We live on a dynamic planet, one that is constantly changing in response to complex human and natural processes. To address many of the greatest challenges facing the planet and its inhabitants (e.g., a changing climate, the provision of clean water and sustenance to over 9 billion people, dramatic declines in biodiversity), we must understand the myriads of intricate couplings that link humans to natural systems and drive change.

Faculty and students within the School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability study interactions among people and the environment in which they live and depend on. We use and develop cutting edge:

• Social science to better understand human perception, decision-making, and policy development in the context of environmental challenges.
• Natural science to better understand the effect of human activity on natural systems, and the effect of natural systems on human activity.
• Geographic information science, spatial modeling, machine learning, and sensor networks to monitor and analyze these interactions.

Our goal is to contribute to the science of human-environment interaction and apply the new knowledge gained to help produce a better tomorrow.