Iowa researchers are working to solve some of our state’s most significant environmental challenges. That includes experts from the UI College of Engineering who are using a living laboratory to conduct innovative sustainability research and scientists who have deployed a vast network of climate sensors to prepare for the growing impact of extreme weather events.

Iowa is a national leader in rural public health research. The UI College of Public Health, home to research hubs like the Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health and the Prevention Research Center for Rural Health, is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of rural Iowans—on the farm, at work, and on the roadway.

Rural residents face significant health disparities, including higher cancer rates and limited access to obstetric and mental health care. That’s why UI Health Care and its statewide network of clinics and community partners are vital for Iowa’s health. “We have a clear mission to serve 3.2 million Iowans across 99 counties,” says Denise Jamieson, vice president for medical affairs and dean of the UI Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine.

UI partnerships help rural communities thrive. Each year, students, faculty, and staff collaborate with towns on an array of municipal-improvement projects through the Initiative for Sustainable Communities. At the same time, the next generation of community journalists get on-the-job experiences through The Daily Iowan’s new partnership with two small-town newspapers.