Friends of Nachusa Grasslands
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      • Dr. Holly Jones
      • Dr. Nick Barber
      • Kimberly Elsenbroek
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      • Common Names
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        • Bison
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Science at Nachusa Grasslands

Nachusa Grasslands encourages and facilitates leading-edge ecological and environmental research projects and hosts a number of ongoing scientific studies to enhance habitat management practices.

Learn more about Nachusa Grasslands' Ecosystem Restoration Scientist, Elizabeth Bach.
Research at Nachusa

Scientific investigation occurs all year at Nachusa Grasslands, ranging from informal restoration experiments by stewards in their units to Friends-supported academic studies throughout the preserve. The Nature Conservancy, foundations, colleges, and universities may also provide funding for various projects. All scientists must obtain permission to conduct research at Nachusa Grasslands. (Download Word permit application/liability waiver.)

Nachusa Science Symposium

The Nachusa Grasslands Science Symposium, co-sponsored by Friends of Nachusa Grasslands and The Nature Conservancy, took place in person at the Nachusa Headquarters on April 22, 2023.
The next symposium is scheduled for April 20, 2024.

2019 Nachusa Science Symposium Poster and Speaker Abstracts

2018 Nachusa Science Symposium Poster and Speaker Abstracts

2017 Nachusa Science Symposium Poster and Speaker Abstracts

2016 Nachusa Science Symposium Poster and Speaker Abstracts
Friends of Nachusa Grasslands Scientific Research Grants

To encourage scientific research at Nachusa, Friends of Nachusa Grasslands awards monetary grants to qualified academic scholars, graduate students, and independent researchers who are interested in studying topics relevant to the preserve.
Funded research projects focus primarily on prairie, savanna, wetland, woodland, and stream flora and faunal populations and/or habitat management such as prescribed fire, seed collection, weed control, and natural areas restoration.
See Potential Research Topics for a compilation of research topics and questions pondered by stewards and staff at Nachusa Grasslands.

Join Us in Supporting Science at Nachusa Grasslands

Donations to Friends of Nachusa Grasslands may be designated for Scientific Research Grants.
donate via credit card or e=check
Mail Your
Donation
Friends Science Grants 2024-2025
Thanks to our supporters' generous donations and matching grants, the annual award amounts have increased from $1,000 when we began the program in 2011 to a maximum of $75,000 in 2024.

Maximum award amounts, guidelines and application forms are published on the 2024 Scientific Research Grants page.

For summaries of previous years’ grant award projects, visit:
  • Science Grants 2023
  • Science Grants 2022
  • Science Grants 2021
  • Science Grants 2020
  • Science Grants 2019
  • Science Grants 2018
  • Science Grants 2017
  • Science Grants 2016   
  • Science Grants 2015
  • Science Grants 2014
  • Science Grants 2013/2012/2011
Friends 2025-2026  Science Grants

Information on the 2025-2026 grants will be available in the late summer of 2024.

If you have questions about the program, contact: nachusafriendsscience@gmail.com.

Picture

Join Our Nachusa Community Science Monitoring Programs
Nachusa’s community scientist teams are composed of volunteers who are passionate about their subject and want to contribute to scientific research. 

Calling Frogs: Since 2012, community scientists at Nachusa Grasslands have been monitoring frogs and toads using the “Calling Frog Survey” protocol that was developed for the Chicago Wilderness Region. To learn more, visit the Calling Frog Monitoring page.

Dragonflies and Damselflies: Several volunteer dragonfly monitors report data to Nachusa Grasslands and the state of Illinois. For more information, go to the Dragonfly and Damselfly Monitoring page.

RiverWatch: Nachusa volunteers participate in the Illinois RiverWatch Network by monitoring the health of several preserve waterways. See the RiverWatch page for details.

