Year in review: ERI and partners make strides toward a resilient future
As Hoosiers reflect on 2021, the Environmental Resilience Institute (ERI) is celebrating a year of transition, progress, and growth in building a more resilient future for Indiana.
Art installation challenges viewers to reconsider their relationship to the environment
Maria Whiteman, ERI’s artistic social practice fellow, has always centered her work on the relationships between the human and natural world. Her upcoming installation, Fungus et umbra sumus, directs viewers’ attention to the shadowy ground around tree stumps, inside dead trees, and under leaves—the world of fungi.
IU-led climate action programs to expand with $1.25M McKinney Family Foundation grant
Indiana University's Environmental Resilience Institute has received a $1.25 million grant from the McKinney Family Foundation.The grant will expand programs that help Indiana communities take action against climate change and connect students with valuable career training in sustainability and the environment.
ERI grant allows frontline communities to tell their stories
Guest producers are collaborating with In This Climate to tell the stories of people on the frontlines of climate change. The collaborations are the result of an environmental justice-storytelling grant awarded to In This Climate by the Environmental Resilience Institute.
IUPUI conference highlights ERI, climate action in Indiana
A statewide virtual gathering of sustainability and environmental advocates shined a light on the Environmental Resilience Institute’s work helping Indiana communities address climate change.
This fall, Indiana University’s Prepared for Environmental Change Grand Challenge welcomed its eleventh sponsored faculty member. Sara Gregg, an associate professor of history in the IU College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of History brings an environmental lens to US history, with a research focus on agricultural and land policy.
Bookworms project encourages kids to get their hands dirty at Science Fest
On Oct. 9, adults and youth attending Indiana University’s Science Fest learned about the relationship between soil, worms, and ecosystem health and were invited to participate in the Bookworms community science project. The exhibit was organized by the Environmental Resilience Institute and IUPUI School of Science.
IU joins new USGS-funded Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center
Indiana University is collaborating on a new Climate Adaptation Science Center (CASC) funded by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and dedicated to advancing science in response to the climate crisis in the Midwest.
ERI garners state’s top environmental award for community-focused climate resilience work
On Sept. 23, Indiana University’s Environmental Resilience Institute (ERI) received the state’s most prestigious environmental award for its work in helping Indiana communities prepare for climate change.
Beat the Heat communities gather temperature data to map local hot spots
On Aug. 23, with temperatures soaring above 90 degrees throughout Indiana, local government staff and volunteers in Clarksville and Richmond, including seniors and school-age children, set out by bike and by car with an unusual goal in mind: gathering local temperature data.
In This Climate returns to add context to current climate events
Hurricanes, wildfires, heatwaves, and drought. Keeping up with climate-related news this summer sometimes felt like drinking from a firehose. To help listeners make sense of the latest climate news, In This Climate podcast returns for its third season.
ERI webinar series to highlight environmental justice and equity issues
The Environmental Resilience Institute’s Prepared for Environmental Change (PfEC) Webinar Series is back for its 2021-2022 season. Launched in 2018, the PfEC series dives into environmental topics relevant to local governments throughout Indiana and the Midwest
Report highlights potential benefits of an environmental justice mapping tool for Indiana
As part of an effort to evaluate how Hoosiers might benefit from a mapping tool that highlights Indiana communities overburdened by pollution, a team of Indiana University researchers recently conducted a review of federal and state environmental justice mapping tools used across the country.
Hoosiers express greater concern about future pandemics, climate change
A new survey from the Indiana University Environmental Resilience Institute reveals that Hoosiers are more concerned about a future disease outbreak than they were before 2020. According to the Hoosier Life Survey 2.0 results, nearly 1 in 2 Indiana residents anticipate that their family is likely to be affected by a new disease outbreak in the next decade -- compared to the 1 out of 5 who felt the same way when they were surveyed in 2019.
Scientists go down the cicada hole
From the Midwest to the East Coast, cicadas from Brood X have emerged in full force, making a lot of racket while trying to find a mate and then actually doing the deed. Although their days are numbered, they’ll leave behind billions of eggs and millions of holes in the ground. These pits, created when the cicadas emerge from the soil, will stick around for the duration of the growing season, venting greenhouse gases.
