Research as education works: EREN

EREN stands for Ecological Research as Education Network and is many ecologists from primarily undergraduate institutions (PII’s) who are integrating valid ecological research into their undergraduate classes. Our mission is to create a model for collaborative ecological research that generates high-quality, publishable data involving undergraduate students and faculty at (PUIs), and bringing “big” science to “small” institutions. EREN’s learning goals for our undergraduate students have had success as evaluated at three of our colleges. Starting with 15 founders, it’s now expanded to 369 ecologists. EREN has affected many students and allowed them to gain the basic skills needed by scientists.