The Center for the Environment is organized around four interconnected research themes and one foundational, cross-cutting theme. The most complex environmental challenges and the most exciting research needs are at the intersections of these themes.
Research themes
Addressing societal challenges
We are 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.
Summer Undergraduate Research
At WashU, undergraduate students have the opportunity to spend the summer conducting research alongside principal investigators, graduate students, and peers – working to address environmental challenges in an interdisciplinary cohort.
Research Facilities
WashU has a variety of available research facilities. Find out how they might support your work.
Trusted Tap
Trusted Tap is an NSF Convergence Accelerator funded project with a transformative approach to deploy commercially available point-of-use (POU) filters as monitoring devices.
Community Development & Disaster Preparedness in St. Louis
St. Louis faces serious challenges from flooding, extreme heat, tornadoes, and earthquakes, compounded by aging infrastructure, strained stormwater systems, and intense urban heat islands. This report identifies human-centered solutions that, alongside physical upgrades, can create a safer, healthier, and more just city.
Air Quality & Health
The Air Quality and Health Research Initiative is an intensive three-year project focused on building collaboration and cohorts in air quality and health research across all schools at Washington University in St. Louis.
Featured research & stories
Scholar Profile: Zach Zheng
Zack Zheng Scholar Profile Zhiling “Zach” Zheng is an assistant professor of chemistry and principal investigator of the Deep Synthesis Lab, a research team integrating AI with synthetic chemistry to accelerate the discovery of framework materials. Zheng’s interest in chemistry began early. As a middle school student, he was fascinated by crystallization – a process […]
WashU’s FARM hosts visit by international food and ag experts
Visit part of effort to strengthen collaboration among Latin America, US, UK
