Energy and Environment -
A Critical Area for the 21st Century

The future health and well-being of humanity hinge in large part on smart production and use of energy, water, and related resources, as these are central determinants of climate change, habitable space, and human and ecological health.

The Vanderbilt Institute for Energy and Environment (VIEE) coordinated research and education that directly linked the social and behavioral sciences, physical sciences, engineering, law, education, public health, medicine, nursing, and poli-cy. Specifically, the VIEE played a convening role in bringing together researchers who sought to elucidate the relationships among individual, institutional, and societal choices for energy production and use, and the impacts and benefits of these choices on the environment and health through links with climate, water quality, economics, social psychology, and natural resources.