The world is facing environmental catastrophe, and time is running out. Over the last half-century alone, our species’ unsustainable way of life has initiated a sixth extinction, advanced widespread environmental degradation, and changed the climate of the entire planet. The consequences are escalating and intensifying, while the most vulnerable among us are bearing the brunt.

The Environmental Collaboratory seeks to co-fund, co-design, and co-implement replicable, transdisciplinary on-the-ground solutions with community partners that drive systemic change and align climate transition and environmental justice with the needs of our communities. The Environmental Collaboratory is centrally positioned in the Office of the Provost of Drexel University to facilitate the expertise in environmental sciences, engineering, data, law, health care, public health, policy, social sciences, and humanities and the capabilities of its faculty, researchers, staff and students.

Latest News & Media

Read Row Homes Versus Refineries, EXEL Magazine. “Academics and community members are working together to tackle environmental hazards as part of Drexel’s new Environmental Collaboratory, a pioneering initiative that funds research activism”

• Building an Urban Green Living Plan with Communities at the Center: A Model for Climate Hubs – Waverly Street Foundation
• Opinion: Chemical Disasters will Keep Happening – The Hill, Mathy Stanislaus
• Dir. Mathy Stanislaus: Collaborating with Communities to Co-Designed Solutions to Environmental Injustice – Planet Philadelphia (podcast)
• Local Climate Solutions Are The Way Forward – The Philadelphia Inquirer
• Q&A: Mathy Vathanaraj Stanislaus and The Environmental Collaboratory at Drexel – DrexelNEWS
• Drexel Students Host First-Ever Local Conference of Youth in the United States – DrexelNEWS
• Ex-EPA Official Joins Environmental Law Institute Board – E&E News PM
• Science Diplomacy in International Organizations: Fostering Multilateral Resilience and Driving Sustainable Innovations – UAS7
• Waverly Street Foundation Grant Will Support Community-Based Climate Solutions – Drexel University Announcement

Vice Provost Stanislaus moderated a panel at the GreenTech Conference in November of 2023 at the Georgetown University Law Center.

Transdisciplinary Research 

The Environmental Collaboratory funds projects that demonstrate strong multidisciplinary and multi-college engagements with external partners, as well as community-centered approaches to solving environmental problems. Through an inaugural research grant, seven funded projects led by Drexel faculty members incorporate strong multidisciplinary and multi-college engagements with external partners, as well as community-centered approaches to solving environmental problems. 

View an Overview of Initiatives

Affiliations and Partnerships

The Environmental Collaboratory is partner to a robust network of community-based organizations, governmental and non-governmental organizations, research networks and more. Through connections with companies, we are committed to supporting the adoption of best practices with regards to corporate environmental, social and governance practices. The Environmental Collaboratory is also a host and member of several robust research networks including the Urban Climate Change Research Network, Consortium for Climate Risk in the Urban Northeast, and the University Climate Change Coalition.

Learn More About Affiliations and Partnerships

Team and Feedback

The Environmental Collaboratory is currently in an information-gathering phase, as its design is rooted in the needs of its stakeholders and communities. It will be hosting a series of listening sessions in the future. Please feel free to send your thoughts and suggestions to environmentalcollab@drexel.edu.

Meet The Environmental Collaboratory Team