Southwest Missouri State University’s Board of Governors approved the Ozarks Environmental and Water Resources Institute (OEWRI) on Jan. 16, 2004. 

Dr. Robert Pavlowsky, distinguished professor at Missouri State University, serves as the director of the institute.  

OEWRI was created to advance our scientific understanding of water resource quantity, quality and distribution in Ozarks watersheds through basic and applied research and development of partnerships and educational opportunities.  

 As OEWRI celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, its mission remains the same.  

More about the institute 

Housed within the School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability in the College of Natural and Applied Sciences (CNAS), OEWRI has four full-time staff members. 

Currently, it has 11 ongoing projects. These projects and other activities are primarily focused on these areas: 

• Water and sediment quality laboratory. 
• Geospatial science laboratory. 
• Water quality monitoring. 
• Stream stability and sedimentation. 
• Collaborative environmental programs. 
• Student training and research. 

Projects 

“OEWRI’s first funded project was in 2004 for $33,000 by the City of Springfield to study water quality in Jordan Creek,” said Pavlowsky. “Since 2004, OEWRI has been awarded 143 external grants totaling over $11 million.” 

“We could not have been this productive without the support of MSU and the many people who have helped us over the years,” Pavlowsky said. 

Thanks to OEWRI, CNAS faculty members have received funding for equipment purchases. The institute has also led several collaborative research initiatives that have resulted in bringing in millions of additional dollars to MSU. 

Students and awards 

With help from the Graduate College, OEWRI has provided research assistantships from external grants to support over 80 graduate students and thesis projects. Currently, it has five research graduate assistants. 

In addition, OEWRI has funded student travel to several conferences each year.

“Our graduate students have won 25 research/presentation awards at regional and national professional conferences,” Pavlowsky said. “Almost all our graduate students present at the annual Einhellig Interdisciplinary Forum.  

OEWRI staff and facilities have also supported over 100 undergraduate research projects. Many of them resulted in presentations for professional conferences, as well as the annual CNAS Research Day. 

International outreach 

Since 2008, OEWRI has partially funded travel to Jamaica for 130 students and 60 faculty to support Education Abroad programs and research/thesis projects on environmental problems and sustainable development.  

With support from MSU administration, OEWRI recently helped to form agreements with both the University of West Indies and several south coast communities in Jamaica to collaborate on community projects.  

With help from several students and faculty, OEWRI created a website to provide community information and support tourism for the Bluefields Bay area of Jamaica.  

Learn more about OEWRI