EfEC teacher workshops host educators from across the country
Since 2017, science teachers from Indiana and beyond have been attending Educating for Environmental Change (EfEC) to get ideas on how to effectively teach environmental science and climate change in the classroom. With this year’s program being held online for the second year in a row, teachers from across the county virtually flocked to Indiana University’s Bloomington campus to deepen their understanding of key concepts related to environmental change.
Climate scientist on last weekend’s Bloomington rain: “It’s not like this was an absolute fluke…”
As of Wednesday, the National Weather Service is predicting 4 to 6 inches more rain for Bloomington, from Friday afternoon through Tuesday evening. That follows 5 to 7 inches of rain that fell over a shorter period last weekend, which flooded a downtown Bloomington street. Does last weekend’s single event prove the case for climate change?
ERIT case study: Huntington County Develops Flood Response Plan to Protect Residents and Property
After seeing an increase in flooding events, Huntington County, Indiana, developed a flood response and evacuation plan with its cities and towns to reduce injury, loss of life, and property damage during floods.
Climate engineering research is essential to a just transition and sustainable future
The U.S. National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine have recently recommended an expansive federal research effort into climate engineering techniques. These proposed interventions, like creating a layer of microscopic droplets in the upper atmosphere or brightening low clouds over the ocean, aim to reduce solar radiation arriving at Earth’s surface.
ERIT case study: Bloomington, Indiana installs backup power systems to protect critical facilities
To ensure residents would not be without essential services during a power outage, Bloomington, Indiana, installed backup power generators at their critical facilities.
IU continues clean up on campus after Friday flooding
Like many other locations near downtown Bloomington, Indiana University is working to recover from the heavy rain that flooded areas near campus Friday night.
Clarksville gets $122K grant to mitigate risks of extreme heat
The Town of Clarksville is investing in the health and safety of current and future residents by getting ahead of growing heat and climate issues in the area.
How to encourage farming with trees
In a recent paper, Lingxi Chenyang, an environmental law fellow at Indiana University’s Environmental Resilience Institute, and her co-authors lay out the case for wider agroforestry adoption in the US and how changes to federal policy can help.
Some basic facts have become crystal clear over the past decade. Climate change is here. It is destructive. And we have done very little to control it.
Richmond, Clarksville work with IU to study how to combat extreme heat in their cities
As this summer heats up, Indiana University is partnering with two cities to find out what parts of those communities get the hottest and who is most vulnerable to extreme heat.
IU partners with Indiana cities to address risks posed by summer heat
With the hottest months of the year approaching, a pair of Indiana cities are embarking on a two-year study of high heat’s effect on residents to develop local strategies and protect against the negative health impacts of summer heat.
IDEM announces Clean Community Challenge pilot program
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) today announced six communities that will be piloting updates to the agency's Clean Community Challenge. The Clean Community Challenge is a voluntary program that recognizes and assists Indiana cities or towns that take proactive and positive environmental actions to promote community sustainability.
The health impacts of lead contamination have gained renewed attention from the Biden administration. As part of the American Jobs Plan, it has focused on one aspect of exposure, calling on Congress to invest $45 billion to eliminate and replace the nation’s aging lead pipes and water service lines. The proposal, however, lacks support from Republican lawmakers, and does not address other sources of lead exposure that still plague the nation.
A Bright Future for Energy in Indiana
Experts say conditions are right for a transition to solar and renewable energy in Indiana. A subsidiary of the Duke Energy Corporation, Duke Energy Renewables, has announced plans for the $180 million “Hoosier Jack” solar farm in Vigo and Sullivan counties.
Energy insecurtiy and the COVID-19 pandemic
Professor Sanya Carley’s research focuses on policy and other efforts aimed at advancing the innovation of low-carbon and efficient energy technologies in both the electricity and transportation sectors. Her recent projects focus on the U.S. energy transition, including a study of vulnerable populations to the transition and a study of public acceptance of energy infrastructure.
Churches partner with IUPUI to provide free home lead test kits for northwest Indianapolis residents
The Indianapolis Ministerium hopes the kits will empower residents to test their homes for lead and seek answers if they get a positive test result.
Virtual workshop to address chemical toxicants in water and interactions with climate change
Understanding the connections between water contamination and human health, especially in the context of climate change, is critical to evaluating exposure risk and identifying next steps to eliminating these risks to all people.
