Ayla Pamukçu, an assistant professor of Earth and planetary sciences, studies gigantic, explosive volcanic eruptions that have released so much magma that the Earth below collapses.
Earth. Climate. Society.
The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability draws on a deep understanding of Earth, climate, and society to create solutions at a global scale, in collaboration with partners worldwide. Together, we strive to create a future where humans and nature thrive in concert and in perpetuity.
Our research
Rethinking meat substitutes
Plant-based and lab-grown meat substitutes are unlikely to eliminate livestock agriculture’s climate and land use impacts anytime soon, says Stanford environmental scientist David Lobell.
Tackling global poverty
A new tool that pairs satellite imagery with AI has uncovered some of the strongest evidence yet of the extent to which electrification fuels economic growth.
Drought and water prices
According to a recent study, when providers act to curtail water use or invest in new infrastructure because of a drought, bills can rise for low-income households and drop for high-income households.
Arun Majumdar
Inaugural Dean, Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability
“Climate and sustainability are the defining issues of the 21st century. Arguably, there is no other issue that is more important that will affect humanity and the planet.”
Join us
There are many ways to help make a real difference.
Follow our updates
Learn about our advances and impact through email and social media.
Join our network
Our global network works with us to develop ideas and solutions.
Support our work
Your support helps us fund new research, hire faculty, and create solutions.
Chris Field, Director of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, discusses his childhood, his research in global ecology, and the role of universities in finding solutions to climate challenges.
Our community
Sustainability challenges affect everyone, and we need to include all voices in creating global solutions. We support a diverse community of faculty, students, and staff through our DEI programming, including our courses, financial aid, and affinity groups. We also hold ourselves accountable by tracking our progress.
School news
The agreement creates partnerships to explore and address the increasing challenges of global climate change, energy security, and sustainability.
Following a listening tour by Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability Dean Arun Majumdar on the role of fossil fuel funding in academic research, President Marc Tessier-Lavigne has created a committee to expand the conversation with stakeholders across the university.
About 160 students and postdoctoral researchers have participated so far in Dean Arun Majumdar’s ongoing listening tour focused on the role of energy company engagement in research funding.
Upcoming events
- Class/Seminar
ESE Seminar - Martin J. Blunt: Flow in Porous Media in the Energy Transition
-Green Earth Sciences Building
About the school
The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability incorporates the people and programs of the former School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences and expands to include the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, the Precourt Institute for Energy, and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (joint with the School of Engineering). It also includes the facilities of Hopkins Marine Station, which had been part of the School of Humanities and Sciences. The school also includes a Sustainability Accelerator, and will have an Institute for Sustainable Societies, as well as several new departments and initiatives.
Learn more about the school’s history
