СÖíÊÓƵ REFS is located next to the 155-acre St. Anne Woods and Wetlands Natural Area, a conservation easement along the Ohio River. Situated within the Outer Bluegrass Ecoregion, the site features open and closed canopy wetlands, upland grasslands, mixed mesophytic forests, and areas of old-growth beech forest.
REFS supports a wide range of research and educational activities. The facility offers indoor laboratory and field processing space, teaching and meeting areas, and accessible restrooms - providing everything needed for both field and classroom learning.
In addition to supporting basic and applied research, REFS provides equipment and facilities for teaching and outreach activities. Because university funding is limited, operational fees are necessary to sustain the station. The following list reflects actual costs and has been approved by СÖíÊÓƵ administration. All fees may be adjusted or waived at the discretion of the Station Director.
For general information or to inquire about items not listed, contact Dr. Richard Durtsche or Dr. Richard Boyce.
| Facilities | Cost |
|---|---|
| 2nd Floor Lab Space (desk and adjacent bench) | $20.00 / day |
| 1st Floor Classroom Space | $20.00 / day |
| 2nd Floor Conference Space | $20.00 / day |
| Photocopying | $0.10 / page |
| Laser and other computer printers | $0.10 / page |
| FAX | $0.20 / page |
| Expendible Supplies | Cost |
| Group Visits | Cost |
|---|---|
| 2 to 20 people | $25.00 / day |
| 21 or more people | $35.00 / day |
Contact the Department of Biological Sciences at (859) 572-5110 to reserve REFS.
The following calendar shows when REFS has been reserved.
The proximity of REFS to the СÖíÊÓƵ campus expands the opportunity for ecological undergraduate instruction while providing unique interdisciplinary teaching opportunities over a range of other disciplines. This facility enhances community outreach programs for K-12 education, summer camps, and teacher continuing education.
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СÖíÊÓƵ REFS supports a wide range of research and scholarly activities at our facilities, in the St. Anne Woods and Wetlands Natural Area, and in local streams. Projects span from measuring photosynthetic rates in shrubs and monitoring natural controls of Amur honeysuckle, to evaluating invasive species impacts on amphibians, collecting baseline data on native longhorn beetles, and assessing the potential effects of climate change on stream fishes. All of this work is united by four central themes:
To inspire an understanding and appreciation of Northern Kentucky’s natural areas from riparian wetlands and the Ohio River, to upland forests and grasslands through time.
In support of СÖíÊÓƵ’s mission and core values, REFS serves students, scholars, and the broader community. As a data-driven learning center, REFS fosters regional environmental and ecological research, and is an operations hub for field studies, multidisciplinary nature and outdoor-oriented courses, and interactions between professionals, students, and local citizens.
5-Year Strategic Plan: 2018 - 2023
Biennial Reports: FY 2016 - FY 2018 | FY 2018 - FY 2020
REFS Steering Committee: Richard Durtsche (REFS Director | СÖíÊÓƵ), Richard Boyce (REFS Assistant Director | СÖíÊÓƵ), Josh Cooper (СÖíÊÓƵ), Allison Parker (СÖíÊÓƵ), Yingying Xi (СÖíÊÓƵ), Patti Discher (District Manager | Campbell County Conservation District)
