Our Units | Institute of the Environment and Energy

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The Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering (CESE) aims to support multidisciplinary research that bridges the basic and applied sciences. Activities supported by CESE strengthen the scientific understanding of complex and evolving natural systems, monitor environmental quality, inform sound stewardship, and enlighten policy. CESE engages in cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research to solve complex and emerging environmental challenges. CESE leads and catalyzes research among its 12 core faculty and more than 150 affiliate faculty members from numerous departments across UConn. Its work supports multidisciplinary research, strengthens scientific understanding, and informs sustainable stewardship and policy.

The Office of Sustainability (OS) leads, collaborates, advises, and advocates for sustainable goals and actions across the University of Connecticut campuses. The OS staff and student interns work with senior administrators, students, faculty, and staff to set and achieve strategic sustainability goals in the areas of climate action and resilience, energy and buildings, waste reduction and diversion, water resources, food and dining, grounds, purchasing, transportation, open space and natural resource stewardship, and the intersection of these issues with environmental and social justice. The OS develops outreach and engagement programs that use experiential learning to raise awareness and improve performance around sustainable practices and behaviors.

The Natural Resources Conservation Academy (NRCA) represents a consortium of scholars and educators from the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources, the College of Education, Center for Land Use Education and Research, and the Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering. The mission of the NRCA is to engage diverse teen and adult participants in natural resources conservation through place-based, experiential outdoor education, and to facilitate community action through collaborative partnerships that contribute to local environmental solutions. Signature programs include the Conservation Ambassador Program, the Conservation Training Partnership, and the Teacher Professional Learning Initiative.

Supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Thriving Communities Network Initiative, the New England Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (NE TCTAC) supports underserved and rural/remote communities in EPA Region 1 as a resource and technical assistance hub. Its mission is to remove barriers and improve accessibility for communities facing environmental challenges. NE TCTAC provide training and assistance to help organizations navigate federal and local grant systems, develop strong proposals and manage grant funding effectively to ensure all communities have direct access to vital resources and information.

The Eversource Energy Center (EEC) at the University of Connecticut is a dynamic partnership where state-of-the-art research, technology and software are solving real-world challenges for electric customers where weather, climate and energy intersect. Through these activities, the Center is enhancing readiness and response and keeping communities energized. Science-based solutions, including high-resolution weather and outage forecasting and 3-D aerial and ground imagery are improving the delivery of reliable power and enhanced risk management in extreme weather. EEC research is mitigating storm hazards, delivering improved reliability, shortening and preventing outages, and increasing the resiliency of the electric grid.