about our research
Research and education in the energy and environmental fields are becoming increasingly goal-oriented with clear objectives designed to improve the quality of life, promote human health and safety, create sustainable economic vitality, and enhance national security. Research investments are now frequently concentrated on the areas of greatest challenge, highest potential payback, and maximum benefit.
These challenges often require a multi-disciplinary or interdisciplinary approach that crosses the boundaries between the biological sciences, physics, chemistry, social sciences, economics, engineering, and policy-making. Such a perspective is equally applicable regardless of the scale of the problem, whether local, regional, national, or global in nature.
PSIEE is responsive to the societal issues that drive environmental research. PSIEE promotes and facilitates research and education that is issue-oriented and provides natural and logical focal points for interaction and collaboration.
Research Themes
The PSIEE is focused around a set major themes that reflect areas of significant challenge and societal interest, which tend to cross traditional disciplinary boundaries.
Current focus is on the following primary themes:
- Air Quality
- Biodiversity and Ecosystems
- Energy
- Global Change
- Health and the Environment
- Industrial Ecology and Green Engineering
- Water Resources
Future focus is on the following four secondary themes:
- Coastal and Marine Environments
- Natural Disaster and Impact Reduction
- Resource Use and Management
- Toxic Substances/Hazardous and Solid Wastes
Each of the above themes represents a potential natural focus of effort and interest that is directly tied to local, state, national, and global needs and hence funding opportunities and educational objectives.