Reconstructing past climate and cultural shifts could help predict how people and animals might be affected in the future.
Addressing our deepest societal environmental challenges

The Center for the Environment is an interdisciplinary hub of environmental research that is committed to generating transformative solutions to our deepest societal challenges including: climate change, air pollution, access to clean water, food insecurity, biodiversity loss and infectious diseases.

By the numbers

109

Center scholars

7

Proposals/Grants supported

500+

Activity participants

181

Journal articles published
Jan-Oct 2024

The Center’s mission

The center serves as a cross-cutting collaboration hub, encouraging partners, faculty and students to advance research projects in areas including biodiversity, environmental justice, planetary health, environmental solutions, and climate change. Here’s a closer look at who we are, what we do, and why it matters for our community, our region and our world.

Denizen Awarded Global Incubator Seed Grant

Denizen Awarded Global Incubator Seed Grant

Assistant Professor Seth Denizen was awarded a Global Incubator Seed Grant for his collaborative project on wastewater urbanism with Christina Seibe at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

Fire & Ice

Fire & Ice

From the icy ends of the Earth to the tropics, scientists across disciplines are using radar, big data, and other tools to help us better understand our changing planet.

Core soil samples being taken at Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary

The WashU ecosystem

Within the WashU ecosystem of environmental research, education, and practice, the Center for the Environment serves as a connector. Much like a biodiversity corridor, we work to create space where our partners within the ecosystem and across distinct disciplines come together to address our world’s biggest environmental challenges.

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