UNR has been awarded nearly $1.8 million by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) to study rural perceptions of climate change.
Across the country, rural communities constitute nearly 84 percent of the nation’s land area but only 14 percent of the population. In Nevada, the research will focus on how climate has affected historical water use on tribal lands, the importance of irrigated agriculture to the state’s economy, water quality and wildlife habitat protection.
NSF awarded a total of $56 million to 11 institutions focusing research on climate change and resilience to create opportunities for communities facing disproportionate impacts. UNR will split a $6 million pot with the University of South Carolina and the University of Idaho.
The three universities will focus on using socio-environmental systems mapping to determine how small adaptations to environmental change can result in community resilience.
