Science and Research

Parks are living laboratories where scientists ask questions and conduct research. Scientists observe and experiment. They learn from interactions of plants and animals in their natural environment. The National Park Service preserves the places and stories of discovery and uses what we learn through science to manage our natural and cultural resources.

 

Science In-Depth

 

Calling all science lovers!

Do you want to help protect the natural areas we all love? Find a citizen science opportunity.

Social Science

Social sciences in the National Park Service include a collection of disciplines that study humans and their interactions with parks.

Research Learning Centers

RLCs promote research in parks and communicate the results and processes of that research.

Request a Research Permit

Apply for Scientific Research and Collecting Permits.

Benefits Sharing

All studies conducted in parks provide the NPS with some type of benefit.

Inventory & Monitoring

Inventories help us understand the natural resources in and around parks. Monitoring helps us understand how these resources are doing.

 

Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units