Events

Four people smile while seated on a stage. A man on the far right holds a mic while interacting with the audience.

Engaging across the state

Communicating information to broad audiences across the state in an accessible manner stimulates public discourse and informs public dialogue and policy. The McClure Center’s public engagement includes Policy Pub, formal events in the State Capitol and presentations to governments, businesses, community groups and others. Many of our events have strong connections with democracy, law, civics and civil discourse.

Public dialogue can take place in many formats and venues. The McClure Center hosts events that are intentionally large or intimate, formal or informal.

Since 2017, the McClure Center has partnered with the University of Idaho Rangeland Center to co-host the annual Rangeland Fall Forum. We frequently partner with the University of Idaho College of Law and Boise State University’s Andrus Center for Public Policy.

Events calendar

Policy Pub

Public policy dialogue takes place in the halls of government buildings and in gathering places for communities. Public houses or pubs have played an important role in addressing community questions, fostering relationships and even building nations.

In 2018, the McClure Center launched an informal event series aimed at bringing policy experts to community hubs, Policy Pub. The first Policy Pub was inspired by celebrations to mark 100 years of women’s suffrage. Policy Pub: Women in Policy brought to the stage three Idaho legislators from both parties to talk about being a policy leader and how women may bring unique perspectives to policy construction.

Over the years, Policy Pub events have been held across the state, at various Idaho public houses. Community members spend an hour with local and state policy leaders in a moderated discussion with the McClure Center director.

Each year, Policy Pub events facilitate important community conversations that connect those who make, administer and analyze policy and local communities. Held around the state, topics included:

  • America 250
  • The bench: Idaho’s judiciary
  • Fire in the West
  • Foreign policy and Idaho
  • Future of food
  • Housing
  • Invasives
  • Local government
  • Public lands
  • Waste
  • Water
  • Women in policy

Policy Pub: The Press — Nov. 18, 2026 5 p.m.

Man speaking at a table with microphones and photographers crowd a hearing room.

The press is often known as the fourth branch of government and a form of checks and balances for United States policy construction. Idaho politics and policy reporters from television and print will take the hot seat for the University of Idaho McClure Center’s Policy Pub Speaker Series on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 5-6 p.m. at Pengilly’s, 513 W. Main St., Boise.

Policy Pub: The Press will feature panelists who cover local and state government across the Gem State. These experts will share perspectives on the press's role in democracy and their experiences covering politics and policy making in Idaho. A brief discussion will be followed by an interactive question-and-answer session with the audience.

Panelists include Melissa Davlin, Producer and Host of Idaho Public Television's Idaho Reports; Christina Lords, Editor-in-Chief, Idaho Capital Sun; and Joe Parris, Public Information Officer, Office of the Idaho Secretary of State and former Chief Political Reporter at KTVB News Group. McClure Center Director Katherine Himes will moderate the discussion.

Policy Pub: The Press is a special opportunity for Idahoans to engage directly with those who report on politics and policy across our state. We are pulling the curtain back on the cameras and notebooks — so to speak — to learn from journalists who have a front row seat to policy making in Idaho.

Policy Pub is free and open to the public. RSVP online. The venue is limited to those 21 and over.

Rangeland Fall Forum 2026: After the Smoke

A landscape with dry grassland under a blue sky and a large plume of smoke rising in the background, indicating a fire.

Fire activity is increasing across Idaho’s rangelands, leading to questions, conversations, and ideas about recovery, adaptation and restoration.

This year’s Fall Forum will explore examples of successful post-fire practices and delve into tools available to rangeland managers, users and policymakers when navigating this shifting fire regime.

The forum will focus on real world examples and practical lessons from post-fire recovery efforts in the Magic Valley.

The Rangeland Fall Forum is an annual event and a partnership between the University of Idaho’s Rangeland Center and McClure Center.

Friday, Sept. 11, 2026 — Herrett Center, College of Southern Idaho (CSI) Campus, Twin Falls, Idaho

  • 9:30 a.m. — Welcome
  • 10 a.m. — Panel 1: Post-fire policy
  • 11:45 a.m. — Lunch
  • 12:45 p.m. — Panel 2: Science of post-fire recovery
  • 2:30 p.m. — Panel 3: Conservation readiness
  • 3:45 p.m. — Interactive session: what new research and policies are needed?
  • 5 p.m. — Close for the day
  • 5:30 p.m. — Orton Botanical Gardens Fall Forum Social

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026 — Rinker Rock Creek Ranch, Blaine County, Idaho

  • 9 a.m. — Welcome
  • 9:30 a.m. — Post-fire grazing test plots
  • 11 a.m. — Drones and herbicide treatments
  • Noon — Lunch
  • 1 p.m. — Landscape conservation strategies
  • 2 p.m. — Closing remarks

Register now

The annual event has strong connections to policy conversations about rangelands in Idaho and the American West. In 2017, the McClure Center formed a partnership with the University of Idaho Rangeland Center to co-host the Rangeland Fall Forum. This dual focus on policy and rangelands formed the basis for a longstanding partnership that continues today.

Collaboration Summit 2026

The James A. and Louise McClure Center for Public Policy Research, Rangeland Center at the University of Idaho and the Andrus Center for Public Policy at Boise State University are hosting a one-day Collaboration Summit.

The summit will:

  • Highlight Idaho partnerships formed around wildland fire — across boundaries and dynamic landscapes — both human and natural.
  • Be guided by collaboration practitioners to set the stage for engagement.
  • Connect participants with frameworks that can help navigate natural resources challenges.

Join us for Collaboration Summit 2026, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday, April 22.

The Summit will be held at Boise State University’s Stueckle Sky Center, 1200 W. University Drive, Boise, Idaho 83706.

Registration closes Friday, April 10.

Our events

The McClure Center forms partnerships for many events, like the Science Diplomacy Forum with University of Idaho Martin Institute and College of Science.

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