An interdisciplinary perspective
The Human Dimensions of Environmental Systems program provides an interdisciplinary perspective on social, psychological, and cultural aspects of natural resources and environmental systems.
- Human impacts of environmental change
- Conservation behavior
- Hazard and risk assessment
- Environmental attitudes and beliefs
- Perceived environmental quality
- Environmental planning and assessment
- Cultural aspects of environmental issues
Background
HDES is a rapidly expanding area of study. With increasing public concern about the environment there are great expansions of employment and research opportunities at a scale unmatched since the 1960's and 70's. The collective goal of this program at the University of Illinois at Urban-Champaign is to enhance environmental decision-making through the application of social, psychological and cultural research to interactions between humans and natural systems.
Through the scholarship and creative activity of the program faculty and graduate students, we strive to expand the body of knowledge of human-environment interactions and to disseminate research results for incorporation into environmental policy and management.
The program comprises participating faculty from numerous disciplines and departments and HDES Scholars. The Scholars are graduate students selected through a competitive application process. These students are enrolled in participating units but undertake programs of study drawing on the resources of the Human Dimensions Program, coursework, and faculty.