney […]

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College of Law Welcomes Former Deputy Interior Secretary Lynn Scarlett, Nov. 3

Oct 20, 2011

On Thursday, November 3, Lynn Scarlett, former Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer of the U.S. Department of the Interior, will visit the University of […]

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College of Law Awarded $762,000 Grant to Support Environmental ADR Program at Stegner Center

Oct 13, 2011

The Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources and the Environment is one of the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law’s most esteemed centers, […]

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Scholarship Recipients

Oct 13, 2011

The Wallace Stegner Center would like to congratulate our scholarship recipients for the 2011-2012 academic year. The Stegner Center provides a rich array of scholarships, […]

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College of Law Students Awarded RMMLF Scholarships

Oct 12, 2011

This year, two students from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney of Law—Kass Wallin and David Hatch—were awarded Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation scholarships worth […]

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JLREL Changes Name to Utah Environmental Law Review

Oct 11, 2011

The Journal of Land, Resources & Environmental Law (JLREL) has changed its name to the Utah Environmental Law Review (UELR). According to the UELR editorial […]

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Quinney’s Pace Moot Court Team Advances to National Quarter finals

Oct 10, 2011

The University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law’s team of Cameron Johnson, Liz Silvestrini, and Laura Tanner advanced to the quarterfinals of the Pace […]

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College of Law Awarded $762,000 Grant to Support Environmental ADR Program at Stegner Center

Oct 03, 2011

September 27, 2011—The Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources and the Environment is one of the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law’s most […]

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Director’s Letter – Fall 2011

Sep 15, 2011

As we all know, the winds of change are constantly afoot, and that well worn maxim holds true for the Stegner Center too. With this […]

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Wildermuth Appointed Associate VP for Faculty at U

Sep 15, 2011

Amy J. Wildermuth, Professor of Law at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, has been appointed associate vice president for faculty at […]

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Wallace Stegner Center events 2011-2012

Sep 15, 2011

The Wallace Stegner Center has a robust lineup of programs for the 2011-2012 academic year. Now in its seventeenth year, our annual symposium is titled “Silent Spring at 50: The Legacy of Rachel Carson.” The symposium will explore three aspects of Carson’s legacy: The celebration and protection of the marine world, the regulation of toxic chemicals, and Carson’s ongoing influence on the environmental movement and on women as environmentalists and scientists.

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Robin Craig joins the College of Law as a visiting faculty member

Sep 14, 2011

Robin Craig from Florida State University will join the College of Law during the Spring 2012 semester as a visiting faculty member.

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Reflections on a career in retirement from Bill Lockhart

Sep 14, 2011

[Preface:  This was to be a “reflection” on my 47 years at the College of Law. The following may qualify by “reflecting” the driving concerns […]

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Donor Report 2010-2011

Sep 14, 2011

At the Wallace Stegner Center, we deeply appreciate the generosity of our friends and supporters. Your contributions make it possible for us to offer our […]

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Appeal for Donations

Sep 14, 2011

The Wallace Stegner Center depends on donors to support our student activities and scholarships and our yearly programs, including the annual symposium, evening lecture series, […]

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Lesley McAllister Joins Stegner Center as 7th Annual Young Scholar

Sep 14, 2011

Lesley McAllister, a Professor of Law at the University of San Diego School of Law and Associate Adjunct Professor at the UC San Diego School […]

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Keiter, Lindstrom present paper at Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute

Sep 14, 2011

On July 21, Professor Robert Keiter and Kirstin Lindstrom, a 2011 Utah Law graduate, presented a paper as part of a panel discussion at the 57th annual Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute in Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

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Faculty Update

Sep 14, 2011

Bob Adler and co-authors David Driesen and Kirsten Engel published the second edition of Environmental Law: A Conceptual and Pragmatic Approach (2011). Adler published three […]

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Alumni Jamie Pleune Joins College of Law Faculty as Associate Clinical Professor

