2025

Clutch City Sports

The 2025 HERE program topic is "Clutch City Sports". Despite losing the first two games of the 1994 NBA playoffs, the Houston Rockets bounced back to advance to the NBA finals and win their first championship. The win rebranded Houston from "Choke City" to "Clutch City", alluding to the team's perseverance under pressure. Clutch City is known for more than just basketball though. Houston boasts the world's largest indoor rodeo, a two-time World Series champion MLB team, the most decorated gymnast in history, and a host stadium for seven 2026 FIFA World Cup matches. The city has much to offer as a sports destination, capitalizing on its large stadiums and diverse, international population. However, it also contends with the challenges of aging facilities, unappealing urban sprawl, changes in long-term sports authority leadership, and dangers of sports-related injuries. In small groups led by a faculty mentor, students will develop a research proposal for a topic or problem related to the overarching program theme. Potential topics include sports medicine, economic and cultural impacts, infrastructure and stadium design, ethics and diplomacy, technological innovations, and more.

Faculty Mentors: Gulin Aksu, Dan Burleson, Marc Hanke, Kelly Hopkins, Nick Jacobsen, Rita Sharp, Marina Trninic, Lesli Vollrath

2024

Space City Houston

Houston has a rich legacy of space exploration, research, and industry. Decades after the establishment of the Manned Spacecraft Center (now Johnson Space Center), Houston continues to embrace its status as "Space City". However, space exploration has significantly transformed since the late 20th century. With new technological advances, increasing privatization and commercialization, and growing concerns about sustainability and orbital debris, how will Houston's relationship with the space industry evolve? In small groups led by a faculty mentor, students will develop a research proposal for a topic or problem related to the overarching program theme. Potential topics include diplomacy and ethics, advancements in exploration, commercialization and privatization, sustainability, exploration narratives and science communication, sociocultural impacts, and more.

Faculty Mentors: Gulin Aksu, Dan Burleson, Marc Hanke, Kelly Hopkins, Nick Jacobsen, Rita Sharp, Marina Trninic, Lesli Vollrath

2023

Food Systems: Culture, Security, and Sustainability

The 2023 HERE program focused on the topic Food Systems: Culture, Security & Sustainability. Houston’s diverse food scene has gained increasing national recognition, establishing the city as a culinary hotspot. However, among supply chain issues and inflation, many questions remain on how Houston will manage issues such as food scarcity and sustainable infrastructures. In small groups led by a faculty mentor, students developed a research proposal related to a contemporary topic or problem, with themes ranging from diversity and culture, sustainability, food industries, food insecurity and more.

Faculty Mentors: Christiana Chang, Marc Hanke, Kelly Hopkins, Olivia Johnson, Abdul Khan, Marsha Kowal, Marina Trninic, Lesli Vollrath

2022

Energy: Where Does Houston Go from Here?

2022's theme was Energy: Where Does Houston Go From Here? Houston has often been referred to as "The Energy Capital of the World." However, as it faces pressures to diversify its economy, confront global warming, develop alternative fuels, reduce pollution and general discussions about power in light of the Texas grid failure in February 2021, many questions remain about Houston's relationship to energy at the beginning of the 21st century. In this context, HERE students explored the challenges and opportunities associated with the rapid changes affecting our city. In small groups led by a faculty mentor, students developed research proposals related to a contemporary problem, with topics ranging from energy sustainability, poor infrastructure, alternative fuels, environmental justice and more.

Faculty Mentors: Dan Burleson, Charles Becker, Christiana Chang, Marc Hanke, Kelly Hopkins, Olivia Johnson, Rita Sirrieh, Marina Trninic

2021

Inequality

For the 2021 program, students examined various aspects of inequality in Houston. According to Rice University sociologist Stephen Klineberg (2020), "Houston is at the forefront of the major changes that are redefining the United States in the twenty-first century - the growing inequalities in a knowledge-based economy, the epic demographic transition, and the new importance of quality of place." In this context, HERE students explored the challenges and opportunities associated with the rapid changes affecting our city. In small groups led by a faculty mentor, students developed research proposals related to a contemporary problem, with topics ranging from income disparity, poor infrastructure, lack of access to affordable healthcare, racial discrimination, and more. 

Faculty Mentors: Charles Becker, Christiana Chang, Marc Hanke, Kelly Hopkins, Stacey Louie, Monique Mills, Rita Sirrieh, Lesli Vollrath

2020

Urbanization

For the 2020 program, students examined various aspects of urbanization, including infrastructure, policy, demographic patterns, emergency preparedness, and the long-term impacts on affected communities. These topics will contribute to a larger conversation on how the Houston metropolitan area might better address issues related to urbanization.

Faculty Mentors: Marc Hanke, Rita Sirrieh, Lesli Vollrath, Kelly Hopkins, Charles Becker, Christiana Chang, Amin Kiaghadi