Prairie Research Institute

collage of PRI research topics.

Features

Two little brown bats clinging to the top of a cave, overlapping each other.

The Race to Save the Little Brown Bat

How genomic research could rescue a species on the brink of extinction

Helicopter pulling HTEM equipment.

Beneath the Surface

Charting the Mahomet aquifer for water security

Examining an Ecosystem

Forbes Biological Station’s 130 years in the Illinois River Valley

water being poured into glass.

Examining Contaminants

Pinpointing threats to our health & safety

dark thunderstorm over cornfield.

Hidden Dangers

An exploration of Illinois’ hazards

Satellite imagery of Joliet, a city in Illinois.

Diving In

A close-up look at Illinois’ water resources

brown and white duck swimming in blue water.

Balancing Act

Managing limited resources for outdoor recreation

brown and white bird on a branch.

Kick-starting Conservation

Detecting rare species across a dynamic landscape

Tree with emerald ash borer damage under bark.

Investigating Invasive Species

Exotic insects that threaten agriculture and human health

Chicago skyline from the south.

Planning our Paths

Research and monitoring inform statewide land-use decisions

panoramic cornfield.

Cultivating Innovation

The Intersection of Geography, Climate, and Agricultural Research in Illinois

surveying site for highway.

Preventing Roadblocks

PRI Keeps Illinois on the Straight and Narrow

Quarry with gravel in foreground, cranes in background.

Propelling Innovation

PRI and Illinois’ Industrial Evolution

blue map with North and South America as grid of lights.

Evolving Energy

From Coal to Critical Minerals

soybean field.