The Challenge
Global climate change is causing increasingly severe precipitation, heat, sea level rise, and other hazard impacts on our communities, infrastructure, and economies. In order to accelerate progress towards a more resilient, equitable, and thriving world, we must design innovative adaptation solutions and build knowledge partnerships that span the physical, natural, engineering, health, and social sciences, and involve multiple disciplines including civil engineering, atmospheric science, public health, environmental policy, community development, and urban and regional planning.
The Opportunities
Ways to support UCD climate adaptation research’s immediate impact and sustain its critical work include:
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Funding undergraduate and graduate research opportunities to prepare the next generation of climate adaptation leaders: Seeking $250,000 total (undergraduate scholarships: $5,000 each; undergraduate internships: $10,000 each; graduate fellowships: $50,000).
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Supporting climate adaptation researchers in education and scientific endeavors: Seeking 1 million (postdoctoral fellowships: $75,000 each; Climate Adaptation Graduate Group: starting at $50,000).
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Endowing faculty positions: Seeking $2 million (endowed faculty professorship or university chair: $1 million; endowed administrative director for the Climate Adaptation Research Center: $1 million).
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Naming the Center: seeking $5 million, to support operating expenses, including support for research and administrative personnel.