Sep 12, 2011

Jamie Pleune (Class of 2007) has joined the faculty of the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law as an Associate Clinical Professor and […]

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Stegner Symposium to Consider Ecosystems and Wildlife Management

Feb 24, 2011

On March 11 and 12, the Sixteenth Annual Stegner Symposium, “Wildlife Conservation in the 21st Century,” will ask the important question, “How can we best […]

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Professor Robert Keiter invited to White House Conference on America’s Great Outdoors

Apr 21, 2010

On April 16, Professor Robert Keiter was an invited guest at a White House Conference on America’s Great Outdoors.

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Stegner Center to Present Naturalist, Author George Schaller at City Library

Feb 01, 2010

On February 23, George Schaller, one of the world’s most famous conservation biologists, will appear in Salt Lake City to discuss his research and efforts […]

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Pax Natura Foundation Will Honor Stegner Center, February 5

Jan 19, 2010

On Friday, February 5, 2010, the Pax Natura Foundation will honor Robert Keiter and Jan Nystrom of the Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources and […]

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College of Law to Participate in First-Ever National Pro Bono Celebration, Oct. 25-30

Oct 15, 2009

The S.J. Quinney College of Law will participate in the inaugural National Pro Bono Celebration, October 25-30, 2009. During the week, the Pro Bono Initiative, […]

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Stegner Center Presents Award-Winning Author Alexandra Fuller October 7

Sep 17, 2009

On Wednesday, October 7, the Wallace Stegner Center at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law will sponsor a reading and book signing […]

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Authors, Public Officials, Historians and Artists to Explore the 'Life and Legacy' of Wallace Stegner at March 6-7 Symposium

Mar 04, 2009

Wallace Stegner, historian, novelist, essayist, conservationist, and educator, is widely known as the “Dean of Western Writers.” On March 6-7, a distinguished group of elected […]

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Poet and Author Wendell Berry to Read in SLC, March 5

Feb 18, 2009

On Thursday, March 5, poet, farmer, novelist, and essayist Wendell Berry will appear at a reception and book signing and read from his work in […]

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Kim Connolly Visits College of Law as Stegner Center Young Scholar

Oct 12, 2008

by John Blodgett Associate Professor Kim Diana Connolly from the University of South Carolina School of Law joins the Wallace Stegner Center as a Stegner […]

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Alan Weisman Speaks at Stegner Center

Oct 05, 2008

“Alan Weisman has produced, if not a bible, at least a Book of Revelation.” 
—Newsweek On Tuesday, September 30, Alan Weisman, New York Times bestselling […]

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A profile on Professor Bill Lockhart

Sep 22, 2008

William J. Lockhart, inevitably known among earlier students as “Wild Bill,” spent his pre-adolescent childhood exploring nature in his hometown of Los Altos, California, then a rural outpost on the southern end of the San Francisco Peninsula.

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Law School Hosts Environmental Leaders from the Middle East

Aug 24, 2008

By Marty Stolz Nature doesn’t know borders.  Smog and other pollution problems seep onto all sides of man-made borders, whether they be cities, counties, states […]

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Professor Robert Keiter receives natural resources law teaching award

Aug 05, 2008

The Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation has named Professor Robert B. Keiter a 2008 Clyde O. Martz Award recipient.

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University of Utah recognizes Professor Robert Keiter

Apr 06, 2008

The University of Utah’s Board of Trustees recently bestowed the honorary title of Distinguished Professor upon Professor Robert B. Keiter. The title recognizes Keiter’s lifetime achievement in the field of natural resources and environmental law. 

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Stegner Symposium to Focus on Alternative Energy Solutions to Climate Change

Feb 24, 2008

by John Blodgett “Alternative Energy: Seeking Climate Change Solutions,” the Wallace Stegner Center’s Thirteenth Annual Symposium, will be held Friday and Saturday, March 7-8, 2008, […]

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