The Office of Solid Waste Research administers a state-funded research program on solid waste reduction, reuse, landfilling, and incineration. Researchers investigate technological, chemical, biological, economic, and social science aspects of solid waste management in Illinois. Since 1905, when it was first organized by legislative mandate, the ISGS has been assisting citizens, industries, and government agencies by supplying the geological information they need to protect the environment and help the state's economy grow. The ISGS works closely with other offices and divisions of the Department of Natural Resources, and with universities across the state to bring multidisciplinary research to bear on the problems and opportunities confronting Illinois' citizens. The Illinois State Water Survey conducts research, collects data statewide, and provides analytical services involving atmospheric and water resources.
Scientific staff consists of engineers, chemists, meteorologists, and physicists.
Located on the south campus, the survey often cooperates with departments of the College of Engineering in research and teaching programs. The current thrust of technology development is in the area of multiphotonic fluorescence microscopy. The LFD is available to scientists from academia and industry. The Manufacturing Research Center is an industry-driven center of excellence in manufacturing research that fosters collaborative research initiatives between the university and both large and small industries. It is a program of the colleges of engineering on both the Urbana-Champaign and Chicago campuses of the university.