History
More than 60 years ago, Dr. Ruth Patrick created a powerful vision for how science could help society protect environmental quality and founded a new program (the Department of Limnology) at the Academy of Natural Sciences in pursuit of that vision. Now renamed the Patrick Center for Environmental Research, this department consists of a multidisciplinary group of environmental scientists and engineers devoted to:
- understanding aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, including the effects of natural processes and human activities;
- applying this knowledge to assess ecosystems health and developing watershed-level strategies for enhancing environmental quality;
- working with diverse stakeholders, including government, community groups, industry and environmental organizations to improve environmental stewardship.