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.
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:
- The Breathe Providence project maps neighborhood air quality to inform policies that reduce pollution and improve public health.
- In the course Solving the Climate and the Carbon Challenge, students work in teams to develop actionable carbon reduction plans, competing to create the most effective strategies by the end of the semester.
- As chair of the Research Board at the World Meteorological Organization, Professor Amanda Lynch shapes global climate strategies, advancing greenhouse gas monitoring and early warning systems.
- Exploring the risks of climate change on human health—and what we can do to adapt—is the focus of research led by Professor Rachel Baker.
- Serving on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), social scientist Timmons Roberts helped inform global climate action strategies.
- The weekly Possibly podcast delivers 250+ climate insights, breaking down complex environmental challenges into actionable solutions for listeners nationwide.
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.
Lawrence and Barbara Margolis Director of IBES, Professor of Environment and Society & Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences
IBES is meeting the moment with real-world impact
Recent developments in applied research, hands-on student training, and community engagement
News from IBES
IBES faculty help shape Climate Week 2025
From the Explorers Club to the United Nations Headquarters, IBES faculty were at the forefront of Climate Week, contributing expertise on the cryosphere, climate obstruction, and global science funding.
Ten years of research projects, countless ideas, one shared mission: to build a sustainable future.
News from IBES
IBES announces 2025 Catalyst Research Awardees
IBES awarded grants to six core and affiliate faculty members, allowing them to conduct research that crosses boundaries and benefits communities, both at Brown and around the world.
News from IBES
IBES Fellow helps launch Africa’s first parrot museum
Professor Nancy Jacobs, along with three Brown students and local partners, recently opened a new museum in Uganda to connect communities with endangered wildlife.
IBES Director Kim Cobb is one of dozens of scientists working to counter the Trump administration's efforts to weaken pollution regulations.
In her senior thesis, Morris explored how Maine’s climate action process can better include a group on the frontlines of climate change.
Support the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society (IBES)
Help IBES answer the call to address today's complex environmental and societal challenges.