NEW MEXICO: UNM-led Project Receives $15M from NSF EPSCoR
Researchers at The University of New Mexico are leading a $15M, five-year project funded by NSF EPSCoR that will engage communities in the American Intermountain West to collaboratively address the impacts of climate change, including drought, wildfires and community well-being. The project is being led by Mark Stone, professor in the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering at UNM.
The Transformation Network is a multi-disciplinary research effort based at UNM that represents diverse communities, sectors, disciplines and backgrounds that is aimed at improving regional sustainability.
The Network is composed of UNM and seven other universities: Colorado State University, the University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, Washington State University, Utah State University, New Mexico Tech and New Mexico State University. The Network has also partnered with over 50 organizations across the American Intermountain West to elevate the Network’s capacity.
Stone, who is also director of UNM’s Resilience Institute, said the massive impacts of climate change have affected the western United States especially hard in recent years. Much of the area has been stressed by rapid urban population growth while at the same time having to deal with catastrophic wildfires and extended drought. The Nework’s research focuses on both Tribal and rural communities to understand how systemic inequities have compounded climate change impacts. This approach provides an opportunity to utilize knowledge systems from both communities and to work towards equitable research and management practices.