National
Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center

Bridging boundaries for research & discovery.

The National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) brings together the science of the natural world with the science of social systems and decision making to solve problems at the human-environment interface. For 10 years, SESYNC has accelerated research and learning that seeks to understand the structure, functioning, and sustainability of coupled social and environmental systems. To further this work, we invite you to explore our research and learning resources.

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Center Highlights

Three researchers in a forest gathering data

Lesson: What Types of Methods Are Used to Study Sustainability Problems?

Using the fields of anthropology, sociology, ecology, and economics, this lesson introduces learners to some of the common methods of different disciplines that are contributing to the study of, as well as finding solutions to, problems of S-E sustainability.

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In Case You Missed It: Keep your brain cool during the summer break with SESYNC's 45+ FREE explainers! Our explainers give readers a succinct, easy-to-digest overview of a given socio-environmental topic.

A young boy scooping garbage into a bag while standing in a dump

Lesson: Socio-Environmental Problems – Both Social & Wicked

This lesson first seeks to challenge learners to accept that all environmental problems are social in their origin and or consequences, and it introduces the concept of wicked problems.