Lacawac Sanctuary is a protected, living laboratory where scientists from all over the world conduct environmental research. Lacawac hosts short-term and long-term field research, laboratory experiments, and EON science.
The Critical Role of Federal Science Funding
in Sustaining Lacawac’s Mission
Article by Dr. Beth Norman
Director of Science and Research
Science funding has been in the news recently with many changes in how the federal government funds research. Along with the members of the Lacawac Science Committee, I want to take this opportunity to let you know how these changes may affect the scientists and students who work at Lacawac and our ability to fulfill our mission of Research, Education, and Preservation.
Research is fundamental to Lacawac’s mission and to Arthur and Isabel Watres’ vision of Lacawac as a “living laboratory.” Research is costly because most colleges and universities do not provide faculty with research funding. Instead, faculty apply for federal and state grants to fund equipment, consumables, student stipends, and often at least a portion of their own salaries. Research projects conducted at Lacawac have been funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Lacawac sees a return on this federal investment in many ways. Of course, site use and lodging fees support staffing, operations, programing, and lab maintenance. But more than that, our partnerships with faculty and students allow us to host world-class environmental research. Federally-funded projects conducted at Lacawac have contributed to our understanding of mercury contamination, carbon and nutrient dynamics in lake ecosystems, and how lakes respond to climate change. Federal funds have also supported aquatic sensor development, deployment, and testing in Lake Lacawac.
Researchers and the work they do are fully integrated into Lacawac’s other missions of education and preservation. Faculty who conduct research at Lacawac bring their classes on field trips and these experiences open doors to career paths in environmental science for many students. Researchers present educational programs for all ages at Lacawac, serve on Lacawac committees, support Lacawac infrastructure, and partner with preservation initiatives such as PLEON. These programs would not be possible without the support of our research community.
Federal funding has supported numerous research projects by undergraduate and graduate students at Lacawac. These students are the lifeblood of our field station and they “grow up” to be faculty and bring their own students to Lacawac. Our own Alex Bros, until recently Lacawac’s PLEON Technician, was a student of Dr. Sandi Connolley, who conducted her PhD research at Lacawac with Dr. Craig Williamson, a faculty member who conducted NSF-supported research at Lacawac for many years. Alex is now a PhD student of Dr. Lesley Knoll, Lacawac’s previous Director of Research and Education. Another Williamson student, Dr. Kevin Rose, currently has an NSF-funded project at Lacawac. Three academic generations of Lacawac researchers have contributed their energy, enthusiasm, and ideas to Lacawac’s legacy of scientific excellence. This is what it means to “shape the next generation of scientists and earth stewards”.
What does a sustained loss of federal support for universities and grant programs mean for Lacawac? Likely it means less research will be done here. This will hurt Lacawac’s bottom line, but most importantly, it will make us less prepared to manage water quality under increasing environmental and human pressure and less effective in our mission.
Director of Science and Research
Science funding has been in the news recently with many changes in how the federal government funds research. Along with the members of the Lacawac Science Committee, I want to take this opportunity to let you know how these changes may affect the scientists and students who work at Lacawac and our ability to fulfill our mission of Research, Education, and Preservation.
Research is fundamental to Lacawac’s mission and to Arthur and Isabel Watres’ vision of Lacawac as a “living laboratory.” Research is costly because most colleges and universities do not provide faculty with research funding. Instead, faculty apply for federal and state grants to fund equipment, consumables, student stipends, and often at least a portion of their own salaries. Research projects conducted at Lacawac have been funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Lacawac sees a return on this federal investment in many ways. Of course, site use and lodging fees support staffing, operations, programing, and lab maintenance. But more than that, our partnerships with faculty and students allow us to host world-class environmental research. Federally-funded projects conducted at Lacawac have contributed to our understanding of mercury contamination, carbon and nutrient dynamics in lake ecosystems, and how lakes respond to climate change. Federal funds have also supported aquatic sensor development, deployment, and testing in Lake Lacawac.
Researchers and the work they do are fully integrated into Lacawac’s other missions of education and preservation. Faculty who conduct research at Lacawac bring their classes on field trips and these experiences open doors to career paths in environmental science for many students. Researchers present educational programs for all ages at Lacawac, serve on Lacawac committees, support Lacawac infrastructure, and partner with preservation initiatives such as PLEON. These programs would not be possible without the support of our research community.
