Resilient Washington
Our Mission: Building a Resilient Washington Together
Washington State University’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences works to create a more resilient Washington. Our scientists, educators, students, and volunteers foster discovery and innovation across many disciplines that improve our state’s productiveness, sustainability, health, and wellbeing. Our mission embraces four pillars of endeavor:
Creating an Adaptable Workforce
Employers need a skilled and adaptable work force for today’s competitive economy. CAHNRS readies students to bridge disciplines, seize learning opportunities, and take on roles of responsibility and service. Ideas start in the classroom, then lead to the field, lab, and community though undergraduate research, more than 400 annual internships, and 40+ student clubs. Interdisciplinary programs build a universal kit of knowledge, while Extension educators share research-based best practices to keep Washington’s workforce ready for what’s next.
Providing a Secure Food Supply System
CAHNRS supports reliable access to affordable, nutritious food for all. Partnering with producers, we work at the leading edge of research to find ways to grow more food as we face challenges of sustainability and climate change. Agricultural scientists develop higher-yielding, disease-resistant crop varieties, increasing harvests to feed a growing world population. WSU Extension helps families build food security through education and support for access to fresh, healthy food.
Helping to Maintain Sustainable Natural Resources
Research and service in CAHNRS helps sustains the vital natural resources that nourish our communities and our world. We investigate the environment through the lens of both science and people’s needs, seeking answers to challenges such as species loss and climate change. Our researchers test crop varieties and practices that use less water and chemical inputs, maintaining soil health and air and water quality. Extension provides a critical link between WSU research and the application of knowledge and technology by producers, resource managers, and industries.
Supporting Thriving, Healthy Communities, Families, and Individuals
CAHNRS scholars and scientists study and share ways to grow vibrant, positive families and communities. Research in human sciences informs programs and policies that elevate people’s health and wellbeing, while WSU Extension empowers families in diverse and inclusive communities. Among many examples in CAHNRS, 4-H, the largest youth development program in the world, helps Washington children develop confidence and skills for healthy lives that enhance their communities, while Extension’s Broadband Action Teams strive to provide critical internet access to underserved rural communities.
Working together with our partners, volunteers, stakeholders, and students, CAHNRS builds a resilient Washington that thrives regardless of what life throws at us. With your support, we can do more through our learning, discovery, and community-engaged programs.
Learn how to become a partner, volunteer, or civilian scientist through one of our many community based programs: support vibrant, healthy environments through the WSU Master Gardener Program; aid youth development through Washington State 4-H; or become a community scientist aiding research for healthy forests through programs like Forest Health Watch.
Or, learn how our programs are helping your own community.