UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
UCLA's public academic research institute delivering interdisciplinary environmental science and sustainability education (B.S., D.Env., Ph.D., certificates) alongside 13+ research centers, field stations across five continents, and a 75-partner ecosystem spanning government, nonprofit, and corporate sectors.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1973
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability does
The UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability (IoES) is a public academic research institute within the University of California system, founded in the 1990s and tracing its doctoral program lineage to 1973 when Nobel laureate Willard F. Libby established the Environmental Science and Engineering program. The institute delivers interdisciplinary education through a B.S. in Environmental Science, a Minor in Environmental Systems and Society, the D.Env. professional doctorate, a Ph.D. in Environment and Sustainability, and the Leaders in Sustainability Graduate Certificate, serving approximately 700 students per year through programs and a year-long Senior Practicum capstone now in its 20th year.
IoES operates more than 13 research centers and field sites spanning climate science, conservation, tropical research, corporate environmental performance, clean air, marine science, and water resources, with field stations in the Congo Basin, Santa Monica Mountains, White Mountain, and Sage Hill. Its technical work spans environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis for biodiversity assessment, climate modeling, the LA Residential Energy Transition (RESET) tool, and Fire Recovery Energy Impact Modeling for the Palisades and Eaton Fires. The institute's flagship external program is the Pritzker Emerging Environmental Genius Award, now in its 10th year, funded by the Anthony Pritzker Family Foundation with a $100,000 winner prize and $15,000 to each of two finalists.
Revenue is derived from four streams: state and University of California system funding, externally awarded research grants and contracts (including a $3 million state grant for LARC-HEAT and federal awards from FEMA and NSF), philanthropic gifts and endowments (notably the Pritzker Family Foundation), and tuition routed through UCLA's central administration. The institute engages 75+ active partners across government agencies (CARB, County of Los Angeles, National Park Service), environmental nonprofits (Conservation International, Nature Conservancy, NRDC, Heal the Bay), and corporate sponsors (BlackRock, Boeing, Taylor Guitars, American Honda Motors), and its research informs policy and practice across five continents.
UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
- Legal name
- The Regents of the University of California
- Website
- https://ioes.ucla.edu
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1973
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- UCLA's public academic research institute delivering interdisciplinary environmental science and sustainability education (B.S., D.Env., Ph.D., certificates) alongside 13+ research centers, field stations across five continents, and a 75-partner ecosystem spanning government, nonprofit, and corporate sectors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education - Environmental Science and Sustainability
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Technical Universities with Energy, Materials & Sustainability Focus (EDAHAEAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Environmental Science & Sustainability Programs (Ecology, Climate, Conservation) (EDAMABAD), Agriculture, Environmental & Earth Sciences (EDAGABAL)
Keywords
Where UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- University State Funding: State funding from UCLA and the University of California system provides base operational support for the institute.
- Research Grants and Contracts: External funding from government agencies (state grants like the $3 million LARC-HEAT grant, FEMA grants, NSF awards) and organizations to support specific research projects and initiatives.
- Philanthropic Gifts and Endowments: Donations from individuals, family foundations (Anthony Pritzker Family Foundation), and corporations through the UCLA Foundation to support programs, projects, and outreach activities.
- Tuition Revenue: Tuition from students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs contributes to institutional funding, though students pay tuition to UCLA overall.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability product offering
Product offeringCore offering
UCLA IoES offers interdisciplinary undergraduate, doctoral, and certificate programs in environmental science and sustainability, anchored by a portfolio of research centers and field sites. The institute delivers the B.S. in Environmental Science, Minor in Environmental Systems and Society, D.Env. in Environmental Science and Engineering, Ph.D. in Environment and Sustainability, and the Leaders in Sustainability Graduate Certificate, complemented by hands-on capstone practicum projects and the Pritzker Emerging Environmental Genius Award program.
Product overview
UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability operates as an academic institute offering a portfolio of educational programs rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include undergraduate programs (B.S. in Environmental Science, Minor in Environmental Systems and Society), doctoral programs (D.Env. in Environmental Science and Engineering, Ph.D. in Environment and Sustainability), and a Leaders in Sustainability Graduate Certificate. The institute supports these educational programs through multiple research centers (La Kretz Center, Center for Tropical Research, Center for Climate Science, California Center for Sustainable Communities, Laboratory for Environmental Narrative Strategies, Center for Corporate Environmental Performance, Center for Clean Air, Marine Center, Center for Developing Leadership in Science, Water Resources Group) and field sites (White Mountain Research Center, Congo Basin Institute, Santa Monica Mountains Research Stations, Sage Hill). The Pritzker Emerging Environmental Genius Award recognizes emerging environmental leaders. The Senior Practicum provides experiential learning through partnerships with real-world organizations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Pritzker Emerging Environmental Genius Award: Annual award providing $100,000 to the winner and $15,000 each to two additional finalists, made possible by the Anthony Pritzker Family Foundation, recognizing promising young innovators in environmental leadership
Products and services
- B.S. in Environmental Science A dual-component bachelor's degree program offering breadth and depth with a solid foundation in natural sciences and a focus on understanding environmental issues across earth, atmospheric, life and social sciences, featuring a year-long Senior Practicum capstone. For undergraduate students.
- Minor in Environmental Systems and Society A multi-disciplinary undergraduate minor that broadens students' understanding of environmental science and policy and how decisions affect the environment. For UCLA undergraduates.
- D.Env. in Environmental Science and Engineering A professional doctorate program delivering practical education for environmental problem solvers, emphasizing interactions between science, engineering, public policy, economics and law. For working professionals and researchers.
