Ecology Research Center, College of Arts and Science

About the ERC

The Ecology Research Center (ERC) is the focal point for ecological field research at Miami University and provides a venue for educational opportunities for middle, high school, and university students. This 69-hectare field station contains a diversity of field sites and facilities that support both aquatic and terrestrial research. In addition the ERC provides the tools and equipment needed to maintain field plots and the ERC staff are available to provide advice and assistance in the design and fabrication of research apparatuses and sampling devices.

The ERC is home to a NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and DOE (US Department of Energy) meteorological station. In addition to collecting data on precipitation quality (since 1979), the station also monitors:

dry deposition quality
lightning frequency
spatial and temporal fluctuations in solar radiation

Education and Outreach Opportunities

The ERC staff will assist educators, group leaders at all levels in developing age-appropriate exercises for their class or group. The staff are happy to identify and help to implement activities, when appropriate relying on the expertise at the Miami University's Center for Environmental Education. Tours can be customized to meet the needs of a specific age or interest level. Tours can be as brief as 1 hour or as long as a half of a day.

Unique Opportunities

The Ecology Research Center is unique because it provides opportunities for real manipulative research that are typically not possible at environmental education facilities. For example, landscape manipulation and collection of plants, insects and other invertebrates can be done without the need for special permits. The ERC has a variety of habitats that are close to one another, providing many opportunities for comparisons among various terrestrial and aquatic habitats.

Educational Opportunities

The ERC provides exceptional educational opportunities for students of all ages. There is a large weather station, a bird-watching area, numerous beehives, and nature trails. Visitors can take a guided tour of the center facilities or participate in exciting field research projects. The ERC is a site for field exercises that are part of many Miami University classes and new activities are always welcome.

Outreach

The center regularly hosts the bi-monthly meeting of the Butler County Beekeepers Association. The ERC has hosted environmental awareness and 4-H groups, residents of local nursing homes, the Butler and Preble County Water Association, as well as various student groups.

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Olivia Wetsch (Class of 2018)

"I'd always wanted to study biology. When I was younger, I wanted to go to veterinary school, but as I grew older I became more interested in conservation and started looking into research involving environmental science. By the time I came to Miami, I was pretty set on this and began taking classes in biology and chemistry, some of which were pretty tough! I really liked my classes and being around passionate professors — and all of this made me even more sure that biology was the right major for me."

Malory Owen (Class of 2018)

"A wider understanding of things beyond your discipline is necessary if you want to have any positive effect on the world. You can't just focus on one part. My majors, Zoology and Environmental Science, are very closely related, but they include aspects that stretch me beyond my comfort zone. I've had to take math and ethics classes, for example, since we cannot rely solely on science to make our ethical decisions. Science is only a tool we use to better inform our ethical decisions."

Riley Theobald (Class of 2017)

"Taking liberal arts classes does in fact make students well rounded, just as Miami states in all the booklets you get the first year of college. Taking classes outside my major has allowed me to have amazing experiences and take part in super sweet research studies, opening my eyes to just how much the world offers to those who are willing to take a chance."

Ethan Suding (Class of 2015)

"The professors really make Miami stand out from anything else. Almost every professor that I've had a class with has been interested in helping students. My biology and chemistry professors are always looking to get students in the lab to help with research, no matter what the scale."

Ashley Gordon (Class of 2015)

"Last year I really enjoyed my ecology and environmental science classes. I got to know the professors and found a lot of value in the discussion format … This past semester, I took a capstone course … This class really helped me understand the importance of communicating scientific information with the public and was very rewarding because I had the opportunity to be a part of making something that will positively impact the local community."

Lauren Porter (Class of 2014)

"Miami has one of the best science programs in Ohio. I liked the distance from my hometown in Dayton, and I could definitely afford it. On top of that, I really enjoyed the campus, I already had friends here, and I felt that Miami was definitely a place where I could see myself doing well."

Elizabeth Duskey (Class of 2014)

"Nearly all my favorite courses at Miami have involved research in some way, even ones outside of math and the natural sciences … It's fun to spend the whole time working on problems that apply to real-world situations … In these classes there's only a thin line between our coursework and actually using math and science to work with real clients."