{"id":17,"date":"2020-07-27T19:57:45","date_gmt":"2020-07-27T19:57:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/ieds\/?page_id=17"},"modified":"2025-06-21T17:38:29","modified_gmt":"2025-06-21T17:38:29","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/ieds\/?page_id=17","title":{"rendered":"About Us"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Ecological resources shared across political boundaries can be a powerful avenue for peace-building.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The power of environmental diplomacy creates a holistic positive feedback effect which can combat political (Track-1) inertia in conflict zones. Our theory of change is that science diplomacy (Track-2) and public diplomacy (Track-3) can leverage change around the dominant discourse within conflict-ridden social ecological systems. We work with stakeholders to leverage artificial intelligence and open source geospatial technologies to bring about environmental security across food, energy, water, climate and public health domains. IEDS operates within a framework of six broad themes that captures its mission and vision:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Institute for Environmental Diplomacy and Security (IEDS) is a transdisciplinary research center dedicated to both the study and practice of techniques that resolve environmental conflicts, and to using ecological processes as tools of peace-building. We welcome new partnerships and would encourage scholars interested in collaborating with us on any of the following thematic areas to contact us.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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People<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

IEDS operates through networks of talent worldwide that share our vision and thematic areas of impact.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Research Themes & Projects<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

IEDS strives to leverage our geographic location with the core competencies which exist at the University of Vermont and its partners. Our five research themes have been chosen to ensure the originality of our work and its contribution to our mission<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Publications<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Explore the publications related to IEDS research and projects.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Research Themes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Water Diplomacy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ensuring everyone can access clean, safe, and drinkable water is an essential right. In the light of an increasingly complex world where global climatic patterns are shifting the distribution of water, environmental deterioration, and political instability all threaten people\u2019s ability to access water. Further, geopolitical tensions and conflict across transboundary water bodies can prevent populations access to safe and plentiful water. At IEDS, we aim to mitigate these transboundary water conflicts through water diplomacy..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Science Diplomacy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boundaries in physical and cognitive space can be defining themes of diplomacy. IEDS explores how human territoriality can be constructively configured so geopolitical boundaries work within ecological principles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Climate Diplomacy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Global climate change is perhaps the biggest threat humanity has faced, and time is quickly running out to prevent it from irrevocably changing our world. At IEDS, we believe that bold, cooperative action on a global scale is needed to solve this crisis, which is why we engage in climate diplomacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Responsible Artificial Intelligence<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Responsible innovation and inclusive development of technology are at the forefront of our projects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Food-Energy-Water Security<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The nexus of Food-Energy-Water (FEW) Security is essential to creating resilient communities and countries, and a resilient world in the face of an increasingly challenging global problems. FEW security is essential for sustainable development, as all being able to access all three resources (food, energy, water) is crucial for human well-being. Further, making sure these resources are diverse, resilient, and adaptable is vital for security concerns as the world becomes increasingly volatile due to climate change, global political tensions, conflicts, and declining biodiversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Partners<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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University of Quebec at Montreal<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Wilson Center<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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University of Geneva<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Population media Center<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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National Geographic<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Champlain College<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Kroc School of Peace Studies<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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International Community Foundation<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Institute for Sustainable Mining<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Dickey Center at Dartmouth<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Harvard Project<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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VLS<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Boswellness<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Tetra Tech ARD<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Upcoming Events<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Road to Geneva Event: Symposia on Securing Clean Water in Transboundary Indus, Jordan, Mekong and Amazon Basins<\/a><\/strong> June 16, 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Road to Geneva Event: Symposia on Securing Clean Water in Transboundary Indus, Jordan, Mekong and Amazon Basins<\/a><\/strong> June 24, 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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News<\/h2>\n\n\n