The E⁴ Scholars Network has the following aims:

1. Build and Grow a Network of E⁴-Cognizant Faculty: The sine qua non of this program is the cultivation of a community of faculty who appreciate the complex nature of the E⁴ crises. This will require both finding faculty who have already come to understand these interlocking issues, and also shepherding the intellectual transition for faculty from realizing these are important problems to understanding the magnitude of the E⁴ issues and thinking systemically about them.
2. Promote Research and Scholarship: Considerable scholarly work is needed to fully understand the E⁴ crises, and much of this work transcends the traditional silos of academic disciplines. Additionally, and perhaps more importantly, considerable scholarship is needed to develop appropriate responses to the E⁴ crises, including envisioning and laying the groundwork for realistic scenarios that lie between techno-utopian and apocalyptic. The interdisciplinary community of E⁴ Scholars will catalyze new collaborative efforts in this space, complementing and expanding upon scholarship undertaken by scholars both inside and outside of the academy. The network may also aim to promote funding for scholarship in this space.
3. Improve Undergraduate Education: Few students who graduate from our colleges and universities are exposed to systems thinking, and even fewer are exposed to the E⁴ crises that will almost certainly shape their futures. The E⁴ Scholars Network will develop instructional resources that can be used by faculty at different institutional types to better educate students. These efforts may leverage existing work being done by related groups but would focus on E⁴ crises, energy literacy, systems thinking, and resilience.
4. Reach Beyond the Campus: Faculty can have an impact far beyond their campuses in a variety of ways, including K-12 outreach, continuing education or extension programs, service in professional organizations or on government advisory boards, engaging in community resilience efforts (including through experiential or service learning courses), and shaping the public discourse through op-eds, books, blogs, and media appearances. The E⁴ Scholars Network will develop resources to empower its members to perform meaningful outreach and service in order to promote a broader awareness of the E⁴ crises and related topics.