Does bad air cause lung cancer?
The links between air quality and cardio-pulmonary disease have been well-documented. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed that long-term air pollution exposure also causes inflammatory responses in the lungs that can lead to the most severe cases of COVID disease. But even before COVID, approximately 7 million people died from air pollution every year and it takes years off the human lifespan in countries such as Pakistan with consistently poor air quality.
What causes air pollution in Indianapolis, and how does it compare to others?
Indiana may have a reputation for being one of the most polluted states in the country, but when it comes to the air we breathe, how does Indianapolis hold up?
ERI highlights new research and tools during online summit
Indiana University’s Environmental Resilience Institute (ERI) hosted its biannual data summit on May 21 to share affiliated researchers’ new research and tools. The summit included presentations on urban green infrastructure, how the pandemic has influenced Hoosiers’ attitudes on climate change, how farmers think about resilience, and an overview of the ERI Data Platform.
Coal-rich Indiana is going solar. It's not easy
The coal mines dotting Indiana's southwest corner are quickly giving way to a new source of energy that will help power Hoosier State factories and farms in the decades to come — the sun.
ERIT Case Study: Juday Creek Restoration
When the University of Notre Dame began development on a new golf course completed in 1997, community groups worked with researchers to improve the ecosystem health of a historic creek located in the planned development area while creating a natural feature for the golf course.
Kravitz: Climate engineering’s effect on crop yields uncertain
Engineering the climate to stave off the worst effects of climate change may one day be considered by world governments. If such a plan is undertaken, understanding the impact on global crop yields would be essential.
Cicadas emerge after 17 years, threaten young trees, experts say
For 17 years, they’ve tunneled and fed off tree roots underground, and now they’ve emerged, singing and scaling trees in southern Indiana.
How will migratory birds in South America adapt to future climate change?
The answer to the question of how migratory birds in South America will adapt to future climate change remains uncertain, in part because migratory songbirds that breed in the southern hemisphere are not as well studied as their northern-hemisphere counterparts.
ITC podcast: Embracing Brood X
In anticipation of perodical cicadas' arrival, In This Climate podcast checked in with IU Professor Emeritus Keith Clay, an affiliate of the Environmental Resilience Institute, who has spent time studying periodical cicadas. During his interview with ITC hosts Jim Shanahan and Gabe Filippelli, Clay touches on how cicadas affect forests, their evolutionary survival strategy, and which trees they prefer to lay their eggs.
Sustainability boot camp prepares students to work with statewide partners
A virtual sustainability boot camp is getting 28 Indiana University students ready to assist Indiana businesses, nonprofits and municipalities during the summer. The weeklong program started May 17 to train the Indiana Climate Fellows in greenhouse gas emissions inventory and climate action planning.
UNESCO x LVMH project provide solutions in Amazon biosphere reserves
UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program and LVMH are working together to reconcile conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use by implementing sustainable development respectful of local cultural contexts.
Sens. Mike Braun and Todd Young and Rep. Trey Hollingsworth spoke at Nature Conservancy of Indiana’s Indiana Agriculture and Climate Roundtable.
Online map tracks Indiana's green infrastructure
A new online tool shows where green infrastructure exists in Indiana and where it is needed.
They're coming: Millions of cicadas likely to emerge in Central Indiana within the week
They're coming. And soon. Millions of Brood X cicadas are likely to begin emerging across central Indiana within the week, according to experts.
Richmond Common Council approves students' climate change resolution
On Monday, a Richmond High School freshman and other Youth Climate Action Team members supported a climate resolution before Richmond Common Council. That resolution eventually passed 7-2.
Biden infrastructure plan includes $45 billion to replace nation's lead pipes, sewer lines
A multi-trillion-dollar infrastructure plan proposed by the Biden administration includes $45 billion in funding to replace lead pipes and sewer lines, a feature that could protect thousands of Hoosier children from lead contamination.
Ecology Psychology: Shahzeen Attari
She grew up in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and watched as the desert in that corner of the Arabian Peninsula was transformed into a major world metropolis. The transformation, she observed, carried with it both benefits and harms. One of the Science News 10 scientists under the age of 40 to watch in 2018, Attari now researches the psychology behind people’s understanding and will to action regarding water and energy resources, the environment, and climate change.
