How to get the biodiversity discussion going?

[Gloria]

I found this pdf which is a New York State Museum Educational Leaflet published by the NYS Biodiversity Research Institute.

The information in its 72 pages is most welcome but what caused me to bring this information to Wildlife Gardeners is actually at the end. A recommended books section afforded a wonderful find (for myself and anyone interested in urban biodiversity)...
Platt, Rutherford H., R.A. Rowntree, and P.C. Muick (eds.). 1994.
The Ecological City: Preserving and Restoring Urban Biodiversity.
University of Massachusetts Press. Amherst, Massachusetts.

“The symposium on ‘Sustainable Cities: Preserving and Restoring Urban Biodiversity,’ which led to this volume, was devoted to a reconnaissance of
(1) the functions of biodiversity within urban areas,
(2) the impacts of urbanization upon biodiversity, and
(3) the ways to design cities compatibly with their ecological contexts.”
—from the introduction and overview.

Most relevant to biodiversity discussion is the list of questions, some 39 in number, of which most of the answers are within the text. But a few ask for individual input.

29. Do you see signs of environmental destruction in your home area?
What are they?

30. Do you know of a wildlife preserve near your home?

31. Do you know of a biological research station or institution in your area?
Have you been to visit it? Is there a scientist on its staff? What does he or
she study?

32. Can you list five areas in which biological scientists specialize?

35. Can you name two environmental groups dedicated to saving biodiversity?

36. What are some things we each can do to help preserve biodiversity?

I found question number 31 particularly interesing.

[Gloria]

So I have never been to this research center but have thought about visiting. This could be the season.

So in answer to question #31
Great Lakes Research and Education Center

History
http://www.inhs.illinois.edu/fieldstations/ltrm/station.html
Maps to Fieldstation
http://www.inhs.illinois.edu/fieldstations/ltrm/rdmaps.html
Other research stations
http://www.inhs.illinois.edu/organization/maps.html
Current research projects
http://www.inhs.illinois.edu/fieldstations/ltrm/research.html
Science staff
http://www.inhs.illinois.edu/staff/index.php?staff=sci_staff
Science staff filtered by research biodiversity and systematics
http://www.inhs.illinois.edu/staff/index.php?research=biodiversity_systematics&staff= sci_staff

Random selection of two researchers from the many onstaff.
http://www.inhs.illinois.edu/staff/index.php?action=list&user_name=yongcao
Yong Cao
Research: Aquatic ecology, multivariate analysis, freshwater monitoring & bioassessment, biodiversity evaluation,
ecological data quality and comparability, long-term ecological changes,
species-occurrence distribution modeling
Title:Stream Ecologist

http://www.inhs.illinois.edu/staff/index.php?action=list&user_name=dreslik

Research: Conservation, Population, Spatial, Behavioral, and Community Biology of Reptiles and Amphibians
Michael J. Dreslik
Title: Herpetologist

Education outreach
http://www.inhs.illinois.edu/outreach/index.html