High-impact research. Everyday solutions.
At Colorado State University, research doesn’t stop at discovery; it moves into action. Our work fuels healthier lives, stronger communities, resilient industries, and a more sustainable world. From clean energy innovations to public health breakthroughs, CSU research delivers practical solutions to the challenges people face every day. As a leading research university and a new model for the modern land-grant mission, we’re turning ideas into impact across Colorado and far beyond.
Where
great minds gather
We combine social science approaches to address complex conservation challenges. By studying human interactions with natural systems, we lead solutions to complex environmental challenges
Areas of expertise
Conservation and Sustainable Development
Ecosystem Services
Environmental Communication
Tourism and Recreation
Social Aspects of Tourism
Environmental Governance
Human Dimensions of Wildlife Conservation
Protected Areas
how we
work
Our faculty and students collaborate across disciplines to address complex environmental challenges by integrating diverse social science approaches and developing innovative solutions for sustainable management of natural resources.
HDNR laboratories
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Led by: Jon Salerno
Salerno Lab
Human adaptation can mean many different things. The Salerno lab asks questions about how and why people adapt to environmental changes. They consider both social and biophysical aspects of the environment, such as livelihood changes made in response to a policy intervention or to observed rainfall patterns. They're interested in both causes and consequences of adaptive behaviors, and how they vary across time and space.
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Led by: Dr. Christina T. Cavaliere
Tourism and Conservation Lab
The heart of the Tourism and Conservation Lab is the pedagogical relationships and research opportunities provided to graduate students. Researchers focus on the human dimensions of socio-ecological systems, including tourism impacts.
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Led by: Dr. Michael Gavin
Biocultural Diversity and Conservation
Researching patterns of biological and cultural diversity. We examine threats that drive the loss of biodiversity, and works on mechanisms to curb such loss.
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Community Group
American Wildlife Values
America’s Wildlife Values is a research partnership between federal and state fish and wildlife management agencies and leading academic institutions. This group aims to inform effective wildlife management through a better understanding of the wildlife values held by the American public.
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Led by: Drs. Lina Xiong, David W. Knight
U.S China Lab for Destination Development
The U.S.-China Lab for Destination Development draws on years of collaboration involving tourism researchers, planners and managers in these countries. The Lab continues expanding its network of global partners to carry out research and consulting work focused primarily on Chinese tourism and destination development, with an emphasis on destination prosperity and community wellbeing.
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Led by: Dr. Ed Gallo-Cajiao
The Biodiversity Governance Lab
Studies the role of institutions in biodiversity conservation with a focus on animal species, particularly vertebrates. Our work is theoretically driven but empirically grounded drawing on institutional and ecological data. The Lab's mission is to contribute to conservation and governance scholarship as well as to conservation practice.
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Led by: Dr. Sarah Walker
Nature and Well-being Research Group
Works to better understand the relationship between human well-being and nature. This lab believes that well-being is a powerful tool for supporting equitable and effective environmentalism.
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Led by: Dr. Anna Lavoie
Feminist Earthways Lab
Feminist Earthways represents being and practicing in ways that are in balance with the Earth and life on Earth. This lab informs decolonizing and healing practices for resisting coloniality and oppression, while restoring and healing land and relationships with land.
Student research opportunities
We host a diverse range of laboratories focused on key disciplines such as conservation, tourism, leadership, climate, and nature with a strong emphasis on social science. Our interdisciplinary teams of faculty and students work collaboratively to address some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges, considering both natural and human dimensions. Through cutting-edge research and innovative approaches, they are actively developing solutions that promote long-term sustainability, improve ecosystem health, and support resilient communities.
If available, research opportunities will be shared on this page.
Priority areas for funding
- Student funding: research or teaching assistantships, scholarships, unpaid internship support.
- Space renovations: outdoor classroom, community space.
- Research support and transition funds to support research programs and staff impacted by changing funding landscapes: staff, faculty, and facilities.