Brabson awards ERI affiliates with grants to expand research and outreach
The Brabson Library and Educational Foundation has awarded two research teams affiliated with Indiana University’s Environmental Resilience Institute (ERI) grants totaling nearly $37,500 to develop K-12 educational lessons on climate change and to expand research into bird-killing window strikes on the IU Bloomington campus.
Climate change and population changes in Indiana
WFYI All IN talks about how agricultural practices can be improved to better protect the environment in Indiana, a controversial bill about wetlands in Indiana, and how the housing market has been affected by the pandemic.
Beat the Heat grant provides resource to assist residents vulnerable on hot days
Richmond, IN has an opportunity to help those people after the city and Clarksville were selected for the state's two Beat the Heat grants made possible by Indiana University's Environmental Resilience Institute and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.
New law restricts local governments' ability to address climate change
House Bill 1191, now Public Law 180, takes away local governments’ power to restrict natural gas or set energy-saving regulations on buildings.
Gabriel Filippelli, Julie Goodspeed-Chadwick appointed IUPUI Chancellor's Professors
IUPUI Chancellor Nasser H. Paydar has appointed Gabriel Filippelli, a professor in the School of Science at IUPUI, and Julie Goodspeed-Chadwick, a professor in the Division of Liberal Arts at IUPUC, as Chancellor's Professors.
New IU tool maps green infrastructure in Hoosier communities
Indiana Green City Mapper allows residents and city planners to see maps of urban green infrastructure and other climate change-related data to maximize resilience benefits.
O’Neill students play key role in release of local climate action plans
Two O’Neill graduate students in the Resilience Cohort recently helped communities in Indiana take an important step toward promoting environmental sustainability: creating a climate action plan (CAP).
Biden’s infrastructure plan targets lead pipes that threaten public health across the US
President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan includes a proposal to upgrade the U.S. drinking water distribution system by removing and replacing dangerous lead pipes. As a geochemist and environmental health researcher who has studied the heartbreaking impacts of lead poisoning in children for decades, I am happy to see due attention paid to this silent killer, which disproportionately affects poor communities of color.
Local farmer honored as environmental steward
A local farmer is being recognized for her work connecting Hoosiers to the natural areas in the region and building a network of young farmers.
How to start tackling your home’s water — and climate — footprint
In 2014, engineer Shahzeen Attari asked 457 university students to draw a picture of how they thought water reached the taps in their homes, and where it went after that. Nearly a third of the diagrams missed the water treatment plant, and almost two-thirds forgot the wastewater treatment plant. On one, the pipes going into the house were labeled “magic.”
Carmel residents honored by Environment Resilience Institute
Miranda Frausto and Leslie Webb have been named Hoosier Resilience Heroes by the Environmental Resilience Institute at Indiana University, which described the recognition as being for their work ensuring a safe, healthy environment for their families, their neighbors and future generations.
New green infrastructure tool helps inform Indiana communities’ resilience planning
A new tool created by Indiana University researchers is helping Indiana local governments maximize the benefits of urban trees and other green infrastructure to become more resilient against the impacts of climate change.
What to know about the billions of cicadas emerging in Indiana this month
Brood X, one of the largest groups of periodical cicadas and known for its loud mating call, will come out of the ground across the Eastern United States after 17 years spent underground.
IU announces new leaders of Prepared for Environmental Change Grand Challenge initiative
Indiana University has appointed faculty members Gabriel Filippelli and Sarah Mincey as executive director and managing director respectively of the Prepared for Environmental Change Grand Challenge initiative, the second project developed and funded through IU's Grand Challenges Program.
Climate change predicted to affect agriculture, seasons in Indiana
On April 20, many parts of Indiana received a blanket of snow and freezing weather warnings. IU researchers said this can be attributed to climate change, and events like this are one of the many consequences Indiana residents could see in the future.
IU's Janet McCabe confirmed as deputy administrator of EPA under Biden administration
Janet McCabe, director of the Indiana University Environmental Resilience Institute and a professor of practice at the IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law at IUPUI, has been confirmed by the United States Senate as deputy administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
ERI study: Artificial light at night changes seasonal responses in birds
The expansion of human-occupied environments has led to cities that seemingly never sleep thanks to artificial light at night. While artificial light makes it easier for people to be active at night, it also disrupts the daily light cycles and biological rhythms of living things.
