An unprecedented opportunity for UNI's Tallgrass Prairie Center

In December 2015, the University of Northern Iowa was represented at the Transportation Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C. to call attention to the role of state departments of transportation in the conversation regarding pollinators and monarch butterflies.

Laura Jackson, professor of biology and director of UNI's Tallgrass Prairie Center, was invited to speak at the summit about the cost and benefits of managing roadsides ecologically and reducing costs of high quality native seed.

UNI's participation shows the university is recognized nationally as a leader in applied ecological research, education and technology transfer.

"The White House Summit was an unprecedented opportunity to share what we have learned in Iowa over the last 25 years about managing roadside vegetation for high quality pollinator habitat," said Jackson. "The Tallgrass Prairie Center has conducted dozens of studies related to prairie restoration, native seed genetics and seed quality to serve the needs of roadside managers across the state."

For more information about how UNI is a national leader in applied ecological research, visit the Tallgrass Prairie Center website.

Did You Know?

Laura Jackson and her growing effort to rescue the monarch butterfly was featured in a 2013 New York Times article.