The UO's effort to explore how human health is influenced by the microbiology of indoor environments and by the outdoors because of urban design has captured the interest of the nation's architects.

The UO School of Architecture and Allied Arts is among 11 architecture schools and schools of public health as charter members of the AIA Design & Health Research Consortium. The American Institute of Architects , the AIA Foundation and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture recently announced the newly created consortium, which, over a period of three years, will help fund basic research on how design affects public health.

The announcement noted that the UO architecture school will expand its research framework on the "built environment microbiome" established by the Biology and Built Environment Center in a new partnership with the non-profit Eugene-based Oregon Research Institute.

Full details can be found in an AIS news release announcing the consortium.