To address risks of lead in water, IUPUI researchers partner with faith organizations
Two campus institutions collaborate with Indianapolis Ministerium to provide free resources to communities at greatest risk of harm from lead.
Climate scientists: Nature's destruction makes humans more vulnerable to disease
As President Biden and world leaders talk about climate change this week, they face pressure to act on a related crisis - the loss of nature. For evidence of what's at stake, scientists point to the pandemic we're living through right now.
Climate Policy: A breakdown of the first 100 days of the Biden Administration
Every Earth Day, we hear a lot about the little things we can all do to help the planet; recycle, trash clean-up, take public transportation, wash clothes in cold water, the list goes on. The little things are important, they can make a difference, but won’t solve the climate crisis. There is going to have to be some heavy lifting and debate about policy. A better understanding of what’s being done, or proposed is another small thing you can do.
Global food systems depend on fertilizers with phosphate. We need to act now before this nonrenewable resource runs out.
Environmental efforts in Indiana
To mark Earth Day WFYI All IN learns about the efforts of four people who were recognized for their work in their communities addressing issues around the environment. They also talk to the leader of IU's Environmental Resilience Institute, which recognized a total of 13 people across Indiana for their work.
16 virtual events and outdoor activities you can do to celebrate Earth Day this year
As Earth Day approaches, Hoosier environmentalists are planning a slew of events and activities for people who want to get outside, help protect nature in their communities or just learn more about the environment.
Do landfills contribute to climate change? What's being done to stop it?
The average American throws out roughly four pounds of trash every day: Food they don’t eat, packaging for items they buy, things they no longer use. With more than 330 million people in the United States, that’s enough waste to fill more than 60,000 garbage trucks on a daily basis.
13 Hoosiers recognized for their commitment to Indiana’s environment
In advance of Earth Day, Indiana University’s Environmental Resilience Institute (ERI) is recognizing 13 Hoosier Resilience Heroes for contributions to their communities and the environment. The honorees include professionals, students, and volunteers dedicated to growing sustainable food, promoting environmental justice, preparing Indiana for the impacts of climate change, and more.
ERI recognizes 13 Hoosiers for their commitment to Indiana’s environment
In advance of Earth Day, Indiana University’s Environmental Resilience Institute (ERI) is recognizing 13 Hoosier Resilience Heroes for contributions to their communities and the environment. The honorees include professionals, students, and volunteers dedicated to growing sustainable food, promoting environmental justice, preparing Indiana for the impacts of climate change, and more.
Survey: Majority of Hoosiers view university, policymaker collaboration as crucial for Indiana
A new statewide survey commissioned as part of the Indiana University Grand Challenges program reveals that three out of four Hoosiers agree that universities in Indiana have a responsibility to help improve their surrounding communities.
Cicadas 2021: 10 things to know about Brood X
Cicadas in Indiana are nothing new. For many Hoosiers, in fact, their annual buzzing is a welcome signal for the start of summer. But this year, it’s different. This year is the reemergence of Brood X, one of the largest groups of cicadas that comes just once every 17 years.
Bloomington is at the epicenter of an event that will soon bring a cacophony of buzzing and thousands upon thousands of red-eyed cicadas to yards, fields and woods across southern Indiana.
Bradford pear trees are highly invasive. This is why they aren't banned in Indiana.
Invasive plants are wreaking havoc on Indiana's ecosystems. It's why last year the state put the Terrestrial Plants Rule into effect, banning 44 species of them from the landscaping trade. But experts say there were a few glaring plants left off the list. Most notably? The Bradford pear tree. This plant, favored by landscapers for its beautiful white blooms and stately appearance, is one of Indiana's most criminal invasive species.
The Village of Silverton, Ohio designed an energy plan and implemented cost-saving renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.
Indiana doctor says coronavirus leaked from lab is ‘extremely unlikely’
Questions remain about the origins of the coronavirus. According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) working draft report leaked to the Associated Press, transmission most likely occurred from animals to humans. News 8 spoke with Dr. Ana Bento, professor at IU School of Public Health who explained why the spread from animals to humans is the most likely scenario.
