Biology Field Station

The Biology Field Station (also known as the "River Station") at Thomas More College is a one-of-a-kind center for applied biological research whose reach is as wide and powerful as the Ohio River and all its tributaries. Located just 30 minutes from the main Thomas More campus, the Station is perched on the shore of the Ohio River, one of the original U.S. thoroughfares of commerce and transportation. Working closely with federal, state, and local authorities to monitor and improve water quality in the Ohio River, the staff and students at the Station are dedicated to improving water conditions, education and preserving the rich heritage this and other waterways have to offer.

The Center for Ohio River Research and Education at the Thomas More College Biology Field Station

The Center for Ohio River Research and Education (C.O.R.R.E.) was established in 1998. The Center offers students, faculty and staff an opportunity to enhance their knowledge of the natural world through field courses, research projects and outreach programs that focus on the ecology of the Ohio River. The Center welcomes students of all ages from grade schools to graduate schools and visitors from the general public. Through hands-on, inquiry-based teaching methods, the faculty and students at the Center educate and engage visitors about the Ohio River ecosystem and surrounding watershed, teach the value of the watershed to those who live within it, and empower students to make a positive impact on the River and surrounding environment.

Activities

The Center for Ohio River Research and Education has become a regional center for research, consulting, government, private industry, environmental education and community service. Students and faculty have worked with a diverse group of professionals with backgrounds in science, engineering, education and other similar disciplines. (See Research Projects.) Furthermore, the Center has a tradition of conducting scientific and educational outreach programs, involving undergraduate students and local school students and teachers. (See Field Trips and High School Summer Science Camp.)

Biology Field Station Hosts Congressman Davis

Featured in Moreover, Fall 2010

Congressman Geoff Davis spoke with students Josh Wyatt and Kimberly Scheper Wyatt during his tour of Thomas More College's Biology Field Station in August 2010. Congressman Davis learned of the exciting new projects and the regional impact of the research being conducted there, as well as its partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and how the facility serves as a valuable resource for other colleges. Ongoing research at the Field Station includes the long-term assessment of the Ohio River's water quality, an early warning detection system that monitors daily conditions of the river, a conservation project to protect freshwater mussels and a partnership with Marshall University to combat the invasion of Asian carp, which threatens the ecosystem of the Ohio River and other fresh waterways.