Stanford University is fundamentally changing the way it conducts interdisciplinary environmental research because the world's sustainability challenges are too complex to solve by traditional disciplinary approaches alone. We must work on far broader interdisciplinary scales than we ever have. More than 396 faculty and research professionals are conducting interdisciplinary environmental research at Stanford from across the university's seven schools, independent labs and centers. Of those, 149 Woods fellows and affiliated faculty are involved directly with the Woods Institute.

Research at the Woods Institute focuses on five core areas: climate and energy, freshwater, land use and conservation, oceans and estuaries, and the sustainable built environment. Core research is implemented primarily through the institute's Strategic Collaborations and Environmental Venture Projects research program.

Strategic Collaborations

The Woods Institute supports major collaborations involving Stanford researchers who partner with external organizations to address global sustainability challenges. Current collaborations are:

Research Programs

Environmental Venture Projects provide seed funding for transformative research involving interdisciplinary teams of Stanford faculty that focus on finding solutions to key sustainability challenges, such as protecting endangered species in California and delivering clean drinking water in East Africa.

Program on Climate and Energy Public Opinion researchers conduct surveys that illuminate Americans' views on a climate change, energy policy and other environmental topics.

Global Freshwater Initiative researchers are developing strategies to promote the long-term viability of freshwater supplies for people and ecosystems.

Program on Water, Health and Development involves several Stanford research teams that are working to improve water delivery and sanitation services throughout sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.

Informing Public Policy and Management Practices

The Woods Institute holds policy forums and partners with government agencies, businesses and non-governmental organizations to ensure Stanford expertise is incorporated into decision-making outside the university so that effective ideas get translated into action.

Uncommon Dialogues

As a neutral third-party convener, the Woods Institute sponsors dialogues and policy forums that bring business, government and NGO leaders together with experts from Stanford and other academic institutions to create practical solutions on key environmental policy issues.

Business Partnerships

The Stanford Energy and Environment Affiliates Program is a partnership between member companies and Stanford's Woods Institute, Precourt Institute for Energy and Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials that supports advanced research and education across a broad range of issues ranging from end-use energy efficiency to supply-chain security to sustainable land-use management.