CGRER promotes interdisciplinary efforts that focus on the multiple aspects of global environmental change, including the regional effects on natural ecosystems, environments, and resources, and on human health, culture and social systems. Center membership is composed of interested faculty members at any of Iowa's colleges and universities. Currently there are 50+ CGRER members.

The primary goals of CGRER are:

• promote interactions between researchers interested in the effects and interactions of global change
• pursue funding opportunities for multi-disciplinary projects from Federal, State, and private sources
• attract highly qualified students to campus who are interested in earth system science
• acquire state-of-the-art facilities and equipment essential to the conduct of global change research
• assist the State and its industries in their activities related to the effects of environmental change

Center goals are promoted by encouraging interdisciplinary research and dialogue among individuals whose disciplines touch upon any of the multifaceted aspects of global change. More specifically, the Center awards seed grants, fosters interdisciplinary courses, provides state-of-the-science research facilities and equipment, and holds seminars and symposia. The Center encourages students to broaden their studies and research through considering the multi-disciplinary aspects of global and regional environmental problems. Through such activities, the Center attempts to assist Iowa's agencies, industries, and citizens as they prepare for accelerated environmental change that may accompany modern technologies.

Housed in the Iowa Advanced Technology Laboratory, at the University of Iowa, the Center was established by the State Board of Regents in 1990 and receives funding through the year 2001 from a public utility trust fund, as mandated by the State of Iowa's Energy Efficiency Act (S.F. 2403).