Research Centers | Research

Large Lakes Observatory

The Large Lakes Observatory builds knowledge about the past, present, and future of large lakes worldwide and shares that knowledge widely. Most of the accessible fresh water on Earth is found in just a handful of large lakes. By studying what makes these lakes tick and measuring the impacts of human activity on them, we can help guide efforts to sustain and preserve these valuable bodies of water for future generations. As the only institute in the world dedicated to the scientific study of all of Earth's large lakes, LLO makes unique contributions to the betterment of humans worldwide. Our outreach efforts focus on inspiring others to also to understand the large lakes of the world and not take them for granted.

Some of LLO's research topics include:

Satellites & the Great Lakes

Algae Blooms

Minnesota Sea Grant

Minnesota Sea Grant is a systemwide program of the University of Minnesota and one of 34 federal-university Sea Grant partnerships across the country that bring applied water science to communities. Minnesota Sea Grant’s extension educators, researchers, and communicators work with community members, government officials, and personnel from resource agencies, business, and industry to protect, enhance and restore habitats, ecosystems, and the services those ecosystems provide.

Some of Sea Grant's research topics include:

Stormwater Pollution

Ice-Out on Minnesota Lakes

Natural Resources Research Institute

Through collaborative partnerships, the Natural Resources Research Institute delivers the innovative tools and solutions needed to utilize and sustain Minnesota’s precious natural resources. NRRI's mission is to deliver integrated research solutions that value our resources, environment and economy for a sustainable, and resilient future. Three strategic initiatives drive the research: ecosystem resilience, future forest industries, and iron and minerals of the future. The interdisciplinary team includes biologists, ecologists, engineers, materials scientists, statisticians and technicians to address the challenges of a resource-based economy in the face of climate change impacts. NRRI's forward-facing vision is to help Minnesota -- and beyond -- discover the economy of the future.

Some of NRRI's research topics include:

Road Salt & Grit

Marten Habitat

Bureau of Business and Economic Research

The Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER) is an applied research arm of the Labovitz School of Business and Economics (LSBE) at UMD that provides unbiased research and analyses, to include economic impact modeling, survey research, demographic analysis, market research, and more. BBER research promotes economic growth and wellbeing in northeast Minnesota by leveraging the skills and knowledge of LSBE's community of learners and educators.

Some of BBER's research topics include:

Economic Impact Studies

Labor Market Research