The California State University (CSU) has announced the launch of the CSU Consortium on Climate Adaptation that will bring together faculty experts, staff and students from across the university system to enhance the application of climate change adaptation and climate action education and research.
With collaboration and coordination across the CSU’s 23 campuses, this inclusive consortium will support student success and preparation for emerging career opportunities, while maximizing the impact of existing climate research occurring at the CSU. The consortium will also serve to facilitate greater community engagement and partnerships with high schools, community colleges and University of California campuses.
“We are thrilled to establish this groundbreaking interdisciplinary consortium to champion scholarship, research and creative activities in climate adaptation across the university,” said CSU Chancellor Mildred García, who also served as co-chair of the Aspen Institute’s Higher Ed Climate Task Force. “Certainly, California’s recent and historic natural disasters underscore the existential importance of this work to our state and nation. Through innovative partnerships with state agencies, community organizations, the private sector and philanthropic leaders, the CSU will drive transformative change in ecosystem resilience, environmental sustainability and human health.”
Megan Jennings, a conservation ecologist based at San Diego State University, will serve as the inaugural interim executive director for the new consortium. With seed funding from the CSU, this consortium is expected to grow sustainably through extramural funding.
The CSU Consortium on Climate Adaptation represents one of 11 systemwide CSU consortia that addresses the most vital needs of California by conducting research on a breadth of topics, from agriculture and biotechnology to desert, ocean life and water and provides experiential learning opportunities for students, which prepares them for the workforce.
“What sets the CSU apart is the transformative effect of this collaborative research work. For students, engaging in hands-on research and creative projects fosters curiosity, deepens learning and builds critical skills necessary for future careers or graduate study,” said Ganesh Raman, CSU assistant vice chancellor for Research. “For faculty, research opens doors to new innovations and partnerships while mentoring the next generation of leaders. Together, these experiences create a ripple effect, strengthening California’s economy, uplifting communities and driving progress on the most pressing issues for the state.”
Read about some of the climate action research already taking place across the CSU, and learn more about CSU multi-campus collaborations, also known as affinity groups, that bring together expertise, ideas and resources to address important issues that impact communities locally, nationally and globally.
About the California State University
The California State University is the nation’s largest four-year public university system, providing transformational opportunities for upward mobility to more than 460,000 students from all socioeconomic backgrounds. More than half of CSU students are from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds, and more than one-quarter of undergraduates are first-generation college students. Because the CSU’s 23 universities provide a high-quality education at an incredible value, they are rated among the best in the nation for promoting social mobility in national college rankings from U.S. News & World Report, the Wall Street Journal and Washington Monthly. The CSU powers California and the nation, sending nearly 125,000 career-ready graduates into the workforce each year. In fact, one in every 20 Americans holding a college degree earned it at the CSU. Connect with and learn more about the CSU in the CSU newsroom.