USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies

Though the Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies was not officially established until 1995, USC has held a longstanding commitment to environmental studies. In 1901, the university hired its first marine biologist, and in 1910, it began its first study on water contamination in Venice. Today, the Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies continues this tradition of curiosity and commitment to investigating and solving environmental issues. The Institute operates a state-of-the-art research complex and teaching facility on Catalina Island, which includes eight laboratories with a capacity of 24 researchers and 60 students. These students and researchers, in conjunction with those operating on the mainland at USC, produce cutting-edge research on biological reactions to climate change and the relationship between human and natural communities. This scientific research informs the Institute's work on environmental policy to advocate systematic reform and public education campaigns to foster awareness.