The Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, in collaboration with the Indiana University College of Arts and Sciences, is proud to announce the establishment of the Environment, Society, and Sustainability Institute, a new interdisciplinary hub to address pressing environmental and sustainability challenges while preparing the next generation of scientists, policymakers, communicators, and leaders. Requiring significant collaboration between schools at the Bloomington campus level, this major institutional initiative showcases the continuing strong partnerships between them.
ESSI’s mission is rooted in the understanding that today’s environmental issues are multifaceted, requiring approaches that integrate the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and policy perspectives. By bringing together the collective knowledge and expertise of over faculty, researchers, and students from across disciplines, ESSI will foster innovative research, community engagement, and educational opportunities aimed at solving some of the world’s most complex problems.
“Our planet is facing unprecedented environmental challenges that demand broad and creative solutions,” said Siân Mooney, dean of the O’Neill School. “ESSI reflects IU’s commitment to preparing leaders who can bridge scientific understanding with effective policy and communication strategies. By working together across disciplines, we can create the kind of lasting change the world needs.”
“I’m excited by ESSI raising the visibility of environmental studies and related degree offerings to students,” said Rick Van Kooten, executive dean of the College. "By bringing together the full spectrum of IU’s strengths in research, teaching, and public engagement, students and scholars will find the inspiration, resources, and partnerships to create solutions that make a difference for Indiana and communities around the world.”
The institute will support interdisciplinary research collaborations and host public events and workshops that blend scientific knowledge with social and cultural perspectives.
ESSI is also supported by two dynamic interdisciplinary undergraduate degrees offered by the partnering academic unit—a BS in Environmental Science and a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies—drawing on the expertise of more than 35 academic programs and departments across campus. This breadth allows students to shape their studies around the topics they care about most. At the graduate level, ESSI partners with the O’Neill School, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the School of Public Health to fuel student success through competitive research grants and opportunities to share their work with fellow researchers and scholars.
ESSI’s scope will include topics such as climate change, biodiversity conservation, environmental justice, sustainable resource management, and the human dimensions of environmental decision-making.
By leveraging IU’s existing strengths in environmental science and policy, ESSI will serve as a model for cross-campus collaboration and as a catalyst for impactful work that resonates locally, nationally, and globally.
“ESSI offers students the opportunity to pursue the environmental topics that most inspire and excite them,” said Sarah Osterhoudt, director of ESSI. “We know that to create a more sustainable world, we need experts in every field—from chemists to policymakers, from ecologists to poets. At ESSI, individuals from across IU will find a supportive community of scholars who are committed to creating positive environmental and social change.”