University of New Hampshire
ER-15: Sustainability Research Identification

See http://www.unh.edu/research/research-areas/sustainability-environment and http://www.sustainableunh.unh.edu/research.

UNH research in sustainability and the environment is broad and far-reaching. A leader in the search for the causes of, and potential responses to, climate change, UNH research is at the forefront of the efforts to define new personal, local community, governmental and global activities and policies for protecting and sustaining the Earth and its inhabitants.

Sustainability science addresses the practical challenges of how to achieve sustainability: meeting the needs of today’s society without compromising the abilities of future generations to meet their needs. It involves studying the nature of interactions between humans and their environments - between natural and human systems. It encompasses biodiversity, food, culture, and climate. Thus, it requires a multidisciplinary approach, involving researchers from the social sciences, humanities, physical and biological sciences, engineering, and health and human services.

‘Environment’ encompasses the components and complex natural systems of land, sea and atmosphere, the geology and history of the Earth, and the mysteries of volcanoes and the ocean floor. Studies of wildlife, conservation practices, and natural resources shed light on the Earth biological systems. Sophisticated observational and modeling tools are used to increase our understanding the fundamental properties of the atmosphere and how they have been affected by human activities. Ongoing research in spill containment and remediation has resulted in new techniques and technologies for coping with oil spills and other environmental crises. Studies of the polar ice, the ocean floor, and the explosive activity of volcanoes yield insights into what the Earth was like in the past, describe its present state, and provide tools for predicting what it will be like in the future.

http://www.sustainableunh.unh.edu/researchinventory

Information is collected and collated by colleges, the Office of the Associate Vice Provost for Research, institutes and centers, the Office of Sponsored Research, the Office of the Associate Vice Provost for Engaged Scholarship, and others.

In addition, the UNH Sustainability Academy worked with the UNH administration, the UNH Graduate School, and all associate deans to survey faculty and graduate students online about their research.

Finally, information was also gathered together from college, office and department websites and annual reports.

http://www.unh.edu/research/research-areas/sustainability-environment

http://www.sustainableunh.unh.edu/research

Other contacts include UNH Chief Sustainability Officer and Kevin Gardner, faculty fellow in the UNH Associate Vice Provost for Research's office.