Institute at Brown for Environment and Society

Impact

IBES research doesn’t stay in the lab—it’s out in the world, driving real solutions to today’s biggest environmental challenges.

* About the banner photo: Brown undergrad Luke Fromm collects an eDNA water sample to detect muskrat presence. This NASA-funded research, which launched with an IBES Seed Grant in 2021, uses a range of new technologies to uncover what's driving biodiversity loss and guide conservation solutions.

Practical solutions for a changing planet

Through interdisciplinary and applied research, hands-on education, and engagement with policymakers, IBES connects the dots between science, policy, and society.

Below is a short sampling of impactful work led by IBES faculty and students:

Discover IBES Research

With 150+ joint and affiliate faculty, IBES is built for collaboration.

With 25+ core faculty bridging several academic departments, and 135+ affiliate faculty representing over 30 academic units on campus, IBES is a hub of collaboration in a world where disciplinary silos are the norm.

Academia is full of disciplinary silos, so it’s rare to come
to a place where there’s a focus on what unites us, not
what divides us. That generosity of spirit lends a sense of
excitement and possibility at IBES.

Kim Cobb Lawrence and Barbara Margolis Director of IBES, Professor of Environment and Society & Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences
 
Kim Cobb headshot

IBES is meeting the moment with real-world impact

Recent developments in applied research, hands-on student training, and community engagement

Support the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society (IBES)

Help IBES answer the call to address today's complex environmental and societal challenges.