University of Iowa
ER-15: Sustainability Research Identification

The University of Iowa Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination (CHEEC) is a multidisciplinary environmental health research center dedicated to supporting and conducting research to identify, measure and prevent adverse health outcomes related to exposure to environmental toxins. The Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research (CGRER) was established in 1990 with the intent of promoting interdisciplinary efforts that focus on global environmental change. While environmental change is constant and natural, CGRER focuses on the human-induced acceleration of such change caused by modern technologies, lifestyles and population growth. Concerns about global change encompass multiple issues including its effects on natural ecosystems, environments and resources, and on human health, culture and social systems. The Public Policy Center at the University of Iowa examines a variety of issues in multiple disciplines, including health policy, housing and land use policy, social science policy, transportation policy, and environmental policy. The Health Policy Research Program investigates the effects of policy initiatives and government activities on cost of, access to, and quality of health care systems and their effects on consumers, health care providers, policymakers and businesses across Iowa and the nation. The Housing Policy Research Program provides timely research for policymakers and practitioners to improve policies, programs and outcomes in housing and community development. The Social Science Policy Program conducts research on crime and justice, including criminal offending, victimization, and imprisonment, on inequality and opportunity including the social and political implications of economic development, and on the implications of public finance policy. The Transportation Policy Research program focuses on local, state and national policy issues such as traffic congestion, air quality, mobility for disadvantaged groups, maintenance of infrastructure, technological advances, and new manufacturing techniques for roadways. The Environmental Policy Program considers issues such as water use, pollution and climate change. These challenges are considered from an economic, legal, or policy perspective.

A review was conducted to determine which UI faculty members engage in sustainability research. Faculty research profiles were reviewed to determine whether any of their research areas involve aspects of sustainability (economic, environmental, social). The faculty profile review began with interdisciplinary centers such as the CHEEC, CGRER, and the Public Policy Center. Faculty profiles in departments with sustainability-related courses were also examined.