Establish a Center to grow areas of established excellence, leverage connections between research fields, and identify and nurture emerging research opportunities
Create an innovative research accelerator and incubator to position WashU to pursue major grants and high-risk/high-reward projects while putting our researchers on the leading edge of advances in environmental studies.
We will contribute to addressing the existential threats facing our planet and its inhabitants. WashU boasts strong programs in aerosols and biodiversity, along with commitments to environmental justice and considerable potential in planetary health, that is, research at the intersection of health and the environment. A more coordinated, institutional strategic direction in environmental work will further our ability to advance our strengths and to provide a scholarly ecosystem in which new research areas will develop to catalyze solutions.
WashU will establish a Center for the Environment to grow areas of established excellence, leverage connections between research fields, and identify and nurture emerging research opportunities. We will pursue a coordinated approach to advance our leadership in energy and environmental solutions, biodiversity, environmental justice, and planetary health; climate change will be a cross-cutting lens for our work in these areas. An innovative research accelerator and incubator will position WashU to pursue major grants and high-risk/high-reward projects while putting our researchers on the leading edge of advances in environmental studies. The center will also expand community partnerships and support interdisciplinary educational initiatives.
With this initiative, we will have the expertise and the opportunity to ensure distinction across several core fields of critical importance to the future sustainability of life on Earth.
Knowledge Hub
Video Content
Environmental Research: Building Momentum
October 12, 2022
Environmental research at WashU is building momentum to address current and future environmental challenges to advance planetary health and sustainability. In pursuit of academic distinction, we have existing strengths and opportunities for growth in environmental solutions, biodiversity, environmental justice, and planetary health with climate change as a cross-cutting driver of research. Our research enterprise is linked with interdisciplinary educational initiatives and community partnerships. You will hear from speakers who will present WashU’s overall strategic plan, discuss plans for a new center for the environment, and highlight multiple dimensions of our environmental work.