About the Whitney R. Harris World Ecology Center
The Harris World Ecology Center (HWEC), advances global research, education, and public engagement in ecology and biodiversity conservation through a distinctive partnership model.
Housed within the Department of Biology at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, and working in close collaboration with The Missouri Botanical Garden and the Saint Louis Zoo, the Harris Center works to address conservation challenges on a local and global scale.
Together, these institutions form an internationally recognized conservation alliance rooted in science and driven by impact.
A Unique Alliance
Our collaborative model brings together academic research, botanical science, and wildlife studies to create integrated, science-driven solutions and understanding of the natural world around us. Through this alliance, we support award-winning conservation initiatives rooted in research and real-world application.
Training the Next Generation of Leaders
Since its founding, the Harris Center has trained hundreds of students and early-career scientists. Through research funding, field experiences, and cross-institutional mentorship, we equip the next generation of conservation leaders with the tools to advance science, inform policy, and serve communities worldwide.
Our alumni work across the globe in research institutions, government agencies, and non-profit organizations, advancing biodiversity conservation where it most needs protection.
We fund discovery. We train leaders. We partner with communities at home and abroad to create lasting impact in the preservation and understanding of biodiversity.
