October 2016

From the Vice President:

The University of Idaho Coeur d’Alene sits right on the shore of beautiful Lake Coeur d’Alene. But researchers and students there get much more than a pretty view: among its many activities in scholarship and outreach, UI CDA is now home to the Lake Social-Ecological Systems Laboratory, or LaSES. I was pleased to cut the ribbon at LaSES’ grand opening on Oct. 13 and celebrate this major investment by UI’s Idaho Water Resources Research Institute in the future health of northern Idaho’s lakes.

Together with partners in local tribes, federal agencies, and state and local government, UI researchers in multiple disciplines will study lakes’ natural systems and how they connect to the human communities that rely on them for food, recreation and quality of life. LaSES demonstrates UI’s commitment to the region while pursuing research that benefits the state, nation and world.

LaSES also will provide valuable research experiences to students from UI and North Idaho College. In fact, it already has — the first cohort of researchers spent summer 2016 studying Lake Coeur d’Alene and nearby Fernan Lake. 

I invite you to learn more about LaSeS and join me in exploring UI’s vital and vibrant research programs across the state.

Go Vandals!

Janet E. Nelson
Vice President
Research and Economic Development