Welcome to sere
The Societal- Environmental Research and Education Laboratory (SERE) is responsible for overall leadership in the definition, planning and execution of NCAR efforts in education and capacity building, appropriate social science components for NCAR research activities, societal and policy-relevant information products, and research on human-environment interactions.
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SERE Programs
Within the SERE Laboratory are:
The Advanced Study Program (ASP) encourages the development of young scientists in the fields of atmospheric and related science, and directs attention to timely scientific areas needing special emphasis. The ASP also helps to organize new science initiatives, supports interactions with universities, and promotes continuing education at NCAR. --> Read more about ASP
The Center for Capacity Building (CCB) acts as a catalyst nationally and internationally for capacity building related to climate change. It encourages the use of a unique Climate Affairs template to serve a wide variety of academic disciplines and climate-sensitive socioeconomic sectors, performs research and enhances communication. --> Read more about CCB
The Institute for the Study of Society and Environment (ISSE) integrates societal needs with knowledge of the environment to better understand and communicate the impacts of weather, climate, and global change. ISSE fosters cross-disciplinary research by bridging social and natural sciences, the humanities, and technology to inform decision-making.
--> Read more about ISSE
Research Highlights
[Click on graphics to enlarge]Temperature Extremes and Coral Bleaching
Coral bleaching has affected nearly
40% of reefs worldwide over the last 25 years, and has caused mass mortality of corals in about one-third of these events.
Temperature Extremes and Coral Bleaching
Joanie Kleypass, Scientist
Ocean Acidification
The oceans have absorbed one-third to one-half of anthropogenic CO2 from the
atmosphere which is causing a significant decrease in seawater pH. This process is called “ocean acidification,” and affects many ocean biogeochemical processes and many marine organisms. Interest in ocean acidification has quickly become a major oceanographic research priority and has invoked strong political interest.
Ocean Acidification
Joanie Kleypass, Scientist
Paty Romero-Lankao and Joanie Kleypas were named as Aldo Leopold Leadership Program Fellows for 2008.
Leopold Leadership Fellows are among the top environmental scientists in their fields. Selected through a highly competitive process, the individuals chosen as Fellows come to the 
program with outstanding leadership potential and a demonstrated commitment to communicating complex scientific issues in ways that non-scientists can understand and use. Leopold Leadership Fellows are recognized by journalists, policy makers and others as important and credible sources of scientific information.
Read the Stanford News Service article here.
Changes in climate, water resources and weather affect the lives of all of the inhabitants of our planet and impact the known balance of the earth's systems. SERE scientists research these changes, assimilate the knowledge and work to distribute this knowledge to ensure human welfare and the well-being of the planet. For more info:
SERE LAR 2007 Table of Contents
Research Highlights
Interactions of the Atmosphere, the Broader Earth System, and Human Society
Research on Dengue Fever
Dengue fever is a flu-like illness spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a severe, often fatal, complication of dengue fever. Increasing numbers of cases of this disease in both the Americas and Asia are increasing. SERE scientists are researching human and vector ecology in order to better understand the dynamics of dengue transmission. Research in these areas seeks to develop interventions to slow or halt the further expansion of dengue, and to efficiently focus on preventive efforts. For more info:
Human-Environmental Interaction and Risk for Dengue Fever
Mary Hayden, ASP postdoctoral fellow in ISSE
Climate, Cities, Carbon and Energy
RESUCCCITIES will contribute to develop resilient and sustainable urban centers that have the vision for a) coping in a fair way with shortages and changes in energy provision and, by so doing, de-carbonize our societies; b) harnessing resources, infrastructures, and governance structures to cope with climate and other environmental risks in the most effective manner. For more info:
RESUCCCITIES: Initiative to Attain Resilient and Sustainable Relationships among Carbon, Climate and Cities
Paty Romero Lankao, ISSE Deputy Director, Scientist
Weather and Climate Information Needs and Decision-Making
IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)
SERE/ISSE Scientists made major contributions to the Nobel Peace Prize winning IPCC effort by serving in various capacities as authors of the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report. IPCC assessments are based on peer-reviewed scientific and technical literature, and they are written by teams of authors from all over the world who are recognized experts in their field. In particular, members of the IPCC were recognized "… for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change".
For more info:IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)
Supporting and Enhancing Formal Science Education at All Levels
Cross-Laboratory, Multidisciplinary Research at NCAR
ASP is unlike most other NCAR divisions or institutes, because it contributes to all NCAR goals and strategic priorities. It serves as a catalyst for burgeoning research activities that span the boundaries of NCAR laboratories and divisions.
For more info:Supporting and Enhancing Formal Science Education at All Levels
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