"The Great Lakes Center for Enviornmental Research and Educationserves as both a catalyst and a facilitator for increasing BuffaloState College's role and visibility in environmental research and education.The Great Lakes Center brings together more than 30 faculty from nine academic departments, with particular emphases on the specialities of aquatic ecology,fisheries, environmental toxicology and chemistry, urban ecologyand environmental education. By fostering collaboration among units within the college and between the college and other institutions,the center maintains a diverse, multidisciplinary faculty that provides a stimulating atmosphere for intellectual growth. "The Great Lakes Center is a complex of state-of-the-art laboratorieson the Buffalo State College campus and at the newly renovated aquatic field researchlaboratory at the confluence of Lake Erie and the Niagara River. These facilities includefish and zooplankton culture rooms, acoustic instrumentationfor fish abundance studies, gas, gas-liquid, and high-pressureliquid chromatographs, a data visualization laboratory, flow-throughexperimental labs for aquatic research, a workshop, classrooms, a library of Great Lakesmaterials, and a variety of computer systems and workstations.

The Great LakesCenter is also equipped for field research and maintains the R/V Aquarius,a 42-foot research vessel fitted with a variety of sampling gear, an electroshockingboat, and a fleet of smaller craft for nearshore sampling. Theenvironmental chemistry and toxicology labs on campus are undergoing renovation with the supportof the National Science Foundation, local corporations throughBuffalo State College's Foundation, and the Research Foundation of SUNY. "The research programs at the Great Lakes Center emphasize a combination of field research state-of-the-art technology, andenvironmental ecological modeling, making extensive use of theaquatic research laboratory at the Center's field station. Fieldresearch is conducted in areas of the Buffalo River, Lake Erie,Lake Ontario, as well as in areas of the Hudson River, DelawareRiver estuary, and Chesapeake Bay.

Current areas of research include studies on zebra mussel infestation,common terns on the Buffalo River, predator-prey interactions;fisheries, emphasizing such areas as acoustic assessment of fish abundance and distribution, food webs, bioenergetics modeling, andthe understanding of the linkages between water quality and fisheriesresources. Environmental toxicology studies are conducted on polychlorinated Dioxin, carcinogenesis, and analysis of PCBs andpesticides in the Buffalo River. Urban ecology research focuses on topics of atmospheric deposition, pollution of the Buffalowatershed, and combined sewer system evaluation. "Offered through the Multidisciplinary Studies Program of BuffaloState's graduate division, the option in Great Lakes Environmental Studiescuts across several disciplines to help the student acquire a broad-basedunderstanding and technical knowledge necessary to deal with the complexities of issues facing the Great Lakes. It comprises a minimumof 30 hours, including a combination of core courses the focus specifically on the Great Lakes,elective courses that provide depth in a particular discipline, and practical trainingin research with faculty. Participation in a Great Lakes ""at sea"" or otherappropriate field experience is part of the program. An approved master's researchthesis is also required. Admission requirements include a bachelor's degree for an accredited college or university, a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (unless waived), a statementof intent, three letters of recommendation, a personal interview,and acceptance by a principal adviser. "Director: Stephen B. Brandt

Associate Directors:
Howard Riessen, Research
Richard Butz, Community Service and Outreach
John Grant, Education

Research Professors:
Harish Sikka
Hunter Carrick

Research Scientists:
Eric Demers
Sangeet Honey
John Horne
J. Michael Jech
S. Kumar
A. Siddiqi
Jeffrey Tyler
Z. Yuan

Ship's Captain and Field Station Manager: John Freidhoff"

"Community Service and Outreach programs are under the directionof an Associate Director and include:

Aquanaut programs offering teacher training and support and student access to a high quality water quality monitoring program.

Canoe Building programs are used as a vehicle to build self-esteemand environmental awareness in young people. Workshops are offeredfor children, families, and teachers.

The Field Station is open for class tours and lab work throughout the academic year. Center boats are used for trips of advanced students byspecial arrangement."

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