Realizing that individual research interests crossed disciplines, IEEA organized faculty members into an integrated group of researchers. Once the idea was born, a steering committee was formed to create a formal structure for the initiative. Joern, of the School of Biological Sciences, and Kyle Hoagland, of the School of Natural Resource Sciences, co-chair the initiative's steering committee. It was a chance to take a group that was sort of spread around and focus it . . . so that it really showed what we had. The Initiative in Ecological and Evolutionary Analysis focuses on Evolutionary Biology and Ecology.
Microevolution is the study of adaptation.
Researchers in this area look at changes in gene frequencies that determine the traits of populations. The study of macroevolution involves the reconstruction of species' relationships with one another. The second focus is Ecology, in which researchers attempt to define the mechanisms that individuals, species, and populations use to survive in their environments. The primary goal of IEEA is to foster quality research and interaction, Joern said. IEEA's multi-department interaction is consistent with NU administration policy encouraging multidisciplinary initiatives in areas of research strength.