Events Calendar

What types of plants, animals, and fungal life might you find at the Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory? Let's find out! 

Join researchers in collecting, observing, and recording biodiversity at the Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory in our 3rd Annual BioBlitz. Your findings will inform a major research project and will contribute to the third data point in a multi-year documentation of how diversity changes at this site over time. Collections will be housed with the UI Museum of Natural History, accessible for comparative data analysis for generations to come. 

Registration is required + free. Sign up link is here: https://uiowa.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bduk9LKkk5nSZls

Participants will have the opportunity to examine insects under professional microscopes, learn how to identify a variety of species (with the iNaturalist app and the naked eye), and how these collections and observations contribute to greater research and ecological health. Guests will also learn from leaders of the Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory about the vision for the prairie. Facilitators include University of Iowa Biology, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Office of Sustainability and the Environment, UI WILD (Iowa Raptor Project, Iowa Wildlife Camps, and School of the Wild), UI Museum of Natural History, Geographical and Sustainability Sciences, Athletics, and visiting Interdisciplinary Evolutionary Sciences research students with additional support from the Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research.

This is an all ages event, no experience required, families welcome. It will occur rain or shine. As this is the 3rd Annual event, we hope to see some young scientists who can grow along with the biodiversity at the prairie over the years.

We'll tell you all you need to know about the day of once you register.

Let's do science!

So, where is this prairie?

The Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory is at the UI Ashton Cross Country Course. Follow directions on any virtual map to the “Hawkeye Commuter Lot” (Lot 85). Park in Hawkeye Commuter Lot and walk, following signage and volunteer directions to the event site

Event partners include the University of Iowa's Department of Athletics, Office of Sustainability and the Environment, Department of Biology, Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative, Macbride Nature Recreation Area, Landscape Services, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, UI WILD (Iowa Raptor Project, Iowa Wildlife Camps, School of the Wild), The Pentacrest Museums, Department of Geographical and Sustainability Sciences, State Hygienic Laboratory, and Bee Campus Committee.