Contemporary human societies are built upon a continuous state of tension with the environment. In recent years, the accumulation of academic knowledge critical to the sustainability of both society and the environment has led to growing public interest in environmental coexistence. We study the conflicts between humans and the environment—such as climate change, foodborne illness, infectious diseases, and damage caused by wildlife—and the possibilities for coexistence that lie beyond them, drawing on diverse perspectives including theories of social-ecological systems (SES) and ethnographic methods.
　What scientific, socioeconomic, and artistic factors promote coexistence with the environment? How does ecological richness contribute to cultural diversity and social sustainability? Amid growing concern over environmental degradation, how do grassroots movements and science and technology intersect? In order to explore these questions, we engage in interdisciplinary research—drawing on environmental studies, agricultural sciences, medical anthropology, conservation ecology, science and technology studies (STS), and ecosystem services—and foster a new generation of diverse and creative researchers in the field of environmental coexistence studies through collaboration with domestic and international partners.