Biodiversity is vital to human existence and is being destroyed at an unprecedented rate. There is a growing scientific need to understand how biodiversity is created, how it responds to disturbance and how it can be restored.

Their advanced coursework and research experiences at the Tyson Research Center will prepare undergraduate students for research in Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation. Understanding how plants, algae and bacteria capture sunlight and convert it into chemical energy in an efficient manner is key to creating advanced biofuels and man-made systems that provide new ways to collect and store solar energy.

Undergraduates have the opportunity to take several advanced courses on these topics, and work in cutting-edge labs funded by the Department of Energy.