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Field Center & Future Vision

Opening Soon: Field Education and Research Center 

We’re excited to open the doors to our first dedicated facility—a Field Education and Research Center located at the main entrance to the MVPGR. Designed as a hub for research, education, and community engagement, the center will offer year-round shelter from the summer sun and winter rain, along with essential facilities that support both outdoor learning and field research. With this new space, we’ll expand our research capabilities, strengthen educational programming for all ages, and deepen connections with the campus, local community, and beyond.

Below are some of the conceptual design drawings that had been developed by the green architect (WRNS Studios) that we partnered with on this beautiful new building.

Field Education and Research Center rendering depicting rainwater capture. 

Field Education and Research Center entrance area rendering. 

Vision for the future

Our grand vision for the future is to facilitate amazing field-based research and outdoor educational experiences for the campus and broader Merced community and beyond. We hope to expand from the Field Education and Research Center and 1) develop an immersive outdoor educational landscape near the Field Center that learners of all ages can visit and engage with to send the message to kids (and their families) in the greater Merced community that where you live is special; you don’t have to go far away to experience the outdoors; there are amazing natural landscapes right here in your own backyard! 2) build a full field station facility that would further facilitate ground-breaking research related to ecosystem conservation.

Specifically, we want to:

  1.  Support world-class, impactful, interdisciplinary research
  2. Empower youth and the community to appreciate, understand, and engage with nature, through learning about: Natural landscapes in your backyard. Expanded Curriculum that goes beyond vernal pool & grassland ecology to critical topics like climate change, watershed science, rangeland science and more!
  3. Inspire & empower next generations of leaders in environmental stewardship, education, and career opportunities in STEM field science such as green, sustainable, and emerging technologies that will be essential for their future.
  4. Create multi-scale social & environmental change