Yale Applied Science Synthesis Program
Mission
Centered on generating science to support decision making, the Yale Applied Science Synthesis Program produces quantitative, reputable, scientific syntheses that guide and inform direct actions around land stewardship.
Vision
We seek to be a space for open collaboration among practitioners, academics and policymakers to develop applied science that guides sustainable management of land.
program overview
The Yale Applied Science Synthesis Program (YASSP) is a new initiative housed at The Forest School at the Yale School of the Environment. The program connects academic researchers, policymakers, and those managing lands to answer applied questions about how land management decisions affect the services provided by forests, croplands, wetlands, rangelands, and grasslands. We work with for- and not-for-profit partners that need to make decisions on sustainable land management practices. Our synthesis work focuses on the regional context within which local management decisions are made, to help maximize ecosystem benefits provided by these land resources, such as carbon storage, sustainable food production, and biodiversity. Our mission reflects the founding principles of The Forest School, which was first established in 1900, to develop applied scientific knowledge to guide effective stewardship of the nation’s forests.
Rationale and Approach
YASSP researchers center partners’ goals at the heart of their projects and engage with partners throughout a project’s lifespan. With this foundation, our syntheses are credible, salient, and legitimate, providing scientific evidence tailored to the environmental context and management goals for the land. Our approach is guided by the understanding that these syntheses are strongest when researchers draw expertise and information from a variety of institutions and individuals. Our Program therefore leverages the breadth and depth of expertise of Yale faculty, postdocs, and our collaborators. Read more about our research principles here.
current projects:
forest management
Agroecosystem management
Quantifying impacts of agricultural practices on ecosystem carbon sequestration and soil health. (Image courtesy David Mark from Pixabay)
Evaluating forest management practices for sustaining human livelihoods, mitigating climate-related forest loss, and increasing carbon sequestration and storage(Image courtesy Josh Pigford on Unsplash)