MAMMOTH CAVE INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND LEARNING: GEOSCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND LEARNING AT MAMMOTH CAVE NATIONAL PARK

The Mammoth Cave International Center for Science and Learning (MCICSL) is a cooperative venture of Mammoth Cave National Park and Western Kentucky University. It is a part of the network of 17 Research Learning Centers within the National Park Service. The overall goal of these centers is to expand and facilitate science, research, science-based decision making, and learning in the parks and surrounding areas.

MCICSL is involved in numerous geoscience and environmental research and education projects at the park. The center coordinates scientific research at Mammoth Cave National Park and consults with the park on scientific issues. MCICSL staff are lead on several research projects including research to address on-going E. coli issues in cave waters and a project to better understand airflow in the Historic section of Mammoth Cave. The MCICSL also helps facilitate research in the park through assisting researchers with permitting, coordinates researcher field work, and providing access to housing and facilities. The center also helps recruit volunteers for research projects that involve the park. Because Mammoth Cave is part of a world-class karst area, much of the research at the park focuses on karst-related resources and processes.

MCICSL leads or participates in many educational activities that highlight research at the park. These include educational programs for staff, teacher training workshops, WKU's Karst Field Studies Program, the Geoscience-Teachers-in-the-Parks pilot project, and a demonstration project with Caverna High School. We also work with university groups to develop research based field opportunities for classes. Our activities focus mainly on learners that are secondary school age or older.