About research at the ESI
MIT is a powerhouse of environmental research and innovation. The ESI catalyzes this vibrant faculty and student community via seed grants, doctoral fellowships, UROPs, and dedicated research area programs.
Earth is a supremely complex system, and our understanding of the underlying forces that support human life is incomplete in many key respects. Human behavior and social systems are similarly complex and not fully understood. Investments in environmental and social sciences are required to improve both our baseline knowledge of how these systems function and interact, and our understanding of how humans are affecting and disrupting the intricately interconnected systems and cycles of life on earth. Insightful characterization of the problems we face and novel analyses are critical steps on the path toward solutions.
The ESI’s research work consists of four active program areas: Arts and Climate, Cities and Climate, Mining and the Circular Economy, and Natural Climate Solutions. Other areas of research have included Climate Justice and Plastics and the Environment. Each domain has drawn upon engineers, natural and social scientists, designers, and arts and humanities to understand and address critical challenges.
This ESI has also supported students pursuing environmental-related topics through the Martin Fellowship and the Rapid Response Group.
Currently, the ESI is pursuing collaborations with a diverse array of partners in industry, government, and civil society, with the aim of building robust research programs in all priority domains.
