Together we use a systems science approach and work on four topical inter-disciplinary research themes:

• Biogeochemical cycles in the critical zone
• Biodiversity and geodiversity in the tropics
• Spatial and temporal scales of terrestrial processes and patterns
• Mitigation of environmental degradation and adaption to global change

Each theme has been developed so that it encapsulates the work of at least two tenured academic staff, and for each tenured academic staff member to be able to contribute to at least two of the four themes. The research and teaching activity of ELD members will retain a strong empirical and theoretical component.