IAGLR to help assess erosion of Great Lakes science capacity

Feb 17, 2026

The University of Michigan Water Center announced the launch of the Great Lakes Horizon Initiative with support from a 12-month, $610,000 grant from the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation to create a structured process for identifying emerging environmental, social, economic, and governance issues, including those not yet visible.

The initiative also addresses a growing concern across the basin: the erosion of Great Lakes science capacity. IAGLR will partner with the Water Center to assess losses in science funding, staffing, data systems, and workforce development programs in 2025.

"Developing evidence-based estimates of research capacity loss is of interest to many organizations working at the binational level in the Great Lakes region," said Jérôme Marty, executive director of IAGLR. “The association will help to assess not only the direct cuts to funding and employees, but also to other programs, such as internships and scholarships, that rely on federal funds to train future leaders.”