UPDATED 09/2023

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Map & Directions

8772 S. Lowden Road  (mailing address)             Contact Us
2075 Lowden Road (Visitor Center)
Franklin Grove, IL 61031


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© 2023 FRIENDS OF NACHUSA GRASSLANDS The content on this website is owned by us and our licensors. Do not copy any content (including images) without our consent.
  • Home
  • About Friends
    • Mission, Leadership, Objectives, and Financials
    • Friends Annual Meeting 2023
    • Endowments
    • Heritage Heroes Initiative
    • Friends Annual Reports
    • Newsletters >
      • PrairiE–Update (email)
      • A Prairie Calling (print and digital)
    • Honoring Jay Stacy
    • Commenting Policy
  • Plan Your Visit
    • Hours & Parking
    • Directions and Map
    • Visitor Center
    • Pet Policy
    • Public Bison Tours
    • Bison Viewing
    • Hiking >
      • Hiking Guidelines
      • Hiking Destinations
      • Guided Hikes
      • Stone Barn Savanna Tour
      • Visitor Center Trail
      • Scavenger Hunt
    • Autumn on the Prairie
    • What's In Bloom?
    • Exploring Nachusa Grasslands on Your Own
    • Things to Do
    • Places to Eat and Stay
    • Local Sites to Visit and Explore
  • Donate
  • Calendar
  • Volunteer
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Thursday and Saturday Workdays >
      • Workday Signup
      • Volunteer Workday Safety Protocols
      • Workdays – November to February
      • Leader Workday Safety Protocols
      • Steward Workday Tips
    • Stewardship Teams
    • Workday Email List
    • Volunteer Follow-Up
  • Stewardship
    • Nachusa Stewardship
    • Restorations
    • Planting Histories >
      • Stewardship Unit Planting Histories
      • Planting Histories in Chronological Order
    • Stewards and Staff
    • Groups and Committees
    • Available Units
    • Controlled Burns
    • Prescribed Fire Recruitment
    • Restoration Publications
    • Stewardship Resources >
      • Weekly Top Picks
      • Seed Collection Guides
      • Invasive Plant Management
      • Invasive Identification
      • Monitoring
      • Links & Resources
  • Science
    • Science at Nachusa Grasslands
    • Science Grants >
      • Science Grants 2024
      • Science Grants 2023
      • Science Grants 2022
      • Science Grants 2021
      • Science Grants 2020
      • Science Grants 2019
      • Science Grants 2018
      • Science Grants 2017
      • Science Grants 2016
      • Science Grants 2015
      • Science Grants 2014
      • Science Grants 2013/2012/2011
    • Science Symposium 2023
    • Science Symposium Abstracts >
      • Science Symposium Abstracts 2019
      • Science Symposium Abstracts 2018
      • Science Symposium Abstracts 2017
      • Science Symposium Abstracts 2016
    • Potential Research Topics
    • Scientific Publications
    • Testimonials >
      • Dr. Holly Jones
      • Dr. Nick Barber
      • Kimberly Elsenbroek
    • Science Videos
    • Become a Community Scientist >
      • About Community Scientists
      • Butterfly Monitoring
      • Calling Frog Monitoring
      • Dragonflies & Damselflies
      • RiverWatch
  • About Nachusa
    • General Info
    • Prairie Smoke Annual Reports
    • Plant Inventory >
      • Common Names
      • Genus Species
    • Animal Inventory >
      • Amphibians
      • Birds
      • Bison Bison >
        • Bison
        • Bison Babies Broadcast Videos
      • Fish
      • Insects
      • Mammals
      • Other Arthropods
      • Reptiles
    • History
    • Jobs
    • Hunting
    • Geology >
      • Geology Part 1
      • Geology Part 2
      • Geology Part 3
    • 30th Anniversary Memories
    • Websites of Interest
  • Teacher Resources
    • K-2nd grades
    • 3rd-5th grades
    • 6th-8th grades
    • High School
  • BLOG AND MEDIA
    • Nachusa Blog
    • In The News
    • Photo Gallery >
      • Spring Photos
      • Summer Photos
      • Autumn Photos
      • Winter Photos
      • Visitor Photos
    • Submit Your Photos
    • Videos
  • Contact Us / FAQs