Half of the world’s population today lives in urban centers, a proportion that will increase to 2/3 within 50 years. Urban landscapes provide a unique opportunity to study the interface between the natural and build environment,  the importance of social and cultural networks, and the factors that lead to healthy and sustainable cities.

The CBR provides both a public forum and expertise for development of resilience in the rebuilding City of New Orleans as well as other urban centers worldwide.  Research and education promotes revitalization of the environmental, cultural, and economic values of the region and social governance of that process.

CBR research examples include examining the patterns of business returning to the city, subsidence in the city and surrounding wetlands, and urban biomass trends.  In our larger network are experts in engineering, geology, biology, anthropology and sociology.  International colleagues include Japan, Sweden, Australian, France, Netherlands, South Africa and other member states of the United Nations.

Katrina Environmental Research and Restoration Network (KERRN)
This network synthesis the efforts of scientists from a wide range of disciplines across the nation who work in the hurricane-impacted gulf coast region. These insights can be used in future planning, mitigation, and restoration efforts.