A $6.75 million award from the National Science Foundation will soon enable researchers in Kansas to address one of the grand-challenge science problems of the 21st century – forecasting the ecological consequences of environmental changes. In addition to the federal funds, $2.5 million is awarded by the Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation – providing a total funding infusion of $9.25 million.

The three-year award to the Kansas NSF Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), headquartered at KU, will link researchers at KU, Kansas State University and Fort Hays State University in a study of changes occurring in the climate, land-use, biogeochemistry, hydrology and biodiversity along the Kansas River Basin.

"The award will strengthen the research infrastructure in an area targeted for growth and development in Kansas - the biosciences," said Kristin Bowman-James, director of Kansas NSF EPSCoR.

Leonard Krishtalka, director of the KU Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center, will lead the research and Walter Dodds, Professor of Biology at Kansas State University, will be the co-lead.