Strategic research areas
At the Department of Environmental Systems Science (D-USYS), we explore environmental systems and empower people and society to develop science-based solutions. Our research is organized around five strategic research areas that reflect both the urgency of today's challenges and the opportunities for creating a sustainable future.
Research at D-USYS is focused on five strategic research issues which are carried out across six institutes.
Ecosystems and Biodiversity
This research area is focused on the processes that shape ecosystems and biodiversity, their resilience to changes, their sustainable management, and their relevance for human and animal health.
Climate
This research area focuses on the processes that drive weather and climate, and on understanding how climate interacts with ecological, economic, and social systems across local to global scales.
Agricultural & Food Systems
This research area is centered around the sustainable management of agroecosystems. The goal is to ensure resilient and productive food systems while safeguarding biodiversity, ecosystem services, and natural resources.
Natural Resources
This research area studies efficient, sustainable, and circular use of ecosystem-based natural resources, especially food and fiber, water, land, and sustainable materials.
Sustainable Transformations
This research area examines how societies can transition toward sustainability and how environmental systems science can inform, accelerate, and guide these transformations.
Cross-Cutting topics
While each strategic research area addresses distinct questions, the most pressing sustainability challenges cannot be solved within disciplinary boundaries alone. D-USYS therefore promotes strong connections across all research areas through four cross-cutting topics that strengthen collaboration, innovation, and societal impact.
- Open research and data
- Data and information science
- Societal engagement, collaboration and co-creation
- Lifelong learning
These topics connect our research areas, enabling collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange across disciplines. Together, they amplify the impact of D-USYS research and help advance sustainable solutions for society and the environment.