Sustainable Environment
Creating a healthy and resilient future for life on earth
We envision a world in which we are wise stewards of natural resources and biodiversity to support the lives of all living things. UT researchers are developing solutions to reduce pollution, preserve habitats, and secure the planet’s natural resources.
Highlights
Fu Study Clears the Air for Data Quality
UT researchers seek to improve air quality monitoring methods by applying machine learning and modeling. Their approach, which increases data quality and accuracy, could inform better strategies for reducing air pollution.
Tennessee RiverLine Partners with UT Institute of Agriculture
Research and community outreach through the UT Institute of Agriculture and UT Extension are helping the Tennessee RiverLine initiative promote natural resource stewardship, improve health through outdoor recreation, and advance sustainable economic development in even more communities.
UTIA Researchers Find High Risk to Amphibians from Fungal Pathogen
This research highlights the extreme danger native amphibian species could face if invasive fungi are inadvertently introduced to North America. The researchers demonstrate how vital it is for the global pet trade to adopt proactive measures to avoid spreading disease pathogens.
Grant to Empower Grassland Farmers in Climate-Smart Agriculture
UTIA received a $30 million grant funded by the US Department of Agriculture to help grassland farmers in the beef value chain enter the emerging carbon economy while enhancing their productivity and optimizing profitability, soil health, and biodiversity conservation.
Grant to Develop Dynamic Solution to Conservation Planning
A multidisciplinary team across economics, agricultural and resource economics, and ecology and evolutionary biology is developing and applying a new framework for biodiversity conservation planning that takes climate change risk into account.
Hazen Offers Expertise to Peruvian Officials, Scientists in Wake of Oil Spill
UT–Oak Ridge National Laboratory Governor’s Chair for Environmental Biotechnology Terry Hazen has served as an expert on some of the biggest US oil cleanup efforts. He offered his insights when Peru experienced a similar environmental crisis.
Facilities & Initiatives
Our sustainable environment research spans multiple disciplines and is carried out in labs, on farms, and across communities throughout Tennessee and around the world. Together with our partners, we apply the work we do here at home to real-world national and global challenges.
- Amphibian Disease Lab
- Biology Field Station
- Center for Wildlife Health
- Denbo Center for Humanities and the Arts
- Institute for Climate and Community Resilience
- Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment
- ORNL Climate Change Science Institute
- Tennessee RiverLine
- Tennessee Water Resources Research Center
- UT Herbarium
- UT One Health Initiative
Our Researchers
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Executive Director, Tennessee RiverLine; Professor, UT Extension
Community development, asset-based development, landscape performance, watersheds, rivers, Tennessee River, landscape architecture, design, water resource management, stewardship, economic development, public health, equity of access, outdoor recreation, tourism, and outdoor economy
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Department Head and Robert M. Condra Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Microbial gene expression profiles during biofuel production from cellulosic feedstocks
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Professor & Director, NIMBioS
Mathematical modeling, supply network stability, bioinspired algorithms, individual and population health
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John D. Tickle Professor & Director, Institute for a Secure & Sustainable Environment
Manufacturing energy efficiency, optimization, sustainability, transportation, supply chain and logistics, building environment, climate change, clean energy transition, advanced and smart manufacturing
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Professor & Assistant Director, Center for Renewable Carbon
Circular bioeconomy, integrated biorefining, sustainable advanced manufacturing, green chemistry, bioenergy, bioderived chemicals and materials
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Department Head and Jones/Bibee Professor; Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences
Earth system evolution, invasive species, biotic responses to climate change in Earth’s history, marine ecosystems, paleontology, mass extinctions and biodiversification events
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Professor, School of Natural Resources
Lignocellulosic materials, nano materials, nano-mechanics, composites, energy, remediation