Environment + Artificial Intelligence

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AI numbers

As artificial intelligence (AI) has grown exponentially in both ability and accessibility in recent years, the UVA Environmental Institute is considering two aspects of this change: 1) how AI can help advance discoveries, and 2) how the creation of large-scale data centers to accommodate growing demand for AI is affecting the environment.

The Institute has supported over 15 projects that research the intersection of the environment and artificial intelligence and convenes a Research Interest Group every month to explore various related research ideas and opportunities in depth. The Environment + AI panel in the Environmental Futures Forum 2025 was standing-room only with over 200 audience members.

Explore more of what UVA is doing when it comes to research on the environment and the exploding usage of artificial intelligence below.

Experts in Environment + AI

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Antonios Mamalakis
Antonios
Mamalakis
Assistant Professor of Data Science & Environmental Sciences
https://datascience.virginia.edu/people/antonios-mamalakis
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Jess Reia
Jess
Reia
Assistant Professor of Data Science
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Sloane
Mona
Sloane
Assistant Professor of Data Science and Media Studies
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Majid Shafiee-Jood
Majid
Shafiee-Jood
Research Assistant Professor
https://engineering.virginia.edu/faculty/majid-shafiee-jood
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Madhav
Marathe
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Chirag
Chirag
Agarwal
Assistant Professor
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Mar Hicks
Mar
Hicks
Associate Professor of Data Science
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MC Forelle
Mc
Forelle
Assistant Professor
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João Ferreira
Joao
Ferreira
Regional Economist Center for Economic and Policy Studies
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lauren bridges
Lauren
Bridges
Assistant Professor
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Negin Alemazkoor
Negin
Alemazkoor
Assistant Professor
https://engineering.virginia.edu/faculty/negin-alemazkoor
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Sergio
Guillen
Assistant Professor, Engineering & Society
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Rich
Nguyen
Associate Professor, Academic General Faculty
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Xi Yang
XI
Yang
Assistant Professor
https://evsc.as.virginia.edu/people/profile/xiyang

Latest News 

View Type
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globe covered with new plant growth

UVA Awards New Environmental Research Seed Grants Covering Wildfire Modeling to Wearable Air Sensors

New projects use cutting-edge tools, artificial intelligence, and community-centered research to reduce climate risks, improve public health, and help vulnerable communities better prepare for and respond to environmental threats.
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small globe sits in the grass

From Virginia to Africa: New UVA-Led Projects Pioneer Community Partnerships for Climate Resilience

The Environmental Institute announces the award of seven new Climate Collaborative projects to advance community-engaged research to address climate challenges worldwide.
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computer icons connected in a web

AI Is Transforming Climate Science. Who Gets to Build It Matters, Says UVA Study

A report from the University of Virginia calls for a more transparent and community-driven approach to artificial intelligence in climate science.
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sign for futures forum at the Rotunda

Environmental Futures Forum 2025: Director's Thoughts

Director of the Environmental Institute, Karen McGlathery, reflects on two days of discussions around world-class research in sustainability, resilience, and environmental change.
All News

Latest Projects 

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looking up into a tree's leaves

Next-Generation Forest Fire Modeling Leveraging Very High-Resolution Remote Sensing and Deep Learning

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Farmers in Lesotho

Improving the Quality of Extension Work for Agricultural Resilience through AI

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smoke and fire rise over a house

From Prediction to Practice: A High-Resolution Fire-Response Framework to Enhance Community Resilience

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AI-Land-use

Locating Infrastructure: Energy, Water, and the Societal Footprint of U.S. Data Centers

All Projects