Climate and Environmental Solutions in Critical Landscapes*
(*Environments or areas of land essential for ecological survival, often analyzed through a questioning, socially conscious lens)
Who We Are
A globally respected cohort of faculty, researchers, students, and partners who work across disciplines to study the environmental challenges facing us all. Alongside communities, government agencies and fellow researchers, we generate knowledge, tools, and partnerships that help address the environmental challenges shaping the Sierra Nevada, the San Joaquin Valley, and beyond.
What We Do
We conduct field-based, data-informed, and community-engaged research on climate, energy, fire, water, ecosystems, and working landscapes. Our research supports decision-making, informs policy and land stewardship, and helps communities respond to environmental change.
How We Work
Our work builds on UC Merced’s strengths in applied, and collaborative research that produces science with impact. We collaborate across disciplines and institutions, working with agencies, local tribes, community organizations, industry, and other research partners. By integrating science, technology, and lived experience, we help develop solutions that are practical, place-based, and responsive to real-world needs.
Where It Matters
The environmental challenges shaping California are also shaping communities around the world. Based at UC Merced, the Earth Institute is uniquely positioned to study the connections between land, water, climate, energy, ecosystems, and people, producing knowledge that informs solutions at regional, statewide, and global scales.
Research Centers
Equitable Climate Solutions
Fire Resilience
Sustainable Energy
Research pillars
Biodiversity & Ecosystems
Water Resources
our research
Our Work