Ending Indiana wetlands safeguards hurts wildlife. Here's how it also hurts us.
Removing Indiana’s wetlands isn’t just bad for birds and wildlife – it’s bad for people. Hoosiers are facing the huge and expensive problem of agricultural runoff.
ERI collaborating on initiatives to boost research impact
To help researchers go the extra mile, ERI is supporting 7 new projects to bring climate and environmental science into the classrooms and communities of Indiana residents and others.
A year after launch, Hoosier Resilience Index informing community decision making
In November 2019, the Environmental Resilience Institute (ERI) launched the Hoosier Resilience Index (HRI) to help residents and local governments in Indiana learn about their vulnerabilities to climate change and assess how prepared they are to meet them. This month, ERI released a report summarizing the results of community self-assessments and the state of climate resilience among participants.
ERIT Case Study: Lucas County, OH Nutrient Source Inventory
In a new ERIT case study, see how the Toledo-Lucas County Sustainability Commission created a nutrient source inventory that identifies where nutrient runoff is occurring in the water basin to help reduce harmful algal blooms and improve water quality in the region.
Ticks, and peripheral arterial disease
As our climate changes, ticks are expanding their geographic range, bringing a host of diseases with them. This expansion has coincided with a rise in reports of tick-borne illnesses, making understanding the factors that put people at risk of contracting such diseases critical to protecting public health.
Disaster recovery experts discuss how to address climate risks in hazard planning
To help local governments understand how they can address a changing climate in their hazard planning, two experts discussed resources and examples during ERI’s March 10 webinar.
Beat the Heat program now accepting applications
The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs and Indiana University’s Environmental Resilience Institute have teamed up to offer Hoosier cities, counties and towns a Beat the Heat program, which aims to create sustainable, long-term projects, programs and educational material that assist residents in coping with hot days and the public health impacts associated with heat, according to an OCRA press release.
Carbon emissions went back up as COVID-19 restrictions lifted
Though carbon emissions went down during Stay-At-Home orders last year, the pandemic may not have had as much of an effect on air quality in 2020 as we once thought. A professor at IUPUI says as restrictions lifted, carbon emissions went right back up.
Calling all citizen-scientists: IU Herbarium seeking photos to document Indiana's flora
Indiana University is seeking citizen-scientists throughout Indiana to help photograph all plant species that comprise the state's flora.
IU professor faces first confirmation hearing for EPA deputy administrator position
IU McKinney School of Law‘s Janet McCabe expressed commitment to state-federal partnership and open dialogue with stakeholders during first confirmation hearing for EPA’s No.2 position.
Hoosier McCabe’s EPA nomination elevates climate change policies
The national spotlight shone on Indiana as the state’s own Janet McCabe got the nod from President Joe Biden for the No. 2 role at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Banning natural gas would cut emissions. But lawmakers don't want that happening in Indiana.
Cities across the country are pushing for electric-only buildings, some by banning natural gas, as part of an ongoing effort to curb emissions and stall climate change. But another national push is underway in state legislatures to prevent this type of ban from happening elsewhere — including in Indiana.
OCRA announces partnership with Indiana University to provide Beat the Heat program
The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs announced today a collaboration with the Indiana University Environmental Resilience Institute (ERI) to invite local Indiana governments to apply for the Beat the Heat program.
Getting started: Zionsville unveils Climate Action Plan
Zionsville Mayor Emily Styron’s administration has released its Climate Action Plan, which aims to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in Zionsville during the next several decades. The plan is the first of its kind in Zionsville.
Texas, COVID and a crisis of energy insecurity
The Texas electricity blackout is a catastrophe many years in the making from under-investment and under-appreciation of the fragility of our infrastructure, but it also shines a light on the more chronic problem of energy insecurity.
Learn how farmers are adapting to a changing climate.
Local farmers are beginning to prepare for the growing season. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Climate Change has the potential to impact Agricultural Productivity. One local farmer gives us his insight into the changing climate.
Many scientists believe climate change is an ongoing problem our world is facing. If changes don’t happen soon, some believe it will have major impacts on future generations.
