Human-Environment Complexity Lab

We live in a time of unprecedented complexity in how humans interact with the natural world. Now more than ever, maintaining healthy ecosystems and human well-being requires an in-depth understanding of how humans and the environment affect each other. The multidisciplinary Human-Environment Complexity Lab uses complex systems science, resilience thinking, social-ecological modeling, and network science to study the nature and outcomes of human-environment interactions. With complex adaptive systems perspective, we emphasize that ecosystems and social-ecological systems (i.e., humans as part of nature) are more than the sum of their parts – characterized by constant change and surprise. A key focus of the lab’s research currently is fostering safe and successful sustainability transformations in natural resource systems. We are committed to caring for both ecosystem health and human well-being.