Natural Sciences

NATURAL SCIENCES & ENGINEERING Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Management—The majority of people living in extreme poverty throughout the world depend on agriculture, fi sheries and forests for their livelihoods, although biophysical environments vary tremendously both by region and within regions. Food production and rural economic transformation often hinge on animal productivity, crop yields and forest production, which in turn depend on soil fertility, availability of inputs and land management. Energy—Essential to all aspects of development—including agricultural productivity, access to water, health, education and transportation—is a safe and consistent supply of energy. Well-designed interventions must consider how renewable or non-renewable energy sources will be harnessed and distributed, and the associated economic, environmental and health impacts. Engineering and Urban and Rural Planning—Public infrastructure is essential to poverty reduction and economic growth, including water supply systems, waste management systems, clean air systems, irrigation systems, roads and transportation systems and telecommunication systems. The strategic design of such systems must also take into account the environmental, economic and social impacts and include appropriate adaptations for predicted changes in climate. Environment, Water and Climate Science — Large numbers of the world’s poor live in fragile ecosystems and many developing countries are experiencing severe ecosystem degradation as human settlement expands and natural resources are mined. Evolving ecosystems typically defi ne patterns of disease transmission affecting human, animal and plant health. All of these dynamics are affected by climate patterns, which are shown to be shifting due to anthropogenic climate change. Policy analysis and recommendation is imprudent without a sound understanding of basic environmental, water and climate science.