We study how climate change and other global environmental shifts affect life on Earth—and how ecosystems can help shape a sustainable future.
What we study and how we do it
Our research explores how large-scale changes—such as rising greenhouse gas levels, shifting water cycles, biodiversity loss, and land-use change—impact organisms and ecosystems. We combine modeling, field experiments, and long-term observations to study these effects from genes to global systems. By uncovering how life responds to environmental stress, we identify pathways toward resilience and adaptation.
Why it matters and how it’s applied
Our findings help guide conservation, land management, and climate adaptation strategies. We work with scientists, policymakers, and communities to develop evidence-based solutions that reduce environmental risks and support ecological sustainability. By linking local ecosystems to global processes, we contribute to a deeper understanding of how to sustain life in a rapidly changing world..
Faculty

Kathleen Prudic
Associate Director for Graduate Student AdvancementAssociate Professor, Citizen and Data Science

Flurin Babst
Assistant Professor
Patrick Broxton
Assistant Research Professor
Theresa Crimmins
Associate Professor, PhenologyDirector, USA National Phenology Network

Donald Falk
Professor, Natural ResourcesChair, Global Ecology & Management
Affiliated Faculty; Arizona Institutes for Resilience

Rachel Gallery
Professor
Laura Meredith
Associate Professor, Ecosystem Genomics
David Moore
Professor, Natural Resources and the EnvironmentProgram Chair, Watershed Management and Ecohydrology

William Smith
Associate Professor, Land - Water - Climate / Geospatial Analysis
Willem van Leeuwen
Professor, Natural Resources and the EnvironmentAssociate Director of Development