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Prairie Research Institute
@prairieresearch.bsky.social
300 followers 100 following 150 posts
Scientists to the State of Illinois at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
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prairieresearch.bsky.social
After a dry fall, Illinois is shifting toward a colder, wetter La Niña winter. Get the latest climate recap and outlook from @ilclimatologist.bsky.social. 👉 loom.ly/yqa-IoY
University of Illinois students walking to class in the snow.
December 8, 2025 at 2:49 PM
prairieresearch.bsky.social
Dig into Fossils of the Upper Ordovician Platteville Formation in the Upper Midwest USA! 🖼️ 1200+ high-res photos 📘 328 pages of fossil fuel for your brain. ✨ On sale for $19.99! Get it in time for the holidays -- loom.ly/sKe8r58
The cover of the book showing prehistoric ocean life. An interior spread of the book showing text and fossil photos. A close-up of the spread of the fossil photos.
December 5, 2025 at 3:30 PM
prairieresearch.bsky.social
🪨 Director and Principal Research Scientist – Join Illinois State Geological Survey! Lead ISGS, advance geoscience research, and help address natural resource and environmental challenges. Apps due Jan. 16, 2026. 👉 loom.ly/q0dPwzo
A close up of fluorspar. At the bottom, there is text that says, "go.illinois.edu/prijobs, we're hiring."
December 2, 2025 at 5:00 PM
prairieresearch.bsky.social
🐟 Seasonal Aquatic Field Technician – Join @irbs.bsky.social and Illinois Natural History Survey! Assist large river ecologists collecting long-term river monitoring data. Based in Macomb, IL. Position opened until filled. 👉 blogs.illinois.edu/view/7426/16...
A channel catfish underwater. At the bottom, it says, "we're hiring go.illinois.edu/prijobs"
November 25, 2025 at 1:03 PM
prairieresearch.bsky.social
🌱 New guide available from Illinois Sustainable Technology Center! Learn how pollution prevention industrial assessments can help your business cut waste, boost efficiency, & benefit your bottom line. 👉 hdl.handle.net/2142/130339
Aerial view of circular clarifier tank at a wastewater treatment facility.
November 20, 2025 at 2:24 PM
prairieresearch.bsky.social
Big news for sustainability and business! This month's Technology Acceleration Program newsletter covers energy efficiency, free sustainability assessments, and new uses for beets! Read the full issue from Illinois Sustainable Technology Center 👉 loom.ly/cCAQ2q8
An electric meter.
November 19, 2025 at 3:05 PM
prairieresearch.bsky.social
🦆 Seasonal Avian Field Technician – Join Illinois Natural History Survey! Support research on mallard duck migration in the Wabash River Valley area near Lawrenceville, IL. Field vehicle and housing provided. Apps due Dec. 5, 2025. 👉 blogs.illinois.edu/view/7426/17...
A male mallard duck with a green head sits among dry reeds on the bank of a pond, snow falling around him. At the bottom, text says, "go.illinois.edu/prijobs" and "we're hiring."
November 13, 2025 at 9:34 PM
prairieresearch.bsky.social
October's climate in Illinois was quintessentially autumn. 🍂 Curious how the month shaped up and what's in store this season? @ilclimatologist.bsky.social at Illinois Sate Water Survey breaks it down in a new blog. 👉 loom.ly/lIUQn1A
The sun flashing through orange leaves on a tree. In the background, more trees in autumn and a blue sky.
November 11, 2025 at 4:06 PM
prairieresearch.bsky.social
💧 PRI, Washington University, and @uofigrainger.bsky.social researchers are creating a new tool to help households monitor drinking water quality from their filters! Funded by NSF. Learn more at loom.ly/NNqfrso
A faucet on a kitchen sink filling up a glass of water.
November 6, 2025 at 2:38 PM
prairieresearch.bsky.social
Big news for sustainability and business! ♻️ This month's Technology Acceleration Program newsletter covers composting pilots, recycling campaigns, training for solar jobs, and more! Read the full issue from Illinois Sustainable Technology Center 📩 October TAP Newsletter: loom.ly/HmQTZaM
Two men installing solar panels on a roof.
October 30, 2025 at 2:58 PM
prairieresearch.bsky.social
As birds head south for the winter, researchers from Illinois Natural History Survey and @illinoisnres.bsky.social have been busy banding and collecting data to track their journeys. 🐦✨ Get a behind-the-scenes look at this research in our blog 👉 blogs.illinois.edu/view/7447/1918241997
A yellow and grey magnolia warbler held in hand.
October 29, 2025 at 12:46 PM
prairieresearch.bsky.social
PRI and Civil and Environmental Engineering researchers at the U. of I. are testing native plant–filled floating wetlands in Lake Decatur to see how they improve water quality.
👉 Read the full story at @news.illinois.edu using the link in the thread.
One of the floating wetlands with mature plants as tall as 3 feet and growing out of the raft.
