The Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie’s newest department, was founded in 2002.
Global Ecology is the study of the global environment—the earth’s ecosystems, its land, its atmosphere, its oceans, and how all those parts interact. The global environment is almost unbelievably complex, with countless organisms and diverse processes interacting over scales from the microscopic to the continental. We increasingly have the instruments, models, and theories to address fundamental questions about the way the system works. In coming decades, some of the most important breakthroughs in science will be in global ecology.
The goal of the Department of Global Ecology is to understand how natural processes and human actions work together to shape the behavior of the earth. This understanding is fundamental, but it is more than that. It gives us the foundation to be more effective stewards of our planet.
Since its formation, the Department of Global Ecology has emerged as an international leader in its field. Work of Carnegie scientists on climate change, alternative energy sources, remote sensing, and other topics has been covered by major news media. Carnegie scientists are leaders in many high-profile projects, including the Nobel Prize-winning work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
The Department has identified two key areas—coastal oceans and global agriculture—in which increased effort is needed. The Global Ecology Initiative seeks $35 million to build on the proven capacity of the department to provide scientific understanding of emerging environmental concerns.
Additional information can be obtained from the department’s website http://dge.ciw.edu [1]