As a result of the National Resource Challenge articulated in 1999, The National Park Service has developed several Research Learning Centers across the country to help improve natural resource stewardship and management .

The Great Lakes Research and Education Center (GLREC) is one of 13 centers designated to support monitoring and management-related research with three main objectives: 1) promote scientifically sound management of parks; 2) involve the scientific community in providing subject matter expertise; and 3) engage the public as partners in resource preservation through education and citizen science.

The Great Lakes Research and Education Center (GLREC) was established in 2002 to facilitate research and provide educational opportunities in eleven national parks in the Great Lakes Region. The GLREC is a public-private partnership involving a wide range of people and organizations, including researchers, universities, educators, students, and community groups. Through collaborative efforts, the GLREC communicates scientific information to enhance management decisions within the network parks and contributes to public understanding of our natural and cultural resources.