Grand Challenges in Environmental Sciences

About this book

To identify high-priority environmental science projects, Grand Challenges in Environmental Sciences explores the most important areas of research for the next generation. The book's goal is not to list the world's biggest environmental problems. Rather it is to determine areas of opportunity that - with a concerted investment - could yield significant new findings.

Contents

Executive Summary; Chapter 1: Introduction; Context: The Multidisciplinary Nature of Environmental Science Study Purpose and Scope; Approach; Organization of this Report; Chapter 2: The Grand Challenges; Biogeochemical Cycles; Biological Diversity and Ecosystem Functioning; Climate Variability; Hydrologic Forecasting; Infectious Disease and the Environment; Institutions and Resource Use; Land-Use Dynamics; Reinventing the Use of Materials; Chapter 3: Recommended Immediate Research Investments; Biological Diversity and Ecosystem Functioning; Hydrologic Forecasting; Infectious Disease and the Environment; Land-Use Dynamics; Chapter 4: Implementation Issues; Complexity of Environmental Phenomena: An Overall Research Vision; Implementation of Regional Approaches and the Role of Research Centers; Building of Capacity for Interdisciplinary Problem-Oriented Research; Need for Interagency Support of Grand Challenge Research; Need to Improve the Usefulness of Environmental Science Research; References; Appendix A: Letter of Solicitation; Appendix B: Authors of Suggested Grand Challenges

Customer Reviews

Biography

Committee on Grand Challenges in Environmental Sciences, Oversight Commission for the Committee on Grand Challenges in Environmental Sciences