Dear Colleagues,

The Penn Environmental Innovations Initiative is pleased to announce a call for Research Community proposals. A Research Community consists of an interdisciplinary group engaged in the study of a common theme of broad environmental significance. The tracks defined for this opportunity are:

• Stewardship of Nature

Key concepts: preservation, restoration, valuation, habitat, biodiversity, ecology, nature-based solutions

• Climate Action

Key Concepts: decarbonization, mitigation, adaptation, sequestration, migration, science-based targets

• Societal Resilience

Key Concepts: human vitality (health, wellness, justice), ecological health, economic prosperity, responsible consumption (extraction, production, pollution, disposal), disruption preparedness

Applications must be faculty-led, but there must be a clear role for students. Staff may also be included. This is a one-year opportunity with the possibility of renewal for up to three years. Successful applications will engage multiple disciplines and have cultural, social, and political dimensions that open the possibility for ongoing interdisciplinary engagement. The scope of impact can range from local to global. Selected projects will be featured on the Environmental Innovations Initiative website and asked to present during Climate Week in the fall 2022 semester.

Learn more about this call for proposals and apply today by visiting the Environmental Innovations Initiative website.

Important Milestones:

• March 31: applications due
• April 15: winners to be announced
• Fall ’22 semester: climate week presentations 

About the Penn Environmental Innovations Initiative

Launched in 2020, the University of Pennsylvania Environmental Innovations Initiative is a pan-university program created around a vision of significantly impacting the critical environmental challenges of our time, particularly climate change, biodiversity loss, and human vulnerability. To accomplish this, the Initiative is committed to bringing together scholars, leaders, practitioners, students, and community members around themes of climate action, stewardship of nature, and societal resilience – including equity and inclusion.

Learn more about the Penn Environmental Innovations Initiative.

Explore the 2021 Research Communities.

Please contact the Environmental Innovations Initiative Team by email (contact@environment.upenn.edu) with any questions