Data – Knowledge – Impact
The world is changing. How it changes is up to us.
In some ways, it is deteriorating. Many people on Earth are feeling the impacts of climate change, pollution, and shortages of resources, such as energy, food, and clean water.
However, those same challenges offer opportunities to improve, to innovate, and to overcome.
These opportunities are where Penn State and IEE researchers develop science-based solutions through interdisciplinary research.
With data, we create knowledge, and from that knowledge, we initiate impact, transforming the power of science into new ways of understanding and improving our society and caring for our planet.
Research Themes
IEE's five research themes focus on timely energy and environmental challenges, as well as the unique opportunities that Penn State researchers have in shaping our shared future.
Climate and Ecosystem Change
As the climate changes so do the Earth's ecosystems. In order to manage the risks of anthropogenic, or human-driven, climate change poses, Penn State researchers are confronting the challenges at the nexus of natural and social sciences, ethics, engineering, and mathematics.
Health and the Environment
Just as humans affect the environment, the environment affects humans. Penn State researchers are collaborating on ways that human health is being impacted, from pollution and toxins to infectious disease and climate change.
Integrated Energy Systems
New sources of power generation are needed to meet skyrocketing world energy demand. Penn State researchers innovate solutions and lead efforts that support a scalable, abundant, safe, affordable, and clean energy.
Urban Systems
With cities growing and more and more people moving to urban areas, the need to find and implement sustainable, healthy, and affordable solutions is essential and urgent. Penn State researchers collaborate across disciplines to identify and implement solutions on a global scale.
Water and Biogeochemical Cycles
Population growth, development, and environmental changes are increasing stress on water resources throughout the world. At Penn State, researchers work to understand and manage water and biogeochemical cycles as coupled earth systems to ensure a sustainable future.