Coupled biological and physical systems
The challenge is to understand the systems that form the environment from the molecular to the planetary scale, and to understand how these systems are linked and interact. This research builds on, supports, and integrates many disciplines and tools, including ecology, geology, chemistry, molecular biology, genomics, soil sciences, conservation biology, demography, atmospheric, oceanic and Earth systems science, hydrology, environmental engineering, and GIS (geographic information systems).
The following are three interrelated major research challenges in biological and physical systems:
Biogeochemical Cycles
Climate Variability and Change
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics
