The Rivers Institute at Hanover College (RIH) helps to discover new knowledge and educate future generations of environmental leaders to appreciate river environments and broader natural and cultural history associated with them. Even if environmental science is not a student’s chosen field of study, a liberal arts education includes an understanding and appreciation of the Earth's environment.

Discovery, understanding, and dissemination are all important goals of the RIH. But the work of the RIH will not be complete until Hanover College Students become actively engaged in many different ways in helping to preserve river environments.

Students may:

• Enroll in an environmental science minor
• Work on environmental/ecological research with faculty
• Volunteer in service activities to help clean and study watersheds
• Work on internships gaining real-life experience

Watershed Monitoring and Protection
The Rivers Institute is committed to the monitoring of watersheds. Through the Rivers Institute, students are monitoring the Muscatatuck Watershed in Jefferson County, Indiana. Students also have the opportunity to become involved with the Friends of the White River, while participating in different service learning projects. These opportunities allow students to gain real-world, hands-on experience while working with professionals in the field.

Biodiversity Initiatives
Over the past several years, the Rivers Institute has become recognized as a
facilitator of BioBlitz events in the State of Indiana.A BioBlitz is a rapid assessment (usually over a 24 hour period) of the species found in a particular area. Scientists, students and other volunteers work in teams to identify the local flora and fauna. In our cell phone and video game society, many people have lost contact with the natural world. BioBlitz events invite participants to explore their environment, ask questions, and become better informed citizens.

Hanover Student Internships & Research
Hanover students have many exciting opportunities to become involved in the Rivers Institute including internships, research grants, volunteerism and much more. Internships and research projects on and off campus allow students to expand their liberal arts education while studying river environments in a truly interdisciplinary fashion.

Past internship locations include: ORSANCO, Eiteljorg Museum, Howard Steamboat Museum, FMSM Engineers, McHenry County

Past research projects include: Muscatatuck Watershed Project, Army Corps of Engineers: Manatee Conservation in Florida, Transcontinental Journey to Alaska: Nonfiction Creative Writing

Summer High School Academy
At Hanover, scholars learn science by doing science.

During the Summer High School Academy, the Rivers Institute reaches beyond Hanover College students and accepts High School scholars to this selective program. Scholars are afforded the opportunity to gain some real-life, hands-on experience in the fields of Ecology and Geochemistry. The scholars spend a week enjoying the beautiful forests, streams, meadows and waterfalls on the Hanover College campus and in the surrounding community. While exploring, scholars use high-tech, state-of-the-art equipment as they work along side the college faculty and students.