IU's Grunwald Gallery features Hoosiers' lives in two exhibits
The Grunwald exhibit “Hoosier Lifelines: Environmental and Social Change Along the Monon, 1847-2020” uses both art and history to describe a network of industry, commerce, agriculture, and energy that Hoosiers built during the line’s 100-plus years of service.
N.C.A.A. Basketball Tournaments Will Welcome Fans After All
Some epidemiologists say it’s a bad idea, because the games will attract people from all over the country to Indianapolis and San Antonio, the cities that will host every game of the men’s and women’s tournaments.
Notre Dame, IUPUI to provide free home lead screening kits to Marion and Vigo counties
The University of Notre Dame and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) have received a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to expand the Notre Dame Lead Innovation Team’s (ND LIT) pilot lead screening program to Indiana’s Marion and Vigo counties.
IU and Hoosier communities partner with green projects to cut carbon emissions
The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is the goal of an Indiana University and Hoosier government partnership that also aims to help communities measure and manage the gases that contribute to climate change.
ERI analysis tool to help Indiana communities evaluate the costs and benefits of cutting emissions
Indiana University’s Environmental Resilience Institute (ERI) is launching a new tool to help local governments measure the benefits of carbon-cutting actions to address climate change and evaluate the cost effectiveness of green initiatives.
ERIT project gives IU students insight into local government resilience planning
Through a collaboration with Indiana University students at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, 11 new case studies have been added to the Environmental Resilience Institute Toolkit (ERIT).
We Mustn’t Let COVID Undermine Progress on Sustainability
The impacts the pandemic is having on sustainable practices are tangible and significant all around the world. They might be short-lived. However, we fear that people may be reluctant to return to more sustainable ways. We can avoid this if we are mindful and prioritize new supply chains, new practices, and a new philosophy toward consumption.
IU institute helping cities with green projects
Through a partnership with Indiana University, nine Indiana cities and towns will be carrying out projects in 2021 to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions.
Fort Wayne mayor lays out vision of 2021 in ‘State of the City’ address
Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry laid out his vision of the year ahead, which included their work with ERI on their climate action plan, on Wednesday in a “State of the City” address delivered to a mostly vacant room at the Grand Wayne Center.
When coronavirus numbers start piling up, it gets to be a little overwhelming. Tom Coomes spoke with an infectious disease expert about trials of tracking this data, how she plucks insight from it, and what we need to look for over the next year.
Indianapolis: When lead and racism are both in the water
As leaders in Flint, Michigan face new penalties for that city's water crisis, New America-IUPUI Public Problem-Solving explores the issue of lead, water, and environmental racism closer to Indianapolis.
Scientists find new truths about how forests impact air quality
Researchers are looking at how forests impact air quality, based on the classification of temperate trees and what that means for how the forest really works.
Why Phoenix may be uninhabitable by the end of this century
Factors like climate change and the destruction of urban foliage are causing cities like Phoenix to overheat.
Biden Wants the Government to Run on EVs. It Won’t Be Easy
The president hopes electrifying the federal fleet will create jobs and encourage motorists to ditch gas-powered cars. But no automaker is ready yet.
Almost 40 Cities Working To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions Through IU Program
Communities throughout Indiana will be working on various stages of climate preparedness initiatives as part of the IU Resilience Cohort. During this cohort, municipalities covering almost half of the state’s population will be working on some kind of emissions reduction strategy.
IU Grand Challenges initiative preparing Indiana for climate change
IU Environmental Resilience Institute Director Janet McCabe and Goshen Mayor Jeremy Stutsman explain why preparing Indiana for climate change is critical to the state’s economic success.
Common songbird provides clues to why some individuals live longer than others
In many organisms, individuals that produce more offspring tend to have shorter life spans than individuals who aren't as productive. But how does this happen? Biologists examining data from an Indiana University decades-long study may have solved part of the puzzle.
IU Grunwald Gallery exhibition investigates Indiana’s natural history and environmental changes
The Monon Railroad, once known as the “Hoosier Lifeline,” is one of the focuses of the Grunwald Gallery’s upcoming exhibition, “Hoosier Lifelines: Environmental and Social Change Along the Monon, 1847-2020.” Running from Feb. 9 to March 12, the exhibition will feature a collection of photographs and artifacts from three artists used to capture and explore the Monon’s history and contributions to Indiana.
