Research Topics

The School of Earth and Sustainability has outlined eight research areas of excellence in sustainability. These areas are interdisciplinary and linked, but from food security to climate change and beyond, chances are if you are interested in sustainability, you'll find what you're looking for here.

At UMass Amherst, we take food seriously. But that doesn't stop in our dining halls. Our Department of Food Science is home to the No. 1 food science PhD program in the nation and is recognized as one of the top food science departments worldwide. Sustainable food and farming is a pillar of the Stockbridge School of Agriculture, where cutting-edge research contributes significantly to our consistent ranking among the top agricultural sciences programs, coming in at No. 1 in the U.S. and No. 5 in the world.

The College of Engineering's energy, environment, and water research area connects environmental, civil, mechanical, and chemical engineering programs with an interdisciplinary focus on solving problems. Faculty in these areas are pushing forward what we can do in areas from green biomaterials to offshore wind and beyond. 

Researchers in the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences work to forge the future of computing to advance the common good. The Public Interest Technology Initiative works across disciplines to focus on the development and realization of socially responsible solutions to the challenges of a technology-driven world.