The junction between present and future societies
lies in the global commons: the shared physical, biological, and intellectual
resources of the planet. The environment (specifically intact, functioning
ecological systems) is essential to opportunities for individual development,
the health and well-being of citizens and communities, and the generation of new
wealth. Environmental science and technology are therefore a vital
component of productive knowledge and thus a high priority for the Nation.
As connections between humans and the goods and
services provided by the ecosystems of Earth become better understood, the scale
and rate of modifications to these ecosystems are increasing.
Environmental challenges are often exceedingly complex, requiring strengthened
disciplinary inquiry as well as broadly interdisciplinary approaches that draw
upon, integrate, and invigorate virtually all fields of science and engineering.
Within the broad portfolio of science and engineering for the new century, the
environment is emerging as a vigorous, essential, and central focus.