Center for Ecological Research and Education
Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID 83209-8007
Richard Inouye, Director - (208) 282-2933, inourich@isu.edu

The Center for Ecological Research and Education (CERE) was established in 1989 to serve as a focus for a strong program in basic and applied ecology in the Department of Biological Sciences at Idaho State University. The primary goals for CERE are:

1) to facilitate individual research in Ecology, and

2) to provide a framework for collaborative, interdisciplinary teaching and research that is focused on ecological principles and problems.

Efforts during the last 10 years have moved us closer to achieving these goals. We have an active and productive group of faculty doing research in various areas of ecology. Working within the constraints of a small university in a rural western state, these faculty have made significant contributions to their individual disciplines and they have been successful in preparing undergraduate and graduate students for advanced degree programs and for successful careers in a variety of fields.

Ecology has been a focus area of undergraduate education in the Department of Biological Sciences for the past 20 years. An undergraduate Ecology major was established in 1979; the number of students majoring in Ecology has increased in the last decade from 7 to more than 50. The creation of this major and the growth in enrollment reflect the strength of the Ecology faculty and the interest in this area among students.

Graduate Education

The Department of Biological Sciences offers MS and PhD degrees, and approximately 60% of the students who have completed these degrees in the Department over the past decade have worked under the direction of the Ecology Faculty. There are currently about 50 graduate students working with Ecology Faculty (see the Department web page for a list of current graduate students).

Additional information about undergraduate and graduate programs in Biological Sciences at Idaho State University can be found at the Biological Sciences web page.