Welcome to the College of Natural Resources and the Environment. NRE is comprised of 8 academic departments that provide degree programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels, and an interdisciplinary Environmental Sciences Program offering a bachelor's degree. It is also home to the Stockbridge School, which offers a two-year associate’s degree program in six different majors.

The College is focused on the discovery of fundamental biological, chemical, environmental, and human processes and the translation of these understandings into opportunities for novel solutions to local, regional, and global problems in natural resources and the environment. Areas in which the College has already developed national and international reputations for teaching and research include:

• Evaluation of impacts of science and technology on issues of human health and wellness.
• Addressing issues associated with land use planning, protection of biodiversity, and environmental quality locally, regionally, and globally.
• The application of genomics and proteomics to the study of agriculturally and environmentally important organisms.
• Integration of studies on the molecular, cellular, organismal, population, community, and ecosystem level.
• Elucidation of genetic diversity (microbial, plant, and animal).
• Use of Information Technology such as geographic information systems and bioinformatics as research and teaching tools.

As you browse the web site, I hope you will sense the excitement we feel as we continue to find new ways to improve our instructional programming, using the latest in instructional technology, and as we continually adopt improved teaching and learning methods involving an active learning pedagogy. Our research programs are no less exciting, ranging from research at the very cutting edge of basic science to applications of that research to current problems faced by the Commonwealth and nation. And many of our award-winning outreach programs are produced by scholars with some of the most impressive of national reputations.

It is, indeed, an exciting time and place. To experience that excitement more fully, pay us a virtual visit periodically, but also do plan to visit in person one of these days.