October 21, 2025 at 3:44 PM
prairieresearch.bsky.social
📢 Call for abstracts OPEN for the 2026 Emerging Contaminants in the Environment Conference organized by Illinois Sustainable Technology Center. Deadline is Jan. 16, 2026. 👉 More details at loom.ly/NjT3kT4
A hand holding a glass of water under a running faucet.
October 21, 2025 at 2:31 PM
prairieresearch.bsky.social
A 2023 Supreme Court ruling (Sackett v. EPA) narrowed the definition of “waters of the United States.”
A new study from @illinoisnres.bsky.social and PRI finds that about 72% of Illinois wetlands may no longer be federally protected.
The researchers standing on a wooden deck in Busey Woods.
September 25, 2025 at 3:28 PM
prairieresearch.bsky.social
Did you know that Illinois State Archaeological Survey has over 100 published reports available — 64 of them free to download? 👉 Browse and download reports at isas.illinois.edu/publications/studies_in_archaeology
An illustration of an aerial view of the city of Cahokia depicting buildings, temples, mounds, and communal spaces.
September 19, 2025 at 2:57 PM
prairieresearch.bsky.social
🌡️ Since August, extreme drought conditions have hit south and central Illinois hard. Read the latest blog from @ilclimatologist.bsky.social to learn about what this means for Illinois and the Midwest.👉 loom.ly/YYs7wlA
Browned and dry corn stalks standing in a field.
September 17, 2025 at 3:15 PM
prairieresearch.bsky.social
🌳 Scientific Specialist, Field Scientist -- Join Illinois Natural History Survey! Help provide conservation program oversite, technical assistance, and management. Apps due Sep. 22, 2025. 👉 blogs.illinois.edu/view/7426/12...
A view of a prairie at sunrise. Text at the bottom says, "we're hiring".
September 17, 2025 at 1:50 PM
prairieresearch.bsky.social
💧 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Hydrogeology -- Join Illinois State Water Survey! Help conduct research evaluating aquifer recharge in shallow aquifers through hydrogeologic modeling. Position open until filled. 👉 Apply now: loom.ly/ruJMjxc
An aerial view of agricultural fields. Circular green spots show were pivot irrigators are being used. Text at the bottom says, "we're hiring."
September 11, 2025 at 2:42 PM
prairieresearch.bsky.social
August in Illinois welcomed autumn — tied for the 59th warmest and 9th driest. ☀️Curious how the month shaped up? @ilclimatologist.bsky.social at the Illinois State Water Survey breaks it down in a new blog. Check it out loom.ly/PljDg4A
A setting sun over a prairie.
September 10, 2025 at 3:39 PM
prairieresearch.bsky.social
📢 Associate Director for Strategic Communications and Engagement -- Join PRI! Lead our communications efforts, communicate science, and help build our reputation! Apps due Sep. 19, 2025. 🔗 Apply now: loom.ly/Tj6uF6c
A woman in a orange shirt facilitates a team meeting in front of a white board.
September 9, 2025 at 2:12 PM
prairieresearch.bsky.social
July in Illinois was H-O-T T-O-G-O — tied for the 16th warmest and 10th wettest. 🌡️🌧️ @ilclimatologist.bsky.social at the Illinois State Water Survey breaks down July's climate in a new blog. 👉 Check it out stateclimatologist.web.illinois.edu/2025/08/07/july-was-h-o-t-t-o-g-o/
A corn field in the foreground, trees in the background, and blue sky with white clouds.
August 26, 2025 at 2:39 PM
prairieresearch.bsky.social
🌻 For the first time since 1987, scientists from the Illinois Natural History Survey and @illinoisdnr.bsky.social updated the state conservation status ranks of threatened and endangered plants in IL. 👉 Check out the the full story linked in the thread.
The round-leaved sundew, Drosera rotundifolia, on the left, and the purple pitcher plant, Sarracenia purpurea, on the right.
August 21, 2025 at 2:10 PM
prairieresearch.bsky.social
🤝 Stewardship and Donor Development Specialist – Join Illinois Natural History Survey and @irbs.bsky.social! Help lead fundraising and development campaigns to sustain research, conservation, and educational outreach efforts. Position is open until filled. 👉 blogs.illinois.edu/view/7426/15...
A view of the Illinois River with text overlaid that says, "We're Hiring."
August 20, 2025 at 4:00 PM
prairieresearch.bsky.social
Congratulations to Jenna Shelton, the new director of the Illinois State Water Survey! 🎉 Learn how she went from University of Illinois student to water survey director. 👉 Read the announcement: blogs.illinois.edu/view/7447/85...
A woman sits on a rock by a river wearing green USGS hat and shirt. A professional portrait of Jenna Shelton.
August 19, 2025 at 6:58 PM
prairieresearch.bsky.social
A new book from the Illinois State Archaeological Survey offers a rich look at our state’s past, bringing overlooked stories to light and exploring the deep history of our state.
👉 Read an interview with editor Thomas Emerson, Illinois’ first State Archaeologist: news.illinois.edu/whats-missin...
A man stands between two large storage shelves
August 14, 2025 at 7:11 PM