Founded in 1967 and approved by the Board of Regents in 1969, the Lake Superior Research Institute (LSRI) is the applied environmental research and related public information unit of the University. Supported almost entirely by extramural funding, the Institute's mission is concentrated on continuing evaluation and analysis of the physical, biological and socio-economic environments of the greater Lake Superior Basin. Faculty and academic staff associated with the Institute possess training in chemistry, biology, toxicology, microbiology, geology, statistics, and modeling.
Over the years the Institute has received more than 300 grants and contracts with a combined extramural budget of more than $20 million. More than 45 federal and state agencies plus some private firms have supported LSRI, including the Environmental Protection Agency, National Science Foundation, Army Corps of Engineers, National Park Service, Wisconsin Sea Grant, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of Education, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and the Chemical Manufacturers Association.
The Institute has cooperated on a number of research projects with the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission. These projects have included studies of chemical contaminants in Lake Superior fish and the possible health effects of consuming contaminated fish.
LSRI is well-equipped and staffed to conduct environmental research. Facilities include analytical chemistry laboratories, culture rooms for fish and invertebrates, toxicity testing systems, a microbiology laboratory, a taxonomy laboratory, and a fisheries research laboratory. A 63-foot research vessel, the L.L. Smith Jr., and numerous small craft are available for field sampling on Lake Superior and inland lakes. Present research activities include studies on the occurrence and control of exotic species in Lake Superior, effects of chemicals on aquatic organisms and ecosystems, biological evaluations of contaminated sediments in the Great Lakes, monitoring water and air quality of the Lake Superior region, analysis of trace levels of organic and inorganic pollutants, and health effects from consuming contaminated Great Lakes fish.
In addition to research, the Institute is active in the publication of results. Papers are regularly presented at scientific meetings and published in professional journals. LSRI scientists have written and published six toxicity research data books which have a worldwide distribution.
LSRI has been involved with several public environmental education programs, including National Science Foundation Young Scholars, American Indian Science and Engineering Society Workshop for teachers, and a collaborative effort with the University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign called Envirovet. All programs combine classroom presentations with daily field and laboratory activities. Many of the field trips include sampling cruises aboard LSRI's L.L. Smith Jr. Research Vessel. Participants in the programs range from elementary school students to senior citizens, and include high school honors students, Native Americans and professionals in veterinary medicine.
Many students majoring in the sciences at UW-Superior participate in environmentally oriented research projects under direction of faculty and staff from the departments of Biology and Chemistry and from LSRI. Student participation occurs during the school year through part-time jobs as student research assistants and during the summer through full-time jobs as student research assistants or student research interns. In this way, students gain valuable research experience and earn money to help finance their educations.
Student research opportunities exist primarily in conjunction with research projects funded by state and federal agencies. The types of opportunities vary according to expertise of staff and availability of funds within those areas. Future research opportunities for student assistants cannot be guaranteed, but based upon the current outlook are expected to be available for the next several years.
LSRI and the UW-Madison Environmental Toxicology Center (ETC) have a formal agreement for a cooperative program of graduate study leading to a master of science degree in Environmental Toxicology. A strong, integrated curriculum provides four mandatory three-credit courses in basic and environmental toxicology, an introductory course in biochemistry and several choices of elective courses. The ETC program involves about 50 active faculty drawn from a broad spectrum of departments. The program provides students with instruction in interpreting state-of-the-art scientific literature and presenting research results. The extensive research resources of the Madison campus (libraries, specialized laboratory resources, courses, visiting lecturers, interdepartmental faculty contacts and information exchange) are available to students. The coursework phase of the M.S. program can be completed in two successive semesters at UW-Madison.
The research phase of the program is completed at LSRI. An LSRI scientist will serve as a research advisor, in cooperation with faculty from the ETC. The unique natural resources of the Lake Superior region and the specialized environmental research resources of LSRI are available for this phase of the program.
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