While we rely on natural and human-made systems together, traditionally, research and decision-making processes focus on one lens at a time. To truly plan for resiliency across FEW systems, we must concurrently address unique natural resource management and environmental health challenges that vary spatially and temporally. The goal of FEW nexus research is to use integrated, cross-disciplinary approaches to support more informed decision-making, improve natural resource management, advance environmental health outcomes, and build a more resilient and sustainable future.
At RTI we leverage our integrated technical subject matter expertise with innovative technical skills to conduct research that supports evidence-based decision-making. We work collaboratively with subject matter experts in environmental economics, natural resource management, environmental health, environmental science, water resources, food safety, food security, international resource governance, energy technology, environmental engineering, water treatment, and analytical chemistry. Our interdisciplinary experts also have a broad understanding of the juxtaposition between environmental health and natural resource challenges, as well as individual aspects of the nexus, as shown in Figure 1.