IU, ERI welcome new Grand Challenge-sponsored faculty
Three new faculty recently joined Indiana University as part of the Prepared for Environmental Change (PfEC) Grand Challenge, augmenting IU’s research capabilities in key areas spanning environmental policy, environmental philanthropy, and disease ecology.
IU to help Indiana cities enact green projects, cut carbon emissions
Through a partnership with Indiana University, nine Indiana cities and towns will be carrying out projects in 2021 to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions. The initiative represents the third stage of a program pioneered by IU’s Environmental Resilience Institute (ERI) to help Hoosier communities measure and manage heat-trapping gases that contribute to climate change.
Scientists look to soils to learn how forests affect air quality and climate change
Researchers at Indiana University—in collaboration with scientists from West Virginia University, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the University of Virginia, and the University of Warwick—have found that classifying temperate forest trees based on the type of symbiotic fungi with which the trees associate can serve as a broad indicator of how the trees and forests function.
Biden has pledged to advance environmental justice – here’s how the EPA can start
On his first day in office President Joe Biden started signing executive orders to reverse Trump administration policies. One sweeping directive calls for stronger action to protect public health and the environment and hold polluters accountable, including those who “disproportionately harm communities of color and low-income communities.”
'Last line of defense': New bill would strip protections for many of Indiana's wetlands
Indiana has already lost 85 percent of the wetlands it once had a century ago, many drained for farming and development. Now, environmentalists, engineers, and residents are concerned that the few wetlands that remain are under threat.
COVID-19 increased energy insecurity among low-income Americans
Nearly 4.8 million low-income American households were unable to pay an energy bill last year, a problem that intensified during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
While trying to look at what can be done about the climate crisis, Ben Kravitz talks about climate engineering and how it could be used to help combat climate change.
Biden’s climate crusade: How his plan to cut carbon emissions, create jobs could impact U.S.
As he steps into office this week, President-elect Joe Biden brings an ambitious plan to address climate change, and with Democrats in control of Congress for the first time in a decade, he may have the opportunity to accomplish some of his loftiest goals.
IU's Janet McCabe nominated as deputy administrator of EPA under Biden administration
Janet McCabe, a professor of practice at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law at IUPUI and director of the Environmental Resilience Institute at IU, has been nominated as deputy administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the incoming Joseph R. Biden administration.
New campaign empowers moms with climate change science
A nonpartisan group of climate scientist mothers seeks to introduce bite-sized, relatable content to demystify climate change for all moms.
Op-ed: Indiana's drinking water faces Flint-like risk. Here's what we can do about it.
The Environmental Protection Agency has released its long-awaited revision to the regulations that protect children from lead in their water. Bottom line: It’s a mixed bag, with some significant improvements but also some critical omissions that must be addressed.
Kristina Marusic discusses the health effects of fracking on "In This Climate"
Kristina Marusic recently appeared on the podcast In This Climate to discuss the impacts of fracking in southwestern Pennsylvania and beyond.
Kids aren't getting COVID-19 in classrooms, per MCCSC
Monroe County Community School Corporation had no confirmed cases of COVID-19 transmission at school in the fall semester, according to corporation and medical officials.
Opinion: Shift state away from fossil fuels
The Tribune-Star editorial (Dec. 26, 2020) was right on point: “Indiana’s energy policy remains focused on slowing the move from coal to renewable sources such as wind, solar and natural gas. But clinging to that policy is unwise and wrong-headed.”
EPA's 'secret science' rule will make it harder for the agency to protect public health
The Trump administration has worked to weaken U.S. environmental regulations in many areas, from water and air pollution to energy development and land conservation. One of its most controversial actions is known as the "secret science" rule because it would require scientists to disclose all of their raw data, including confidential medical records, for their findings to be considered in shaping regulations. This measure has just been finalized.
Nominate a 2021 Hoosier Resilience Hero
Nominations for 2021 Hoosier Resilience Heroes are open now through March 1. Individuals can nominate an Indiana resident by filling out and submitting an online form.
Report: Indiana less prepared for health effects from severe storms, tick diseases
Indiana is expected to face more severe storms, flooding, extreme heat, and tick-borne diseases in the future. But a new report said the state hasn’t done enough to prepare.
