The mission of the Susquehanna River Institute is to focus public
attention on the natural and cultural resources of theSusquehanna
River/Watershed. The Institute will produce this focus through the
development and promotion of educational initiatives and scholarly
research.
The
Institute is devoted to educating as many as possible about the
Susquehanna River/Watershed and its resources. The target audience
for this outreach is very broad, from elementary through post-graduate
school, and the educational format under development will range
from informal presentations and lectures, to courses offered for
college credit. In particular, the Institute intends to reach community
"gatekeepers", that is, those within the community such
as teachers and other community leaders, who will in turn reach
others in the community. The young are also within Institute sights.
Initiatives using applied environmental programs, in topics such
as water quality, land use, and biodiversity, will help guide our
younger community members towards sound environmental stewardship.
The
Susquehanna River Institute is also devoted to developing research
initiatives in basic river/watershed ecology and biology. An extended
research goal of the Institute is to develop a long-term ecological
research/monitoring program on the Susquehanna (LTER). Very few
LTERs exist nationally or internationally. Given the pre-existing
Susquehanna River databases for water quality and biology, the Institute
is a viable candidate for hosting such research. In addition, the
Institute is expected to attract river-centered scholarship in the
humanities, public policy, social sciences, and the fine arts.
SHORT AND LONG TERM GOALS OF THE RIVER
INSTITUTE
Short-Term Goals:
Secure sustaining partners for the Institute.
Begin the development of educational programs from the Institute.
Begin investigation for the grant application process.
Establish communication links.
Secure temporary housing for the Institute.
Identify research goals.
Identify future challenges facing the Institute.
Mid-Term Goals:
Continue to secure sustaining partners.
Launch educational programs.
Begin grant application process.
Identify research projects.
Long-Term Goals
Secure permanent housing for the Institute to include educational
and research facilities.
The
Institute is devoted to educating as many as possible about the
Susquehanna River/Watershed and its resources. The target audience
for this outreach is very broad, from elementary through post-graduate
school, and the educational format under development will range
from informal presentations and lectures, to courses offered for
college credit. In particular, the Institute intends to reach community
"gatekeepers", that is, those within the community such
as teachers and other community leaders, who will in turn reach
others in the community. The young are also within Institute sights.
Initiatives using applied environmental programs, in topics such
as water quality, land use, and biodiversity, will help guide our
younger community members towards sound environmental stewardship.
The
Susquehanna River Institute is also devoted to developing research
initiatives in basic river/watershed ecology and biology. An extended
research goal of the Institute is to develop a long-term ecological
research/monitoring program on the Susquehanna (LTER). Very few
LTERs exist nationally or internationally. Given the pre-existing
Susquehanna River databases for water quality and biology, the Institute
is a viable candidate for hosting such research. In addition, the
Institute is expected to attract river-centered scholarship in the
humanities, public policy, social sciences, and the fine arts.