CC&E’s Department of Environmental Sciences (ENVS) uses multidisciplinary scientific approaches to understand complex interactions between social and natural systems. ENVS faculty and researchers are experts in a wide variety of soil, aquatic, plant, atmospheric, and social sciences, including: air, soil, and water quality & monitoring, environmental management, environmental health & bioremediation of toxic and hazardous substances, environmental & genetic toxicology, environmental law & policy, resource sustainability and decision making, environmental communications, geographic information science, and remote sensing. ENVS research is grouped in three broad categories that combine traditional scientific disciplines:

Biophysical Systems: Complex and dynamic environmental issues require a holistic understanding of physical, life, and earth sciences. This focus group studies the scientific principles of natural systems in order to advance realistic solutions to environmental problems. This research group focuses on the disciplines of biology, chemistry, and physics.

Environmental Assessment and Analysis: Using technology to measure, monitor and understand the environment is critical to understanding the dynamic and complex nature of linked social and natural systems. This focus group concentrates on methods of environmental analysis and assessment that cross traditional scientific boundaries and investigates where our understanding of the environment breaks down.

Environmental Planning and Management: Our interactions with the environment are regulated by a large body of environmental law and procedure. This focus group pairs social sciences with natural sciences in order to understand and advance planning and management solutions to environmental hazards and coastal issues.