At Brown's Opening Convocation on September 5, 2023, Cobb called on students to unite across disciplines and take action against climate change — emphasizing that with their unique blend of knowledge and a global network of climate advocates at their disposal, they can work together to secure a sustainable future for generations to come.

The IBES community is pleased to introduce our two newest faculty members: Seda Şalap-Ayça, Assistant Professor of the Practice in Geospatial Science in IBES and DEEPS, and Allan Just, Associate Professor in Epidemiology and Environment and Society.

​​​​​​​A content strategist who has served Brown for over 11 years, Warrington will lead the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society’s growing communications team and spearhead initiatives to promote IBES’ Strategic Plan.

Born in part from an IBES seed grant and published in 2021, the 200-page work offers “a new theoretical framework for understanding chemicals in society.”

Input from Professor Timmons Roberts.

Coverage of research by Professor Timmons Roberts and his Climate and Development Lab, with commentary from Roberts and IBES Director Kim Cobb.

Commentary from Voss Postdoc Lina C. Pérez-Angel.

Commentary from IBES and Sociology Professor Timmons Roberts.

IBES Director Kim Cobb helps explain the inner workings of El Niño and what current patterns can tell us about Earth's future.

New research from IBES Affiliate Jeff Colgan.

Featuring Zanagee Artis '22, an ENVS concentrator who now works for a climate nonprofit he co-founded in high school.

IBES Affiliate and Assistant Professor of Epidemiology Erica Walker leads a sonic tour through Providence and discusses noise pollution solutions.

Commentary from Assistant IBES and DEEPS Professor Dan Ibarra.

This spring, four members of IBES faculty received awards for their outstanding contributions to Brown and the broader community. This is Part IV of a series highlighting the exceptional work of each awardee.

Further coverage of a study by IBES grad affiliate Julie Skarha, Epidemiology Ph.D. '22.

Guest article by Elizabeth Rush, IBES Fellow and Assistant Professor in the Nonfiction Writing Program.

IBES and DEEPS Assistant Professor is the first author on this new study.

Commentary from IBES and Sociology Professor Timmons Roberts.

Hornbuckle, a rising junior, draws on her rural roots as she explores urban environmental studies.

Commentary from IBES and Sociology Professor Timmons Roberts.

Elizabeth Rush, IBES Fellow and Assistant Professor of the Practice of English, writes about the beloved beech tree in her backyard and its intersection with life milestones, climate anxiety, and more.

This newsletter references a report by IBES and Climate Development Lab alum Cole Triedman.

This article features Jessica Plavicki, IBES Fellow and Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.

This article references a study led by IBES grad affiliate Julie Skarha Ph.D. '22.

IBES Fellow and Ph.D. candidate in biomedical engineering is among this year's 35 CAS Future Leaders.

This spring, four members of IBES faculty received awards for their outstanding contributions to Brown and the broader community. This is Part III of a series highlighting the exceptional work of each awardee.

Professor Stephen Porder discussed the effectiveness of carbon offsets he effectiveness of carbon offsets to help travelers neutralize their environmental impact: "You can’t be sure that a dollar spent on an offset is actually keeping CO2 out of the atmosphere."

Featuring previous commentary from IBES Director Kim Cobb regarding the future of marine ecosystem capacity.

DEEPS Professor and IBES Fellow Baylor Fox-Kemper commented, "Floods of a particular strength are getting more and more frequent. As we go forward, we should expect the hurricane barrier to be used more and more just to protect from these increased flooding events."

Two IBES postdoctoral research associates worked together to develop a learning module for local elementary school students.

IBES Fellow and Physics Professor Brad Marston has found that some features of fluid flow on Earth can be explained by principles that traditionally apply to quantum systems.

IBES Director Kim Cobb discussed the Inflation Reduction Act, saying that the legislation "really puts the wheels of the marketplace in motion to harness available technologies for emissions reduction."

Voss Postdoc Lina C. Pérez-Angel described some of the challenges she's faced as a researcher whose first language isn't English.

"Having a child doesn’t mean the end of exploration outdoors," writes IBES Fellow and Assistant Professor of the Practice of English Elizabeth Rush. "These women writers modeled that for me — and taught me new ways of thinking about risk and reward."

IBES and Sociology Professor Timmons Roberts discussed how whale advocates "are becoming unwitting pawns of the fossil fuel industry" as they and rightwing think tanks create the impression that offshore wind energy projects endanger cetaceans.

IBES and Sociology Professor Timmons Roberts provided commentary on the empty promises of Big Oil climate pledges.

This edition of The New York Times Morning Newsletter discusses extreme weather events and how climate disasters can play off one another. IBES Director Kim Cobb commented, "Extremes are already worse because of man-made climate change. And they’re going to get worse with each additional increment of warming."

This article mentions research done by scholars from IBES and two labs based at IBES: the Climate Social Science Network and the Climate and Development Lab.

This article mentions study findings by IBES affiliate Julie Skarha (Epidemiology Ph.D. '22) on the impact of heat on prison deaths.

In addition to the grueling heat of the past few weeks, wildfire smoke, ocean warming, the early arrival of El Niño, and shrinking Antarctic sea ice are all indicators of a global environmental crisis. "Heat sets the pace of our climate in so many ways," IBES Director Kim Cobb commented. "It’s never just the heat."

Visiting Professor of Environment and Society Robert Brulle commented on fossil fuel lobbyists' competing interests: "Lobbyists will take money from anybody. The question is: are they really working in your best interest … if they’re also representing an opponent?"

This spring, four members of IBES faculty received awards for their outstanding contributions to Brown and the broader community. This is Part II of a series highlighting the phenomenal work of each awardee.

IBES and Sociology Professor Scott Frickel and Fernando Tormos-Aponte (Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Pittsburgh) co-authored this new article documenting findings from their ongoing investigation into the rise of science activism and how it may affect the "norms of scientific research."

IBES and Sociology Professor Timmons Roberts commented that a new database of fossil fuel lobbyists "really makes it apparent that when you hire these insider lobbyists, you are basically working with double agents. ... The information you share with them is probably going to the opposition.”

A detailed analysis of the dietary habits of elephants showed surprising variation from meal to meal, which could have important ramifications for wildlife protection and conservation strategies. Tyler Kartzinel, Assistant Professor in IBES and Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, is among the authors of the study.