Students collected trash during Texas CityLab’s Trash Walk at The University of Texas, where the first CityLab program was launched for the 2014–15 school year. Photo Courtesy UTSOA Center for Sustai[/caption]

Leander students and faculty of The University of Texas will conduct research this fall in Leander as part of Texas CityLab, an interdisciplinary applied learning strategy that addresses economic, social equity and environmental challenges in local communities.

City Council granted the city manager the ability to execute an interlocal agreement between the city and UT on Jan. 15.

Though city staff and school faculty are still defining the scope of work, Assistant City Manager Tom Yantis said students could work on an Old Town master plan, development prototypes for mixed-use nodes featured in the future land use plan or a citywide sustainability plan.

"We will be able to utilize the knowledge and skills of students and faculty in multiple different colleges at UT to develop comprehensive solutions to real-world issues that we are facing in Leander," Yantis said.