- Ph.D. in Environment and Sustainability An interdisciplinary doctoral program providing sophisticated training in developing deep understandings of environment and sustainability issues, preparing students for careers in academia, public and private sectors.
- Leaders in Sustainability Graduate Certificate A national award-winning interdisciplinary graduate certificate program open to all UCLA graduate students, providing skills and networks to lead across disciplines and drive meaningful sustainability impact.
- Senior Practicum Program A year-long capstone program sending undergraduates into the field, pairing them with real-world clients to solve real-world environmental problems using science, statistics and communication.
- Pritzker Emerging Environmental Genius Award An annual award providing $100,000 to the winner and $15,000 each to two additional finalists, discovering and supporting promising young innovators in environmental leadership under 40.
- Research Centers and Field Sites Research infrastructure including the La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science, Center for Tropical Research, Center for Climate Science, California Center for Sustainable Communities, Laboratory for Environmental Narrative Strategies, Center for Corporate Environmental Performance, Center for Clean Air, Marine Center, Center for Developing Leadership in Science, Water Resources Group, White Mountain Research Center, Congo Basin Institute, Santa Monica Mountains Research Stations, and Sage Hill.
Quantifiable outcome
- 260+ graduates have taken senior leadership positions at EPA, Disney, Army Corps of Engineers, AECOM, and other major organizations since 1973.
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Conservation InternationalcoreCommunity partnership focused on conservation and environmental sustainability. Conservation International works globally to protect nature and biodiversity.
- The Nature ConservancycoreCommunity partnership for nature conservation and environmental protection initiatives.
- TreePeoplecoreCommunity partnership focused on urban forestry and community-based environmental action in Los Angeles.
- County of Los AngelescoreGovernment partnership for environmental programs including the LARC-HEAT initiative, community health worker training, and heat resilience efforts.
- National Park ServicecoreGovernment partnership for conservation research and environmental protection in national parks.
- State of CaliforniacoreState government partnership providing funding through grants like the $3 million LARC-HEAT initiative and policy collaboration.
- BlackRockminorCorporate partnership supporting sustainable finance and environmental research initiatives.
- BoeingminorCorporate partnership for sustainability research and environmental initiatives.
- Taylor GuitarsminorCorporate partnership including the Ebony Project in Cameroon for sustainable ebony production. Students have completed practicum projects for Taylor Guitars.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability: Public university professional school offering SEAS graduate programs with strong practitioner orientation. Comparable mission and applied sustainability research portfolio.
- University of Washington College of the Environment: Major public university college covering atmospheric, aquatic, terrestrial, and sustainability sciences. Competes with IoES for federal research dollars and graduate students on the West Coast.
- Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability: Stanford's school dedicated to climate and sustainability research and education, established with a major naming gift. Most direct competitor for top faculty, doctoral students, and environmental science funding in California.
- Yale School of the Environment: Premier graduate school for environmental science, policy, and sustainability. Competes with IoES for doctoral applicants, faculty hires, and philanthropic donors in the environmental field.
- Columbia Climate School: Columbia University's school focused on climate science, policy, and communication. Comparable interdisciplinary model combining research centers, graduate programs, and practitioner engagement.
- Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability: Cornell's hub for sustainability research and education, coordinating cross-disciplinary faculty and student programs. Comparable structure as a central institute within a major research university.
- UC Berkeley Rausser College of Natural Resources: Sister UC-system unit offering undergraduate and graduate environmental and sustainability programs. Directly competes for UC-system applicants, state funding, and California-based research grants.
- Duke Nicholas School of the Environment: Top-tier environmental school offering master's and doctoral programs with applied practicum models. Comparable mix of research centers, policy engagement, and corporate partnerships.
Emerging players
- MIT Sustainability Science and Strategy (Climate Project): MIT's cross-cutting climate and sustainability initiative linking research, policy, and industry. Comparable interdisciplinary approach and competition for elite faculty and graduate talent.
Broad incumbents
- Oxford Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment: Global leader in environmental and sustainable finance research and graduate education. Less direct overlap geographically but competes for international students, faculty, and policy-influencing grants.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability social profiles
Digital presenceUCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries14 records
UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
What does UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability do?
UCLA IoES offers interdisciplinary undergraduate, doctoral, and certificate programs in environmental science and sustainability, anchored by a portfolio of research centers and field sites. The institute delivers the B.S. in Environmental Science, Minor in Environmental Systems and Society, D.Env. in Environmental Science and Engineering, Ph.D. in Environment and Sustainability, and the Leaders in Sustainability Graduate Certificate, complemented by hands-on capstone practicum projects and the Pritzker Emerging Environmental Genius Award program.
Is UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability a public or private company?
UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability founded?
UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability was founded in 1973.
Where is UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability based?
UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. University State Funding is the primary driver. The others are research Grants and Contracts, philanthropic Gifts and Endowments and tuition Revenue.
Who are UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Washington College of the Environment, Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, Yale School of the Environment, Columbia Climate School, Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, UC Berkeley Rausser College of Natural Resources and Duke Nicholas School of the Environment. MIT Sustainability Science and Strategy (Climate Project) is listed as an emerging player. Oxford Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability have an API?
No public API is recorded for UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability.
What industry is UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability in?
UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability's product category is Higher Education - Environmental Science and Sustainability. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAEAL, Technical Universities with Energy, Materials & Sustainability Focus, with a secondary code of EDAMABAD, Environmental Science & Sustainability Programs (Ecology, Climate, Conservation). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8731.