The interdisciplinary composition of DES faculty, including physical and social scientists, results in a wide variety of research objectives and needs.

Research Goals:

• Continue to survey heavy metal contamination in residential urban soils in New England, and expand to include analyses of semi-volatile organics

• Examine the relationship between degree of soil contamination, and historical land use and socioeconomic factors such as demographics and economics

• Examine the relationship between metals and semi-volatile organic composition of suspended particulates and irritation responses in human lung cells. 

• Examine the relationship between environmental asthma triggers and the public school environment.

• Examine the relationship between environmental asthma triggers and public school construction.

• To identify and analyze model, innovative policies related to solid, electronic and hazardous waste management. A sub-component of this area of research interest is examining the influence of risk, science, politics, and economics on environmental policy development, formulation, and implementation.

• To understand the relationship between site plans and growth management with special emphasis on the use of stream buffers for riparian protection.

• To examine the land use and historical archaeology Malaga Island, an historical African-American community in Casco Bay originally comprised of freed slaves.

• Researching local environmental change as a result of cultural and environmental factors.

• Develop an Environmental Institute to house the research projects and serve as a teaching and service resource for the region. 

• To examine the linkages between freshwater and marine systems through diadromous fishes.

• Facilitating the student-fueled restoration and monitoring of Sherman Marsh, Newcastle, Maine.