Ithaca, New York
August 7, 2008
Thousands of animal and plant
species from other countries have slipped into the United States
posing serious threats to agriculture, human health and the
integrity of our lands and waters. As a major port of entry, New
York state, with its vast natural and agricultural resources, is
vulnerable to damage from many of these species, including the
Asian long-horned beetle and zebra mussel.
To improve the scientific understanding and statewide
coordination of invasive species management -- including
prevention, detection, management and eradication --
Cornell University, with
support from the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation, has established the Invasive Species Research
Institute (ISRI) at the College of Agriculture and Life
Sciences. The ISRI's mission is to integrate the state's growing
research capacity in invasive species with state and stakeholder
management priorities.
Holly Menninger, who recently joined Cornell as coordinator of
the new institute, will work closely with the New York Invasive
Species Council, research scientists, state and federal
agencies, and regional stakeholders to coordinate and prioritize
the needs for and funding of invasive species research. She will
build partnerships and facilitate collaboration among experts in
government agencies, academia and the private sector to improve
the response to and management of invasive species that cause
economic and ecological damage.
The ISRI will be guided by an advisory board comprising
researchers, outreach specialists, regulatory specialists and
others with invasive species expertise.
"With the ISRI up and running and with Holly Menninger on board
as coordinator, we are much better positioned to respond
effectively to the challenges posed by invasive species," says
Michael Hoffmann, director of the Cornell University
Agricultural Experiment Station.
"With increased globalization and a changing climate, this issue
takes on added urgency."
Before coming to Cornell, Menninger was a senior public affairs
associate with the American Institute of Biological Sciences, a
nonprofit professional society in Washington, D.C.
She earned a B.S. in biology from Denison University and a Ph.D.
in behavior, ecology, evolution and systematics from the
University of Maryland.
"Our goal is for the ISRI to become a model for innovative,
science-based invasive species management," said Menninger. |
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