1,000+
students in ENVS classes
Institute at Brown for Environment and Society
IBES 2025: A Year in Review
Through bold collaboration and boundary-crossing research, IBES is driving the climate conversations and solutions our world needs most.
IBES 2025: A Year in Review
Through bold collaboration and boundary-crossing research, IBES is driving the climate conversations and solutions our world needs most.
In 2025, the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society (IBES) closed out its 10th anniversary with landmark achievements in research, education, and community engagement. Guided by its 2023–2028 Strategic Plan, IBES continues to tackle the world’s most urgent climate and sustainability challenges by educating the next generation of change makers, advancing solutions-inspired research, and building enduring partnerships across campus and around the world.
A message from the director
https://www.youtube.com/embed/akHMoAgqzcw
Momentum Forward
Director Kim Cobb shares how IBES drives innovation—from student programs to global research—and invites the community to build a sustainable future.
IBES by the numbers
29
core faculty
jointly appointed in 9 cross-campus departments
235
affiliate faculty, graduate students, and postdocs
spanning nearly 40 departments
120+
media mentions and appearances
from our faculty and affiliates in 2025
100+
scholarly publications featuring IBES research
in 2025
55
graduating seniors
in 2025
500+
Alumni & Friends Network members
Explore more
With substantial growth across these key areas, 2025 was a defining year in IBES’s evolution.
Expanded student career pathways
This year marked significant growth for IBES’ academic programs, as the Institute adapted to meet rising student interest in environmental sciences and studies.
Learn how IBES is serving students
Research without boundaries
From tracking wildlife in Yellowstone to studying solar justice worldwide, IBES researchers are breaking boundaries across a range of disciplines.
View 2025 research highlights
A hub for climate conversations
IBES brings researchers, policymakers, and communities together to spark dialogue and advance practical solutions for a more sustainable world.
See 2025 events & media
Support our work
Your generosity strengthens leading-edge climate research, enriches experiences in and outside of the classroom, and expands global partnerships.