Created in one of the fastest growing departments at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, the researchers in the South Texas Environmental Institute study topics that are of great importance to the quality of life in South Texas.

The South Texas Environmental Institute is committed to promoting applied research and development, technology transfer, outreach and service, and environmental education and training.

The Institute is responsible for  numerous projects such as the National Science Foundation sponsored Center for Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) Research on Environmental Sustainability for SemiArid Coastal Areas (RESSACA). The Institute also organizes  annual conferences as part of the Coastal Bend Environmental Conference (CBEC) and the Rio-Grande/Rio-Bravo Environmental Conference (REC), and the ISR uranium mining conferences and workshops.