Centers and Programs at the School of the Environment
Teaching, research, and outreach at the Yale School of the Environment are greatly enhanced by the centers and programs that have been initiated by faculty over the years. The centers and programs, each with a different concentration, are a key component of a student’s learning experience. They allow students to gain hands-on clinical and research experience through funded student internships and projects, coordination of faculty research in areas of common interest, and creation of symposia, conferences, newsletters, and outreach programs.
Centers and programs are funded primarily through private foundations, nongovernmental organizations, state and federal agencies, international granting agencies, and private corporations. The nature and number of centers and programs evolve over time, reflecting faculty and student interest. Under the current organizational structure, each program falls under the umbrella of a center, which enables further collaboration and resource sharing.
Centers
Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering at Yale
https://greenchemistry.yale.edu
The Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering is integrated across three Yale schools: the School of the Environment, the School of Arts and Sciences, and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. It is a unique academic community spanning multiple disciplines, including chemistry, chemical and environmental engineering, materials science, environmental studies, biology, toxicology, health sciences, and policy. The center’s mission is to advance the science and practice of green chemistry and engineering as a means to create a more sustainable future. It achieves this by fostering collaboration among researchers, educators, and students from diverse fields.
Center for Industrial Ecology
The Yale Center for Industrial Ecology (CIE) features an interdisciplinary, international team with backgrounds in environmental, social, and policy sciences, engineering, and management. Researchers at CIE study the stocks, flows, and transformations of physical resources in systems at various scales, from materials and products to factories, cities, and globally. The center is dedicated to developing and promoting research, teaching, and outreach in industrial ecology. It aims to understand and improve the sustainability of industrial systems and their interaction with the environment.
Environmental Leadership and Training Initiative
The Environmental Leadership and Training Initiative (ELTI) aims to build capacity for conserving and restoring tropical forest landscapes in ways that support biodiversity and livelihoods. ELTI offers applied, action-oriented training and follow-up leadership support to accelerate conservation and restoration actions. The training program includes place-based, experiential field courses in five primary countries and online courses for a global audience. By empowering people from various sectors and backgrounds, ELTI seeks to foster effective strategies for tropical forest landscape conservation and restoration.
Hixon Center for Urban Sustainability
The Hixon Center for Urban Sustainability provides a collaborative forum for scholars, students, and practitioners to improve urban ecosystem management. It is committed to applying theory in practice and bridging scientific knowledge with practical solutions. The center focuses on creating vibrant, healthy, and equitable cities through integrated research, teaching, and outreach. Its work contributes to advancing sustainable urban ecosystems in the United States and around the world.
Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Sustainability Initiative
The Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Sustainability Initiative (JEDSI) explores the relationship between social inequalities, lived experiences, and environmental outcomes. JEDSI currently focuses on eight primary areas: Nature, Outdoor Experiences, Attitudes, and Perceptions; Environmental Inequalities, Resilience, and Sustainability; Food and Farming: Access, Sovereignty, Food Justice; Institutional Diversity, Transparency, and Workforce Dynamic; Diversity Pathway Programming; New Horizons in Conservation Conference; and Mentoring and Profiles of Environmental Professionals of Color. It seeks to examine and address the complex interplay between social and environmental issues. Through research, teaching, and practice, JEDSI aims to foster a more just and sustainable future..
The SEARCH Center: Solutions for Energy, Air, Climate, and Health
https://search-center.yale.edu
The SEARCH Center (Solutions for Energy, Air, Climate, and Health) aligns scientific research and technology with the EPA’s goals of protecting human health and the environment. Based at Yale University, the center involves a collaboration with Johns Hopkins University and researchers from several other institutions. It focuses on addressing the challenges related to energy, air quality, climate change, and public health. The SEARCH Center’s interdisciplinary approach aims to develop innovative solutions to complex environmental problems.
The Forests Dialogue
https://theforestsdialogue.org
The Forests Dialogue (TFD) provides a platform for international leaders in the forest sector to engage in ongoing multi-stakeholder dialogue. TFD aims to develop mutual trust, a shared understanding, and collaborative solutions for sustainable forest management and conservation. It has expanded its focus to include all actors across the landscape, not just the forest sector. Hosted by Yale University, TFD seeks to reduce conflict among stakeholders over the use and protection of vital forest resources.
Tropical Resources Institute
The Tropical Resources Institute’s mission encompasses research, training, and networking. It supports interdisciplinary student research on the conservation and management of tropical environments and resources. The institute trains students to be leaders in this field by bridging natural and social sciences with theory and practice. It provides a forum to connect Yale’s initiatives in applied research, partnerships, and programs in the tropics.
