Climate change is stressing ecosystems and society, and its effects are multi-faceted and complex. No one discipline can solve these challenges. Addressing the impacts of climate change requires boundary-spanning collaborations and interdisciplinary science. Under funding from the National Science Foundation’s Research Traineeship program (NRT), Utah State University created an interdisciplinary Climate Adaptation Science (CAS) specialization for PhD and MS students in research fields. The CAS specialization is a 2-year program with coursework, internships with partner organizations, and studio research projects conceptualized, planned, and completed by interdisciplinary student teams. The program launched in January 2017 and has since enrolled 32 students across four cohorts.
Results/Conclusions
Team research projects have resulted in 1 publication, 3 manuscripts in review, and 3 manuscripts in preparation for submission. Our projects have addressed changes in wildfire, snow, and water availability and their impacts on socio-environmental systems; population viability of sensitive species given climate change; and using climate adaptation science in concert with traditional ecological knowledge. As CAS trainees, we have interned with non-governmental organizations and federal, state, and local agencies. Through these internships, we have built partnerships, applied our research skills in practical settings, and contributed to actionable science. Traditional graduate research programs train students as disciplinarians. The CAS program at Utah State University has offered us an invaluable opportunity for growth and leadership in the interdisciplinary sciences and as professionals. Adapting to climate change requires collaboration, and we, as CAS students, are prepared to contribute.