A woman in a hard hat and gloves kneels on a hillside within a recently-burned forest, inserting a probe into the soil while surrounded by blackened trees. A long, windy portion of a river flowing through a blooming green mountainous landscape with clear skies

CESD scientists focus on enhancing understanding of the impacts of global climate change. Through extensive field research and innovative climate modeling, the division aims to identify effective pathways to mitigate climate change and minimize its environmental and societal consequences.

 A sputtering pile of mud in the foreground spurts gray gloop into the air, while an industrial-looking power plant in the background releases steam

EGD scientists focus on advancing tools and capabilities to help support sustainable use of Earth’s energy resources, especially as it relates to energy infrastructure, carbon capture and sequestration, water resource management, and the societal and environmental impact of energy acquisition.

EESA consists of five departments which serve as the administrative home for staff based on their scientific expertise. In the crosscutting nature of the research and disciplines in EESA, Department staff are likely to support more than one research program, but are typically assigned to only one Division.

Recent Publications
The forest floor of a recently-burned forest surrounded by charred trees, with a vibrant green fern emerging from the ashes

EESA has taken on 5 ambitious, but achievable, Earth and Environmental Grand Challenges. These challenges embody our most urgent research objectives for the coming decade.