Nature Conservancy, Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water and Air Announce Collaboration

LOGAN, Utah — The Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water and Air at Utah State University has announced a $100,000 partnership with The Nature Conservancy. This investment will support the institute’s mission in finding science-based solutions for Utah’s most pressing environmental challenges.

The institute was founded on a vision to be a leading hub for interdisciplinary research and policy. With the support from partners such as The Nature Conservancy, the institute bridges the gap between scientists, policymakers and community leaders to conduct research, promote public understanding and develop new strategies for managing Utah’s land, water and air resources.

"We are incredibly grateful for The Nature Conservancy's support, which will allow us to create more connections between research and policy that bring tangible benefits for our communities and our environment," said Brian Steed, executive director of the institute.

The institute’s vision complements The Nature Conservancy’s mission “to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.” Both organizations emphasize using science to inform decisions and approach Utah’s environmental challenges not as isolated issues, but as part of a connected whole.

Since its founding in 2021, the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water and Air has partnered with the Great Salt Lake Strike Team to provide needed science on the lake; spearheaded a major research program to address Bear Lake opportunities and challenges; founded the Colorado River Collaborative to build awareness of issues facing the river along with potential solutions; and engaged with Utah’s business community to support innovative air and water practices.

"This investment is a testament to the power of collaboration in the face of daunting environmental challenges," said Elizabeth Kitchens, state director of The Nature Conservancy in Utah. "The institute's focus on research and innovation is a perfect complement to our on-the-ground conservation work. By combining our efforts, we can find and implement the smart, sustainable solutions that Utah needs."

Funding by The Nature Conservancy will be used to further support the institute’s projects and programs, particularly those focused on addressing water scarcity and finding innovative nature-based solutions to Utah’s environmental challenges.

About The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive. Founded in the U.S. through grassroots action in 1951, The Nature Conservancy has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than a million members and the dedicated efforts of diverse staff and partners, it impacts conservation in 79 countries and territories: 37 by direct conservation and 42 through partners.

About the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water and Air

Established in 2021, the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water and Air at Utah State University envisions a Utah that values its shared natural resources to create a high quality of life for all Utahns. By providing policy makers with the trusted research they need to make evidence-based policy decisions, the institute provides critical context to Utah’s most pressing land, water and air challenges today and for our future.