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The <\/span>mission<\/span>\u00a0of the Onondaga Environmental Institute (OEI) is to advance environmental<\/span>\u00a0research<\/span>,\u00a0education<\/span>,\u00a0planning<\/span>\u00a0and <\/span>restoration<\/span>\u00a0in Central New York.<\/span>\u00a0OEI seeks responsible stewardship of the local environs as a means to achieving the overall goal of sustainability.<\/p>\nPhilosophy:<\/span> OEI recognizes that human life and ecological systems are inter-related and have intrinsic value; that ecosystem preservation is a moral imperative and collective responsibility, which depends on sound knowledge and conscientious dissemination and application of that knowledge.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_space=”remove_padding”][vc_column][vc_separator color=”orange” border_width=”3″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n OEI conducts\u00a0research<\/span>\u00a0<\/a>to progress the understanding of ecosystems, human interactions with the environment and the effects thereupon.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n OEI performs outreach and\u00a0education<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>to develop an informed public, promote environmental ethics and build an environmentally conscious citizenry.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n OEI engages in proper\u00a0planning<\/a><\/span>\u00a0to empower the public, community stakeholders, and interested parties to participate in decision-making processes.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n OEI works for ecological\u00a0restoration<\/span><\/a>\u00a0to improve economic, social and environmental conditions.<\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.oei2.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/OEI_RESEARCH02.jpg\")
Research<\/strong><\/a>:<\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>The OEI will lead and support research with application to its mission and of value to the public, governments, natural resource management and regulatory agencies, business, and industry.\u00a0 The OEI will engage the academic and scientific communities through collaborative, interdisciplinary investigations involving a wide array of subject areas.\u00a0 In particular, studies that monitor biota, soil, water, and air quality, or assess the fate and effects of biological, chemical or physical agents, stressors or ecological entities causing environmental perturbation will be used to evaluate implications, efficacy or risks associated with past, present or future anthropogenic activity.\u00a0 Research protocols and experimental designs must be technically sound, utilize current and traditional knowledge, and state-of-art technologies, follow professionally accepted practices or the scientific method, and provide data that are appropriate for evaluating the prescribed hypothesis.\u00a0 The OEI encourages publication of OEI funded research in the peer reviewed literature.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.oei2.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/OEI_EDUCATION02.jpg\")
Education<\/strong><\/a>:<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0The OEI will foster and conduct formal and non-formal public education and outreach via industry, business, professional societies, academic institutions, public and private schools, environmental organizations, recreational, sporting, neighborhood and citizens groups, electronic and print media, and the internet.\u00a0 Public education and outreach may be performed independently or as collaborative efforts using a variety of partners, methodologies, and technologies.\u00a0 Formal education may involve school programs, curriculum and lesson development for teachers and students.\u00a0 Workshops and in-service training seminars may be used to promote web-based, classroom, and outdoor nature education.\u00a0 Indoor and field experiences will be implemented through various grants and other sponsored initiatives.\u00a0 The OEI may produce or supplement activities and events with a diverse array of off-the-shelf or in-house products and materials, including web-pages, audio-visual presentations, kiosk or panel, book or booklet, poster, and pamphlet or brochure.\u00a0 The OEI will maintain a corporate website that posts and updates OEI projects and activities.\u00a0 The public may also be informed by public service announcement or news release to local television, radio and newspapers.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.oei2.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/OEI_PLANNING.jpg\")
Planning<\/a>:<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>A role of the OEI in environmental planning is to enhance public involvement at the municipal level and watershed scale.\u00a0 The OEI develops and implements public participation programs in resource management, regulatory agency and government planning; brokers public input into decision-making processes; and works to redress environmental justice issues borne by groups such as the poor, laborers, racial minorities, women, children, or indigenous people.\u00a0 The OEI serves as communication liaison between traditional institutions of power and authority and grassroots organizations including the disenfranchised and underprivileged.\u00a0 The OEI functions as a catalyst for community action that plans and builds towards social equity and economic and ecologic sustainability.<\/span><\/p>\n
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Restoration<\/strong><\/a>: <\/span>