Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies is dedicated to understanding how ecosystems work. Our scientists are global experts in the ecology of: freshwater, forests, disease, and cities. Through collaborative efforts, we apply our science to policy and management that protects the environment and improves human wellbeing.
Founded in 1983 by eminent ecologist Gene Likens, Cary Institute is one of the world’s leading independent environmental research organizations. Our staff have a deep understanding of the key drivers of ecological change, among them climate change, invasive species, and human influence on land and water.
Cary Institute scientists have been instrumental in informing the Clean Air Act amendments, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the Environmental Protection Agency, and management practices throughout the Northeast, including the Hudson River, New York’s Catskill and Adirondack forests, and the watershed of Baltimore, Maryland.
Sharing our science is key to our mission. Through a range of programming, we are enhancing the ecological literacy of students, decision makers, and the public, and training the next generation of ecologists and resource managers.
Globally relevant, Cary Institute research is science in the service of society.