Academic and Training Program Hub

At CIRES, the Cooperative Institute for Research In Environmental Sciences, more than 900 people work to understand the dynamic Earth system, including people’s relationship with the planet. An institute at the University of Colorado Boulder, we have partnered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) since 1967. Our areas of expertise include weather and climate, wildfire and water, changes at Earth’s poles, air quality and atmospheric chemistry, water resources, solid Earth sciences, and more. Our researchers work in 10 CU Boulder departments and eight NOAA laboratories and centers.Our mission: Conduct innovative research that advances our understanding of the global, regional, and local environments and the human relationship with those environments, for the benefit of society.Our vision: CIRES is an international leader in conducting cross-cutting environmental research of the highest quality while bridging fundamental science and service to society. We build leaders, scientists, communicators, and teams dedicated to developing sound and trusted information to address environmental challenges. We embrace a positive and inclusive culture, recognizing that CIRES thrives when our people do.

We are the National Science Foundation's designated information clearinghouse for the societal dimensions of hazards and disasters. Our mission is dedicated to reducing disaster harm through:Building connections between researchers, nonprofit and private sector professionals, the media, policymakers, and state, local, tribal, territorial, and federal officials;Translating and sharing hazards and disaster research and information;Advancing social science and interdisciplinary knowledge, with a special emphasis on socially and economically marginalized populations; andTraining and mentoring a diverse next generation of hazards and disaster professionals.We work to empower a culture where all people are educated and inspired to take positive action to mitigate hazards losses and cultivate stronger communities.

From the Arctic to the Antarctic, snow and ice play a vital role in regulating Earth’s climate and providing freshwater resources to people, plants, and animals. The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) at the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder), part of the CU Boulder Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), conducts innovative research and provides open data to understand how the frozen parts of Earth affect the rest of the planet and impact society. Research studies and data are primarily focused on the snow, ice, glaciers, frozen ground and climate interactions that make up Earth’s cryosphere.Through a unique combination of data management and scientific research, NSIDC enables scientists, educators, students, journalists and many others to better understand the cryosphere, why it’s important and how it’s changing.

The Mortenson Center in Global Engineering & Resilience combines education, research, and partnerships to support thriving communities and environments by improving technologies, processes, policy and practice. Our vision is a world where everyone has equitable access to safe and reliable water, sanitation, energy, food, shelter, and infrastructure.

Offered by CU Boulder’s Environmental Engineering Program in partnership with the Mortenson Center, this 30-credit MS track prepares you to tackle pressing global challenges.You’ll build a strong foundation in environmental engineering processes, water chemistry, and applied microbiology and toxicology—then dive deeper into topics like WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene), household energy, and global engineering.Hands-on learning is central to the program, with a Capstone Practicum where you are placed with one of our 80+ partner organizations, many of them international, where you will deepen your classroom knowledge, gain experience and contribute to meaningful missions. Learn more about the Practicum program.

The Professional Master's in Global Resilience & Sustainability Engineering is offered by CU Boulder’s Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering Department in partnership with the Mortenson Center. This 30-credit program prepares engineers to tackle climate adaptation, resilient infrastructure, global health, water and sanitation and other pressing and complex global challenges. Engineers gain these skills through technical coursework and a hands-on global practicum.Hands-on learning is central to the program. The capstone global practicum places engineers with one of the Mortenson Center's 80+ partner organizations, many of them international. You will deepen your classroom knowledge, gain experience and professional contacts and contribute to meaningful missions. Learn more about the global practicum program.

The Earth Science and Observation Center (ESOC), at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science (CIRES), is a research center dedicated to the understanding of the Earth System, primarily – but not exclusively - through the use of remote sensing techniques.

Earth Lab is a data synthesis center that is part of the Cooperative Institute for Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder. We integrate environmental data science with actionable decision-making. Our approach is rooted in transparency, inclusivity, and accountability for natural and human-centered systems. By combining domain expertise with advanced analytics and education, we bridge the gap between scientific insight and community needs while ensuring that environmental intelligence is trusted and usable where it matters most. We study a broad range of topics, including ecological resilience, natural hazards and risk, and landscape dynamics, as well as best practices for teaching and learning environmental data science skills. Check out our learning portal for free environmental data science resources.