Planning
Committee
Reports
Research
Research Program Areas:
Research faculty in the proposed School of NRE address a comprehensive range of ecological, environmental, and natural resource issues clustered in three primary, but strongly interacting and interdependent areas surrounding the fundamental theme of Sustainability:
- Human Dimensions, Resource Economics & Community Ecology
- Environmental Design, Biotechnology & Engineering
- Ecology & Natural Resource Sciences
Results of these research efforts are then applied in the fields of agroecology, conservation biology, community development, ecological design, environmental policy, forestry, landscape architecture, landscape ecology, natural resource management, restoration ecology, urban ecology, wildlife conservation, and soil, water, and watershed management.
Each of these fields is highly interdisciplinary in nature, as is required for solving complex environmental problems and issues. The strongly interdisciplinary structure of the proposed School of NRE is not only desirable for research purposes, but absolutely necessary to address the types of current and future environmental problems faced by the Pacific Northwest and the world.
Biotechnology and the Environment - a new initiative: Biotechnology issues have become a major driving force in global development and the future of our global society. The issues cover the spectrum from the health and safety of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for human use and consumption to the long-term health, conservation, and management of the natural environment.
Environmental biotechnology is a critical component of the future School of NRE research mission and will involve work ranging from applied conservation genetics and biotechnology applications to the evaluation and development of appropriate agricultural, environmental, and natural resource policy. Public outreach to disseminate scientifically accurate information and address public concerns is also an important part of the biotechnology research mission.
Examples of biotechnology issues to be pursued in the proposed School's ecological and environmental research include:
- Use of biotechnology in endangered species conservation, environmental remediation, landscape restoration, and soil and water engineering.
- Economic, social, and ecological consequences of small and large-scale deployment of GMOs in the environment.
- Use of biotechnology to reduce the impacts of exotic and invasive species.
- Effects of GMOs and genetic introgression in natural populations and ecological and environmental risk assessment.
- Biosafety technology, environmental decision making, environmental ethics, and policy development.
The future growth of Biotechnology and the Environment as a necessary and progressive initiative in the proposed School of NRE and WSU as a whole is assured given the rapid development and implementation of technology in today's society.
For more information on the proposed School of NRE, please contact:
Pete Jacoby, Associate Dean, CAHE or
Rod Sayler, Committee Chair