The relationship between humanity and the Earth system is remarkably complex. It includes the impacts of natural processes on human health and safety, the dependence of people on Earth's resources, and the consequences of human activities on local, regional, and global conditions. One of the central goals of UWEI is to enhance our ability as a community to understand, anticipate and respond to complex environmental changes. The work of many UW researchers and scholars is directed toward creating new tools that will make that possible.

Explore the following for examples of our work.

Environmental Anthropology - UW faculty and students look at environmental problems and knowledge from the multiple perspectives of western and nonwestern societies.

Policy Consensus Center - As policy-making has become more complex and often contentious, community leaders have turned to the UW and WSU to seek a better way.