Welcome to the Institute for the Study of the Environment, Sustainability and Energy (ESE) at Northern Illinois University.
ESE brings together students, faculty, staff and community partners who share a commitment to understanding environmental challenges and developing solutions that support more sustainable and resilient communities. Our interdisciplinary community includes faculty from departments and colleges across NIU, creating opportunities for collaboration that extend beyond traditional academic boundaries.
Our students are at the center of this work. Through our Environmental Studies major, minors and certificates, students build knowledge across the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities and professional fields. They also put that knowledge into practice through research, internships, community-engaged projects, field experiences and study abroad programs. These experiences prepare our graduates to make meaningful contributions in government, nonprofit organizations, businesses, research institutions and communities.
My own research reflects ESE’s collaborative and applied approach. As a professor in Environmental Studies and the Department of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, I study groundwater quality, contaminant hydrogeology and the relationships between pollution and microorganisms. My work has taken me from communities in northern Illinois to Mexico, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar. Across these projects, I have seen the value of bringing together scientific research, local knowledge and community partnerships to address complex environmental concerns.
I am especially committed to creating opportunities for students to participate directly in this work. ESE students engage in laboratory and field research, investigate environmental conditions in Illinois and abroad, and collaborate with faculty and community partners on real-world sustainability challenges. These experiences help students develop the technical knowledge, critical thinking and collaborative skills they will need to become environmental leaders.
I am excited to build upon ESE’s strengths as a welcoming home for interdisciplinary research, experiential learning and community engagement. I invite you to explore our academic programs, learn about the work of our faculty and students, and discover the many ways you can become part of the ESE community.
If you would like to learn more about ESE or are interested in becoming a faculty associate or affiliate, please contact me at lenczewski@niu.edu.
Melissa Lenczewski, Ph.D.
Acting Director, Institute for the Study of the Environment, Sustainability and Energy
Professor, Environmental Studies and Earth, Atmosphere and Environment