Federal funding has supported numerous research projects by undergraduate and graduate students at Lacawac. These students are the lifeblood of our field station and they “grow up” to be faculty and bring their own students to Lacawac. Our own Alex Bros, until recently Lacawac’s PLEON Technician, was a student of Dr. Sandi Connolley, who conducted her PhD research at Lacawac with Dr. Craig Williamson, a faculty member who conducted NSF-supported research at Lacawac for many years. Alex is now a PhD student of Dr. Lesley Knoll, Lacawac’s previous Director of Research and Education. Another Williamson student, Dr. Kevin Rose, currently has an NSF-funded project at Lacawac. Three academic generations of Lacawac researchers have contributed their energy, enthusiasm, and ideas to Lacawac’s legacy of scientific excellence. This is what it means to “shape the next generation of scientists and earth stewards”.
What does a sustained loss of federal support for universities and grant programs mean for Lacawac? Likely it means less research will be done here. This will hurt Lacawac’s bottom line, but most importantly, it will make us less prepared to manage water quality under increasing environmental and human pressure and less effective in our mission.
Past & Current Research
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Lacawac Sanctuary has been a a site of ecological research in climate change, forest succession and water quality since 1966. Early research efforts at Lacawac were led by Clyde Goulden of the Academy of Natural Sciences (1970’s and 1980’s) and Dr. Craig Williamson of Lehigh University and Miami University (19080's-present). Lacawac now hosts many research and educational projects involving investigators and students from multiple colleges and universities.
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We are living during a time of unprecedented and rapid environmental change. These changes include shifts in global carbon, nutrient and hydrological cycles, species loss and invasions, and dramatic land use change around the world. Research at Lacawac is largely focused on understanding the effects of these changes on ecosystems, biological communities, organisms, and organism physiology. Approaches range from laboratory experiments, field studies, and regional and global observatory networks.
Explore Research Opportunities
Lacawac has a range of ecosystems available for study. Scientists from colleges and universities around the country have established vibrant research programs at Lacawac. Learn more about their stories and explore the hundreds of scientific publications resulting from Lacawac research.
Conducting Research at Lacawac
Research, teaching, collecting, or other scientific activities of any kind require permission Lacawac. Research activities are coordinated by the Director of Science and Research and proposals that will be well served by Lacawac's resources, facilities, and biology, and that do not interfere with ongoing programs are solicited and strongly encouraged.
If you are interested in conducting research at the field station, please:
1. Review Lacawac's Usage Policies and Station Guide.
2. Submit a Lacawac Research Application to the DSR, Beth Norman ([email protected]).
Lacawac has an on-site analytical laboratory and a variety of field equipment available for researchers. We also offer private and semi-private on-site housing options. All station residents pay lodging and facilities fees. Please note that facilities and housing must be reserved in advance of arrival. Contact Beth Norman for reservations regarding research.
If you are interested in conducting research at the field station, please:
1. Review Lacawac's Usage Policies and Station Guide.
2. Submit a Lacawac Research Application to the DSR, Beth Norman ([email protected]).
Lacawac has an on-site analytical laboratory and a variety of field equipment available for researchers. We also offer private and semi-private on-site housing options. All station residents pay lodging and facilities fees. Please note that facilities and housing must be reserved in advance of arrival. Contact Beth Norman for reservations regarding research.
Resources for Researchers
Lacawac offers a variety of support for researchers including:
1. A full time Director of Science and Research available to assist with logistical planning, scientific collaboration, experimental design, and student mentoring.
2. Summer undergraduate interns available to help with field research, data collection, and other tasks.
3. Publicly available long-term data sets.
4. Financial support in the form of research grants for faculty and undergraduate students.
5. Opportunities to integrate research into a variety of established public outreach and educational programs, including the Pocono Ecological Observatory Network (PLEON) lake monitoring program and the Pathways in Ecological Research (PiER) high school STEM mentoring program.
1. A full time Director of Science and Research available to assist with logistical planning, scientific collaboration, experimental design, and student mentoring.
2. Summer undergraduate interns available to help with field research, data collection, and other tasks.
3. Publicly available long-term data sets.
4. Financial support in the form of research grants for faculty and undergraduate students.
5. Opportunities to integrate research into a variety of established public outreach and educational programs, including the Pocono Ecological Observatory Network (PLEON) lake monitoring program and the Pathways in Ecological Research (PiER) high school STEM mentoring program.
