Sustainability: Human Factors

The promised ‘white gold rush’ would extract lithium alongside geothermal power production. The mineral is used in EV batteries, but even this less-polluting mining raises local health concerns according to USC Dornsife research.

In a recent study, USC and Australian researchers found that the strength of people’s convictions in climate science can weaken when they are exposed repeatedly to statements or claims that contradict their beliefs.

The grant will be used to develop a disruptive and sustainable method for upcycling ocean-bound plastic waste across Southern California waterways, and to investigate the psychology behind eco-conscious choices.

New research adds solid evidence to the suspicion that steep declines in America’s wild bee populations stem in large part from pesticide use. Saving the crucial pollinators requires new approaches to managing pesky insects, say USC Dornsife researchers.

If you come across the same piece of misinformation several times, it will start to feel familiar — and familiar information feels more true.

Scientists studying biodiversity rely on public data, but USC Dornsife researchers found that butterfly sightings on one popular online platform are skewed by personal preferences.

New technology from USC and Caltech could significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the global shipping industry.

Published in the journal Climatic Change, the study is USC’s second collaboration with the U.N. Foundation aimed at improving science communications.

Researchers uncover factors in urban areas that affect diversity in insects and spiders. The study could help ensure the health of these crucial ecosystem contributors.

The annual Climate Forward conference featured former U.S. Reps. Adam Kinzinger and Val Demings, former White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy and New York Times columnist Bret Stephens.

A recent discovery of nearly 800,000 pounds of the banned chemical near Santa Catalina Island sparks new research for an institution that has spent five decades helping Southern California manage its coasts.

To support a boom in climate action, USC Dornsife’s Public Exchange will provide expert research and project management services to government, industry, and nonprofit partners in the fast-growing clean technology and sustainability market.

To help western states facing long-term drought, a USC Dornsife economist and USC Viterbi engineer propose a new way to test higher water prices. It’s a conservation strategy that won’t hurt low-income users.

As climate change intensifies across the planet, attention is turning toward technologies that offer novel ways to decarbonize our economy and our atmosphere. Yet, these solutions are not without their critics, who warn about unforeseen environmental and social repercussions.

As Earth’s temperature rises due to the effects of climate change, cooling the air in our lived environments is increasingly crucial. So, how do we meet the growing demand for cooling in a manner that is sustainable, energy-efficient, and accessible to all?

A growing number of political leaders and environmentalists support a renewed investment in nuclear power. Should it be a part of the clean energy strategy?

What lessons can we learn from more than 100 years ago, when L.A.’s water was an even more hotly contested commodity than it is today?

Learn how remote work is likely to affect workers’ quality of life, the profitability of firms, and the economic geography of cities and suburbs.

Understand the history of fire in the West, including Indigenous fire practices and fire’s many environmental legacies, which is crucial to determining a more sustainable path forward.