As a response to the global challenges posed by such environmental issues as climate change and the dwindling availability of fossil fuels, John Hopkins University (JHU) has established a Sustainability Office to focus on the practical aspects of sustainability and an interfacing research institute to provide an academic focus. The purpose of the Environmental, Energy, Sustainability and Health Institute (E²SHI) is to foster and coordinate leading-edge research and education that concentrates on the health and sustainability problems arising from these global dilemmas, and to develop integrated responses that span the various disciplines and divisions concerned.

Reef Light Interactive was approached to produce a website that would be a focal point for E²SHI activities, particularly in the areas of environment, sustainability and health. The aim was to provide research and background material for existing and prospective students plus a means for the general public to update on JHU’s contributions and collaborations in these important areas.

With the target audience in mind we worked with E²SHI to provide a site with a simple, uncluttered layout, an easy navigation system for content, a simple but effective graphic interface, a means to display news, events and other updates, and a platform to encourage interaction between site audience members.