The Institute provides an opportunity to promote integrated research among departments. The scope ranges from highly localised needs to questions of global importance.
Some issues are singular in their nature, others are multifaceted, complex, and open-ended.
Research is needed to provide the basic scientific knowledge and understanding of the key biological, chemical, and physical features of the environment, how they interact, and how their dynamics are controlled. The Institute Also Contributes by undertaking or promoting analyses of policies affecting the environment and by providing policy makers with the results. Such analysis critically examines the philosophical, political, ethical, economic and technical assumptions underlying particular policies.