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.
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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. Nachusa Science Symposium The Nachusa Grasslands Science Symposium, co-sponsored by Friends of Nachusa Grasslands and The Nature Conservancy, will take place at the Nachusa Headquarters on April 25, 2026. See Science Symposium 2025 for details on this year's event. 
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. |
Friends of Nachusa Grasslands Scientific Research Grants
To encourage scientific research at Nachusa, Friends of Nachusa Grasslands awards monetary science research 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.
Permits Required
Applicants must obtain permission to conduct research at Nachusa Grasslands by contacting Elizabeth Bach ([email protected]). Nachusa Grasslands is owned and stewarded by The Nature Conservancy. All scientific research requires a permit from The Nature Conservancy, which should be completed as part of the Friends of Nachusa Grasslands grant proposal. No grant will be awarded without TNC approval. The permit application must be submitted before the grant application will be considered, but full TNC approval typically happens after grant submission. |
Thanks to a 1:1 challenge grant and the generous support of individual donors, organizations, and foundations, Friends has awarded $85,000 for 2026-2027 to ten researchers.
Summaries of Previous Years’ Grants
If you have questions about the award program, please contact [email protected].
Support Science at Nachusa Grasslands
Donations to Friends of Nachusa Grasslands may be designated for Scientific Research Grants. |
UPDATED 01/2026