Ucross High Plains Stewardship Initiative
https://highplainsstewardship.com
The Ucross High Plains Stewardship Initiative (UHPSI) promotes land stewardship and conservation in the American West. It mentors students on applied research and management projects in collaboration with Western partners. UHPSI’s interdisciplinary projects address conservation challenges in the region. Students gain knowledge and skills in natural resource management and Western issues through the initiative’s experiential learning framework.
Urban Resources Initiative
The Urban Resources Initiative (URI) is a partnership between a nonprofit and the university, focusing on community participation in urban ecosystem management. It recognizes that sustainable management relies on local residents’ meaningful participation. URI facilitates this participation, including working with neighborhood leaders and interns to restore local lands. The program aims to empower communities in managing urban ecosystems.
Yale Applied Science Synthesis Program
The Yale Applied Science Synthesis Program (YASSP) connects researchers, policymakers, and land managers to address applied questions on land management’s impact on ecosystem services. The program collaborates with partners to inform sustainable land management practices. YASSP’s work emphasizes the regional context of local management decisions to maximize ecosystem benefits. It focuses on services such as carbon storage, sustainable food production, and biodiversity.
Yale Center for Business and the Environment
The Yale Center for Business and the Environment (CBEY) is a hub for creating sustainable solutions to challenges facing human and natural systems. CBEY aims to inspire and accelerate the transition to a just and thriving world by connecting people, ideas, and resources. It fosters business and cross-sector solutions to global challenges. The center’s mission is to support the development of innovative approaches to environmental sustainability.
Yale Center for Environmental Communication
https://environment.yale.edu/research/centers/environmental-communication
The Yale Center for Environmental Communication (YCEC) researches the factors influencing environmental attitudes and behavior. It engages the public in environmental science and solutions through various initiatives, including Yale Environment 360 and Yale Climate Connections. YCEC aims to build public and political will for environmental solutions. It supports a global network of organizations working toward this goal.
Yale Center for Environmental Justice
The Yale Center for Environmental Justice (YCEJ) is a collaboration between the Yale School of the Environment and Yale Law School. YCEJ empowers frontline communities to lead change by expanding research, teaching, and practice in environmental justice. It promotes an expanded definition of environmental justice that recognizes interconnected systemic inequities. YCEJ hosts events, including the Global Environmental Justice Conference, to bring together scholars, practitioners, and activists.
Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy
The Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy (YCELP) is a joint initiative between Yale Law School and the Yale School of the Environment. YCELP advances rigorous approaches to environmental decision-making across disciplines and scales. It fosters collaboration on environmental law and policy issues and facilitates a joint-degree program for law students. The center provides opportunities for research, education, career development, and social engagement.
Yale Forest Forum
The Yale Forest Forum (YFF) is the special events hub of The Forest School at the Yale School of the Environment. YFF hosts a weekly speaker series with diverse perspectives from government, NGOs, businesses, and academia. The series covers a range of topics related to forest management and conservation. Each series culminates in the YFF Review, summarizing the talks and key learnings.
Yale Program on Climate Change Communication
https://climatecommunication.yale.edu
The Yale Program on Climate Change Communication conducts research on public knowledge, attitudes, and behavior regarding climate change. It engages the public in partnership with various organizations through initiatives like Yale Climate Connections. The program aims to understand and influence the factors that shape public responses to climate change. It seeks to inform and engage the public in climate science and solutions.
Partnerships
The School of the Environment is a multidisciplinary learning center with tremendous resources, both within and outside the School. The school is engaged in partnerships that range from alliances with other Yale programs and schools to formal agreements with many external organizations and universities. These relationships enrich the school and add important dimensions to the YSE learning experience.
Within Yale
Yale Center for Natural Carbon Capture (https://naturalcarboncapture.yale.edu)
Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies (https://yibs.yale.edu)
Yale Peabody Museum (https://peabody.yale.edu)
Yale Planetary Solutions Project (https://planetarysolutions.yale.edu)
Outside of Yale
The School of the Environment has partnership agreements with numerous local, national, and international organizations beyond the Yale campus. The following are a few examples of these arrangements.
New York Botanical Garden (https://www.nybg.org)
Cary Institute (https://www.caryinstitute.org)
The Nature Conservancy (https://www.nature.org)
USDA Forest Service (https://www.fs.usda.gov)