There are multiples centers, units, and programs that work on water research, education, and policy at MSU. The organizations that focus solely or primarily on water are listed first under “MSU organizations that focus on water and water-related research” in the below list. There are many other organizations who may not have water as a main focus, but whose work and research does include water. These organizations are listed second under “MSU organizations whose work includes water.”
MSU Entities that focus on water and water-related research:
The mission of The Center for Water Sciences (CWS) at MSU is to advance scientific research and knowledge for understanding, protecting, and restoring water resources and their sustainable use by humans and ecosystems around the Great Lakes and the world. Our interdisciplinary scientific teams of MSU faculty and students investigate and provide solutions to current, emerging, and future environmental problems that face our local, national, and global water systems. CWS investigators are addressing a variety of research topics including antibiotics in water and development of microbial resistance, viral pathogens and waterborne disease, the complexity of natural and human influences on biodiversity and valued attributes of aquatic ecosystems within watersheds, and the effects of contaminants with global origins. The CWS is dedicated to promoting the integration of traditional fields of science to address water-related issues and research that focus on ecosystems and human health.
The Institute of Water Research (IWR) at MSU provides timely information for addressing contemporary land and water resource issues through coordinated multidisciplinary efforts using advanced information and networking systems. The IWR endeavors to strengthen MSU’s efforts in nontraditional education, outreach, and interdisciplinary studies utilizing available advanced technology, and partnerships with local, state, regional, and federal organizations and individuals. Activities include coordinating education and training programs on surface and ground water protection, land use and watershed management, and many others.
KBS is MSU’s largest off-campus education complex and one of North America’s premier inland field stations. Its mission is to develop programs in research, education and outreach directed toward a comprehensive understanding of natural and managed ecosystems and the conservation of natural resources.
The Quantitative Fisheries Center seeks to provide a research, outreach/service and teaching program to build greater capacity within fishery management agencies in quantitative methods; improve quantitative methods for assessing fish stocks; assist agencies to use model-based approaches in decision making; and develop a better understanding of fish community and population dynamics.
The institute supports informed, effective, and efficient regulation of the infrastructure-intensive network industries providing vital utility services – electricity, natural gas, water, and telecommunications. Work at IPU specializes in the structure, economics, and regulation of the water utility industry.
MSU Entities whose work includes water:
The BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action is an NSF Science and Technology Center founded with the mission of illuminating and harnessing the power of evolution in action to advance science and technology and benefit society. Research at BEACON focuses on biological evolution, digital evolution, and evolutionary applications in engineering, uniting biologists who study natural evolutionary processes with computer scientists and engineers who are harnessing these processes to solve real-world problems. Research at BEACON includes work on aquatic organisms .
The intellectual focus of the Center for Microbial Ecology is to understand factors that influence the competitiveness, diversity and function of microorganisms in their natural and managed habitats. This knowledge is important because microorganisms have major roles in determining global warming, ground water quality, plant and animal health, and organic matter cycling. Further, microorganisms are important to the biotechnology industry and include organisms developed to degrade hazardous chemicals, for the production of pharmaceuticals and for biocatalysis. To ensure a sustainable biosphere and to exploit these microbial processes for economic gain, we must develop a comprehensive understanding of microbial diversity, microbial processes and microbial interactions. This can best be achieved through a multidisciplinary research effort such as that of the Center. Work at CME includes research on aquatic microbial ecology.
Environmental Science and Policy Program (ESPP)
ESPP is the umbrella organization for environmental research and graduate education at MSU. ESPP was established in order to build interdisciplinary graduate education programs, facilitate interdisciplinary environmental research, and help connect MSU’s areas of excellence to national and global efforts.
Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center
The Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) is one of three national centers funded by the U.S. Department of Energy to conduct transformational biofuels research. The GLBRC is exploring scientifically diverse approaches to converting various plant feedstocks – agricultural residues, wood chips, and nonfood grasses – into liquid transportation fuels. In addition to its broad range of research projects, the GLBRC is also collaborating with agricultural researchers and producers to develop the most economically viable and environmentally sustainable practices for bioenergy production. The GLBRC research program includes evaluating the implications of biofuel crop production for water quantity and water quality.
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