As data center development attracts growing attention from policymakers, industry leaders, and communities, University of Oregon School of Law Associate Professor Greg Dotson is bringing the legal and policy issues surrounding the industry into the classroom.
With the intention of providing a comprehensive look at this intersection of law and technology, Dotson partnered with Jun Li, a professor of computer science at the University of Oregon.
Together, they developed an interdisciplinary course that examines data center expansion from both legal and technological perspectives. Dotson will guide students through the laws, regulations, and public policy considerations that govern data center development and operations. Li will provide insight into the technology that powers the facilities and considerations that shape their design.
“My hope is that students leave with both a technical appreciation of what these facilities actually do and an understanding of the legal processes that determine whether, where, and how they are sited,” said Dotson, who developed additional expertise on the issue while serving on Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek's Data Center Advisory Committee.
The course reflects Oregon Law's commitment to providing a legal education aligned with real-world practice.