The Fenner School of Environment and Society aims to be a world-class, nationally-distinctive School at the ANU for transdisciplinary research and education on complex environment-society systems.

The Fenner School delivers research and education focusing on the big environment-society challenges of the 21st Century through a unified, integrative, problem-driven research program where disciplines and individuals work in fluid teams according to the nature of the problem being investigated.

The Fenner School also acts as the core of ANU-wide integrated research and teaching led by the ANU Institute of Environment. The ANU Institute of Environment provides a core-and-network structure to support transdisciplinary research and education across the entire university.

The Fenner School is distinguished by its simultaneous development of rigorous techniques and policy-related research, a mix of people from a wide range of disciplines, the active promotion of interdisciplinarity along with significant contributions to disciplines, a strong commitment to problem solving in a way that produces lasting solutions, a responsiveness to external interests by means of collaboration on real-world problems and outreach to the public.

The Fenner School is committed to the highest standards of research and education. The postgraduate and undergraduate programs reflect the School's problem-driven research. They aim to provide an integrated, seamless education experience, from undergraduate coursework to studies, in a research-intensive environment.

Situated in the ANU College of Science, the Fenner School incorporates the Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies (CRES) and the School of Resources, Environment and Society (SRES). Founded in 1973, CRES established a national and international reputation as a leader in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research and postgraduate training. SRES was formed from the ANU Departments of Geography and Forestry in 2001 with a major focus on research and education on the relationships between people and environment.

The School takes its name after Professor Frank Fenner, one of Australia's great natural scientists, who has crossed into many areas of application and cross-disciplinary collaboration. He was Foundation Director of the Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies and has maintained a close engagement in environment-society research. The unique focus and breadth of the School is a fitting testimony to the nature of Professor Fenner's contribution to Australia and the world.

Prof Will Steffen, Director