Our History

A record of resilience

The Environmental Resilience Institute was born out of Prepared for Environmental Change, the second initiative developed and funded through Indiana University's Grand Challenges Program.

Conceived as a transdisciplinary hub to address complex environmental challenges affecting Hoosiers, the institute has worked in partnership with industry, government, and communities since its 2017 beginning.

Over time, ERI has established itself as a state and regional leader in resilience, bridging sectors to apply real-word solutions and catalyze positive change.

ERI Timeline

2017

The Environmental Resilience Institute is established as part of one of the largest single research investments in IU’s history to help Hoosiers develop actionable solutions for the effects of extreme weather and environmental change.

2018

Moves into 8th and Park location on the IU Bloomington campus.
Launches online toolkit to help Midwest communities better assess, prepare for, and respond to the impacts of climate change.
Spearheads collaborations in environmental reporting, K-12 teacher professional development, and student workforce development.
Funds four tenure-track faculty and 12 research fellows with expertise spanning the natural sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities

2019

Announces first group of Hoosier Resilience Heroes, Indiana residents working to make the state more resilient in the face of environmental challenges.
Kicks off inaugural Resilience Cohort to assist Indiana cities, towns, and counties pursuing sustainability and resilience projects.
Launches Hoosier Resilience Index to help Indiana communities understand their risks and vulnerabilites to climate impacts.

2020

Shares results of the Hoosier Life Survey, a comprehensive statewide survey of Indiana residents’ attitudes toward the environment and extreme weather.
Launches climate-themed podcast, a data platform for environmental research, and clean energy resources for Indiana local governments.

2021

Joins the Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center, a U.S. Geological Survey-funded consortium of eight universities and natural resource organizations focused on actionable climate science.
Garners state’s top environmental award for community-focused climate resilience work.
Announces McKinney Midwest Climate Project to accelerate adoption of sustainable practices in Indiana and to kickstart IU students' sustianability careers.

2022

Partners with 10 local governments and one regional coalition to develop plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.
Develops first community heat management plans in the state through Beat the Heat collaboration.
Publishes "Climate Change and Resilience in Indiana and Beyond," an IU Press book authored by ERI staff and research affiliates detailing the challenges and opportunities posed by environmental change to Indiana’s economy and health.

2023

Launches the Indiana Resilience Funding Hub to help rural Indiana communities acquire funding for sustainability and resilience projects.
Hosts the Indiana Sustainability and Resilience Conference, the state’s largest gathering of sustainability professionals and scholars, for the first time.
Guides six local governments through an assessment of their vulnerabilities to climate change and ways they can reduce risk.

2024

Administers first year of a five-year grant to guide underserved Hoosier communities through the process of creating community tree planting plans to maximize shared benefits.
Launches "Resilient Communities" campaign highlighting long-term collaborations spanning climate action planning, research, and workforce development with Hoosier cities.
Stands up FARMWISE Indiana, an effort to bring local food to more local plates by connecting institutional buyers to Indiana growers.

2025

Expands Bloomington campus presence, moving into Park Avenue property.
Surpassess 100,000 hours dedicated to advancing sustainability and resilience in Indiana through the efforts of McKinney Climate Fellows.
Kick-starts a new iteration of the Indiana Climate Change Impacts Assessment, a research-based, collaborative effort to understand the impacts of climate change on Hoosiers' lives and livelihoods.
Catalyzes effort to educate local governments on the potential and process of converting brownfields into solar installations.