Develop a deep understanding of conservation and restoration of natural habitats and species.
The environmental biology program is designed for students who are interested in science and want to apply their studies to addressing environmental problems. The curriculum is heavy on field-based coursework in the forest, streams, grasslands and wetlands surrounding Pacific University. Projects include ecological restoration, species conservation and the development of land-use recommendations for regional land owners.
Students have many opportunities to conduct independent research with the support of faculty, often in partnership with local organizations. They build valuable relationships with land-use agencies, such as METRO and Clean Water Services.
Headlines
Faculty member Kara Lanning '07 and student Brodie Buchert '25 are conducting research to identify water-based pathogens and their effective on native plants in reclaimed natural areas in Pacific's backyard.
Duncan Anderson's '24 senior capstone research project is helping a Hawaiʻi company improve its product in a quest to reduce methane emissions from livestock.
Pacific students participated in the Murdock College Science Research Conference, which provides students in the Northwest the opportunity to present research on topics across an entire spectrum of scientific subjects. This year's conference was co-hosted by Pacific University.