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
The new suite of student offerings includes a 500% increase in paid internships and research opportunities as well as professional development workshops, alumni networking, and an annual Climate Career Fair.
News from IBES
WATCH | GIS Career Panel
Held during the 2025 Geography Awareness Week, the November 19 panel brought together professionals who have built diverse careers in transportation, utilities, government, and environmental planning.
Through on-the-ground interviews and new insights on misinformation, IBES faculty members Myles Lennon and Timmons Roberts uncovered what COP30 achieved—and what still stands in the way.
The IBES-based Climate Social Science Network, led by Professor Timmons Roberts, recently released "Climate Obstruction: A Global Assessment," which explores who is blocking action on climate change and how they are doing it.
Earth Journalism Network
Countries Sign A Declaration To Fight Climate Disinformation At COP30
IBES Professor Timmons Roberts is among the prominent voices who advocated against climate disinformation at COP30 in Brazil.
Global Issues
Without Truth, There Can Be No Climate Justice—Experts
IBES Professor Timmons Roberts discussed climate disinformation at COP30 in Belém, Brazil.
Support the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society (IBES)
Help IBES answer the call to address today's complex environmental and societal challenges.