The Institute for Environmental Diplomacy and Security(IEDS) is a transdisciplinary research center, based at the

University of Vermont The University of Vermont (UVM), officially the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College, is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Burlington, Vermont. It was founded in 1791 and is amon ...

(UVM), aimed at the study and practice of techniques that resolve destructive environmental conflicts, and to using ecological processes as tools of peace-building. IEDs was founded under the auspices of the James M. Jeffords Center at UVM in 2010, which is named in honor of former US Senator

James Jeffords James Merrill Jeffords (May 11, 1934 – August 18, 2014) was an American lawyer and politician who served as a U.S. senator from Vermont. Sworn into the Senate in 1989, he served as a Republican until 2001, when he left the party to become ...

. The founding director of the Institute was Professor

Saleem Ali (Academic) Saleem H. Ali (born 1973) is a Pakistani American Australian academic who is the Blue and Gold Distinguished Professor of Energy and the Environment at the University of Delaware and also directs the university's Minerals, Materials and Society ...

, who is now a member of the United Nations

International Resource Panel The International Resource Panel is a scientific panel of experts that aims to help nations use natural resources sustainably without compromising economic growth and human needs. It provides independent scientific assessments and expert advice on ...

and the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel of the Global Environment Facility

Mission and programs

IEDS operates within a framework of 3 broad themes that capture its mission and vision: *''Borderlands'': Boundaries in physical and

cognitive space A cognitive model is an approximation of one or more cognitive processes in humans or other animals for the purposes of comprehension and prediction. There are many types of cognitive models, and they can range from box-and-arrow diagrams to a set o ...

can be defining themes of diplomacy. IEDS explores how human territoriality can be constructively configured so geopolitical boundaries work within ecological principles. *''Resource Values'': Natural resources have values in both economic and ecological terms, and often a disjuncture in these values leads to conflict. IEDS works to find effective mechanisms for ascribing, communicating, and implementing values that minimize conflict. *''Pragmatic Peace'': Public policy has often been polarized between "

hawks Hawks are birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. They are widely distributed and are found on all continents except Antarctica. * The subfamily Accipitrinae includes goshawks, sparrowhawks, sharp-shinned hawks and others. This subfamily a ...

" and " doves", with each side dismissing the other's motives and methods. IEDS works to reconcile these differences by promoting a practically implementable vision of peace. Within this framework IEDS has operationalized four major program areas: *''Experiential Learning'': Online and field oriented programs for conventional students and mid-career professionals *''Measured Mediation'': Providing mediation services with latest technical tools and measuring indicators of success *''Participatory Action Research'': Conducting empirical research that is calibrated to community needs *''Clinical Case Compendia'': Documenting diplomatic processes that lead to conflict resolution while providing security Current funding support for IEDS comes from governmental and private grants. Training programs in environmental diplomacy and security as well as targeted mediation services are also planned as revenue sources for operations.IEDS at the University of Vermont
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References

{{University of Vermont Environmental organizations based in the United States Nonpartisan organizations in the United States Foreign policy and strategy think tanks in the United States University of Vermont Organizations based in Burlington, Vermont