STEPS Research Initiatives
The
Institute is currently facilitating teams of researchers
within UCSC and regional partnerships to address scientific/social
issues in three areas of national and international research
priority:
- The effects of climate change
- Conservation of biodiversity
- Alterations in the earth's water systems
The effects of Climate Change
Conservation of biodiversity
All the earth’s major ecosystems are
undergoing rapid change in genetic diversity through
global transport of species and changing global environments:
- Introduced plants, animals,
and diseases cost the U.S. more than $100 billion
annually.
- Rapid changes in the
genetic diversity of ecosystems are making conservation
and management efforts expensive.
- Solutions require new
approaches on how best to manage the inevitable continued
change in genetic diversity.
Coastal
Biodiversity
The combination of intensive human use and linkages across physical
and biological gradients makes coastal regions critical to human well-being
and ecological health. Coastal regions provide human society with food, water,
temperate zones for cities, access to river and ocean transportation, recreation,
and connections with spiritual and cultural practices. We are concentrating many of our efforts on analyses of how interactions are changing at the interface of contrasting environments-for example, land/sea and reserve/non-reserve.These environments are changing quickly through introduction
of invasive species and rapid genetic change in native species.Threats to
ecosystem health may, through feedback effects, impact human uses of coastal
regions.
The STEPS Institute is facilitating connections among existing research
programs in the natural and social sciences and engineering that are characterizing
large scale patterns in the genetic diversity of coastal environments and
seeking solutions to the many challenges of coastal management. The goal of
these studies is to draw on new approaches in ecological science, molecular
technology, sensor engineering, and social science to provide better assessments
of ongoing change and better management approaches
Alteration of the Earth's Water Systems
All
the earth’s water systems have been changing rapidly
through alteration of rivers and lakes, increased use
of oceanic resources, and diffusion of environmental
toxins.
- Conflicting societal
demands for water have become one of the earth’s
major environmental issues.
- The ongoing changes
affect fisheries, agriculture, forests, rangelands,
urban centers, and the spread of diseases.
- Solutions require
new approaches linking scientific knowledge with
social change.
Climate,
Precipitation and Rivers
We are combining regional climate modeling expertise with statistical modeling,
ecological research, and policy analysis to link academic research with
policy needs. Working directly with public agency decision-makers, we
are co-defining research priorities and developing work plans. Our research
focus is on the practical needs of government and industry to understand
and adapt to climate change.
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