As part of its mission to promote excellence in research in environmental sciences, the recently launched Environmental Science Institute at the University of Oregon is giving rise to collaborations that address environmental challenges in new ways.
“One of the greatest challenges facing our society today is the development of effective solutions to environmental problems,” said Scott Bridgham, professor of biology and environmental studies and director of the institute. “The magnitude and complexity of these problems is increasing, which demands solutions that transcend traditional disciplinary borders.”
With approximately 18 full members and nine associate members, the institute is uniting faculty from biology, geology, geography, anthropology and other departments.
Launched in fall 2012, ESI encompasses faculty whose strengths include evaluation of natural hazards (e.g., earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, debris flows, floods, tsunamis and fires) and human perturbations to the environment (e.g., river modification, deforestation, domesticated animals, agricultural practices, introduced species and climate change). Many of the ESI faculty and graduate students use the historical and geologic past to better understand current environmental modifications and to form a basis for future predictions.
One of ESI’s goals is to enhance graduate education in the natural sciences. Graduate students can be involved in ESI either through the traditional disciplinary departments or as part of the Environmental Sciences Studies and Policy Ph.D. and master’s degree programs. Housed within the Environmental Studies program, the Ph.D. program has been retooled to appeal to natural science Ph.D. students.
Another long-term objective is the acquisition of a shared research/core instrument facility. Such a facility would provide researchers with the tools they need to characterize plant and animal life and surface materials, both chemically and physically, Bridgham said.
Having the ability to date processes and sediment deposits precisely – a field broadly described as geochronology – is one of the institute’s key goals. Acquiring tools that would assist researchers in developing methods for inferring past climatic and biotic conditions is another hope.
The center will unite researchers from across departmental lines and facilitate high-quality collaborative research. In addition to increasing the visibility of the environmental sciences, the institute will provide significant improvements in practical learning experiences for undergraduates.
“ESI was founded with the notion that solving difficult environmental problems requires the knowledge and expertise of multiple traditional disciplines,” said Kimberly Andrews Espy, vice president for research and innovation and dean of the graduate school. “Solving the complex challenges of today through groundbreaking interdisciplinary research is an approach we’ve championed at the University of Oregon, and we support ESI’s efforts to further new research collaborations.”
- from the UO Office of Research, Innovation and Graduate Education