SNR + OALS = School of Natural Resources and the Environment

In the arid Southwest, and around the world, we are increasingly aware of the human imprint on the environment. In the context of these challenges, we are continually creating new opportunities to be more effective and relevant. Towards that end, in March 2009, the faculty of the School of Natural Resources (SNR) and the Office of Arid Land Studies (OALS) decided to merge the two units into the School of Natural Resources and the Environment. The new SNRE builds on the strengths of both SNR and OALS to address emerging natural resource issues and the critical nature of these problems in arid regions.

We address grand challenges in environmental sciences by integrating across the boundaries of biology, physical science, resource management, and international resource issues. This horizontal integration speaks to the urgent need to address complex issues in the environment with interdisciplinary science strategies linked to real world solutions.

We respond directly to the demands of society for solutions to natural resource issues through vertical integration of the processes of scientific discovery, applications research, teaching, stakeholder engagement, extension, and decision support systems.

We innovate in providing distinctive professional education for natural resource practitioners, including expanding distance-based options for extending the reach of our teaching, research and service programs within Arizona and abroad.

SNRE faculty, staff and students address a wide range of natural resource challenges. The types of problem we work on include:

How can we best manage water and watersheds to balance current and future human needs with ecosystem health?
What tools and techniques are most appropriate for sustainable rangeland management in semi-arid regions?
What strategies are optimal for conserving wildlife in rapidly urbanizing landscapes?
What is required to mitigate and adapt to climate change?
How can we best sustain the arid regions of the world?
What role can advanced technologies play in the monitoring and management of arid lands?
What resources do arid ecosystems hold for the development of new medicines, natural products and new crops?

We invite you to explore our web site further to learn how we develop science and solutions for natural resource management.

Vital statistics

The School of Natural Resources and the Environment is home to 45 faculty and 8 senior academic staff. The School has 113 undergraduate majors and 120 graduate students. The School typically generates $7.5M annually in sponsored grants and contracts.

Find our more about us, through the video below and through our program areas in the sidebar.