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

The Fenner School delivers research and education focusing on the major and emerging 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 School through its education and training programs prepares the future generation of researchers, professionals and educators with the necessary mix of disciplinary foundations and integrative and applied skills needed to address challenges and opportunities in environment and sustainability.

The Fenner School is at the core of ANU-wide integrated research and teaching. It is affiliated with the ANU Climate Change Institute, which addresses the needs of local, national and international organisations and the broader community, by linking policy makers and the public to the university's world-leading experts in climate change research and education. The School is active in the National Institute for Rural and Regional Australia and the ANU Water Initiative , is linked to several National Climate Adaptation Research Networks, co-convenes the Australian Sustainable Cities and Regions Research Network , and delivers education programs in collaboration with other ANU areas to provide maximum breadth and opportunity for students.

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.

The School takes its name after Professor Frank Fenner, a great Australian scientist who has crossed into many areas of application and cross-disciplinary collaboration. In 1973, Frank was appointed 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.

The Fenner School is situated in the ANU College of Medicine, Biology and Environment.

Professor Stephen (Steve) Dovers

Director

Professor Frank Fenner (left) (after whom our School is named) and Fenner School Director Professor Steve Dovers (2009)