We’re happy to announce that Heather Schlegel and Jim Breaux were two of the three winners of the 2013 APF Student Recognition Program in the category of Individual Graduate Students. We resumed our excellent track record in winning this category after finishing third last year. We had a great set of entries this year and it was difficult to choose who would represent us in the competition, which involves 26 universities in 21 countries. Program Coordinator Dr. Peter Bishop exclaimed: “Another great year for UH!”
Heather’s project was “The Human Problem.” She observed that, “when I sat down to think about the big questions or problems in the world I could not find a big problem worthy of attention. So I went on a quick search to find what other people thought were the big burning questions of our age. Problems like pollution, limited resources, various crises, global warming and rising population. These are truly problems we must face. But why were they problems in the first place. How did they become problems?” She noted that at the time of writing, her “usual optimism was absent,” and decided to try “Appreciative Inquiry.” The paper emerged and “needless to say, she is no hooked on the Appreciative Inquiry method.
Jim’s project was “Weather-Related Disaster Recovery.” The topic of strategic recovery from disaster actually inspired him to undertake the MS in Foresight. He believes that foresight can be applied around the time of disruption to set the direction of a community, individual, or organization on the path to a preferred future; preferably before, but certainly after. He observed that “this piece was a lot of fun to put together and came together easily as I populated the framework. I really appreciate the opportunity to compete for the APF student recognition award and am honored to be selected.”
I think I speak for all of us in the Houston foresight community in thinking Heather and Jim for jobs well done! Andy Hines
