Modern society requires a large array of natural resources to function and grow. The scarcity or abundance of these resources directly impacts our economy, their use and management impact the environment. From meeting the fundamental needs for the food, energy, and water of society now and in the future, to the raw materials we need to build our homes and cities, to the critical minerals and rare earth elements we need to power modern technology, there is an ever-increasing societal dependence on the natural resources of our planet.

Finding these resources and learning how to utilize them in a sustainable manner is a major challenge for present and future generations. Researchers in SEES span the landscape of these challenges. With expertise ranging from resource exploration to economics and policy, SEES faculty are at the forefront of meeting these challenges and finding a way to supply society with the raw materials needed for a sustainable future.