UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s Ecology Institute has announced three planning meetings, which look to collectively identify objectives and prioritize activities that the institute can pursue moving forward. Additionally, information from preliminary survey data will be shared.

“The mission of the Ecology Institute is to accelerate research and inspire solutions at the frontiers of ecological understanding,” said Erica Smithwick, director of the Ecology Institute. “We can only do this challenging interdisciplinary work by bringing together the best minds from diverse cultures, perspectives and scientific backgrounds. Over the next few months, we hope to do just that.”

The three meetings will be held on Thursday, Feb. 13, in 132 Burrowes Building; Tuesday, Feb. 18, in W201 Millennium Science Complex; and Thursday, Feb. 20, in 519 Wartik Lab. Each meeting will be held from 12:30–2 p.m. Each meeting is a separate event.

Faculty, staff and students are invited to the meetings. Pizza and drinks will be provided. Registration is requested to assist with planning.

According to Smithwick, the Ecology Institute is reaching out to solicit input from the University community about how the institute can support the research excellence of Penn State faculty.

“We encourage participation from any department or unit on campus who has an interest in leveraging ecological knowledge, data, faculty expertise or collaborative networks or who is just interested in learning more about the institute,” said Smithwick, professor of geography in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.

For those who are unable to attend in person, the meetings will be streamed online.

The Ecology institute is supported by the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences and the Institutes of Energy and the Environment.