Research Corps & Science Summit

South Mountain Partnership launched its newest initiative, the South Mountain Research Corps (SMRC) during an Inaugural Science Summit in April 2019. SMRC is envisioned as a program that is managed by a volunteer working committee, comprised of stakeholders from throughout the region (land owners, land managers, academic institutions, and researchers), that assists the South Mountain Partnership in creating and managing:

• The South Mountain Science Summit: Strengthens channels of communication and builds a collaborative network of property owners, land managers, researchers, and university students throughout the South Mountain region;
• The South Mountain Research Corps: Develops, builds, and sustains a highly regarded applied research program that supports existing and emerging natural and cultural resource conservation efforts of land owners and land managers throughout the South Mountain landscape;
• A Research Database: Catalogues the research that has previously occurred and develops a comprehensive understanding of the amount and focus of research being conducted on the South Mountain landscape;
• Highly regarded experiential applied research opportunities to college students throughout the region, as well as provide a network to connect them with researchers and practitioners for internship and career opportunities.

Target Audiences: Land owners (private and public, large and small), land managers (private and public, large and small), researchers, university students and partners, conservation organizations and partners.

SMRC endeavors to build an implementable, collaborative research program that supports the existing and emerging natural and cultural resource conservation efforts of land owners and land managers throughout the South Mountain landscape.

 

The Center for Land Use and Sustainability (CLUS) of Shippensburg University is providing administrative support for the SMRC in 2019. Visit the CLUS SMRC project page for a detailed timeline and more information.