Texas Tech University

Center for Coupled Urban & Rural Environmental Sustainability

 

 
 

About CURES

CURES is addressing the problems of underserved communities in rural and small urban areas through a multidisciplinary approach that unites sciences, engineering, social sciences, and humanities.

Lubbock has long served as the economic, educational, and healthcare hub for rural communities in the South Plains region of the Texas Panhandle. Our location gives Texas Tech researchers a unique perspective on the ways secondary or mid-sized cities are connected culturally, economically, and environmentally to our rural neighbors.

Most of the population now lives in secondary, or mid-sized, cities. It is vital that we develop innovative ways to identify and address challenges faced by both small urban and rural areas. Texas Tech researchers are working to advance knowledge and find solutions in areas such as:

  • Climate change
  • Urbanization and land use change
  • Social inequalities
  • Missing or aging infrastructure and services
  • Reliance on non-renewable energy resources
  • Techno-economic development in cities
  • Public health of aging and declining population
  • Change of the underlying economic model

Leadership

Danny D. Reible, PhD, PE, BCEE, FNAI, NAE

danny reibleDr. Danny D. Reible is the Donovan Maddox Distinguished Engineering Chair and Horn Distinguished Professor at Texas Tech University. Dr. Reible holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology, and is a Board Certified Environmental Engineer, a Professional Engineer (Louisiana), a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors and in 2005 was elected to the National Academy of Engineering. He has more than 200 publications and has attracted more than $40 million in research funding. His research is focused on the fate, transport, and management of contaminants in the environment and the sustainable management of water resources.