Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development

The Great Salt Lake (GSL) is a unique, understudied, and undervalued national landmark.  As one of the extreme ecosystems of the world, where life is tested at its limits, the GSL provides new territory for exploration, learning and stewardship. Westminster College's Great Salt Lake Institute (GSLI) is dedicated to supporting research, education and stewardship of the unique ecology and history of the GSL. 

Research:

GSLI engages in collaborative research ventures with a variety of partners, facilitating interactions between institutions of education, industry, non-profit, and government. They have a strong focus on undergraduate research and scholarship opportunities to enhance student learning about the Great Salt Lake by encouraging their participation in the design and execution of research and other scholarly activities.

Educational Outreach:

GSLI promotes science and environmental education of K–12 students and actively links the research sector with public outreach. They support field trips, summer camps, teacher training, and curriculum development centered on the GSL. The goal of these activities is to develop critical thinking skills and inspire stewardship among the next generation.  

Westminster College student-researchers and faculty have collaborated with several elementary school groups to perform research projects that involve the lake. Participating schools have included:

• Hawthorne Elementary
• North Star Elementary
• McGillis School

The Great Salt Lake Institute generates K-12 educational programs that highlight the GSL.

Stewardship and Partnerships:

GSLI strives bring together parties interested in the Great Salt Lake by promoting partnerships between colleges and universities, industry, government agencies, and non-profit organizations interested in sustaining the GSL as an important resource. 

GSLI welcomes your participation in their study of the Great Salt Lake. They want to hear from you, whether you're a scientist, a poet, a performance artist or an elementary school teacher.  They are interested in helping people make connections to enhance study, understanding and appreciation of the lake and its surroundings! 

The institute is committed to:

• Developing a more systemic understanding of the GSL and its relationship to the environment and the economy
• Fostering local, regional, and international cooperation and collaboration among educational institutions, public agencies, and private organizations to build and sustain important research programs
• Facilitating dialogue and problem solving on the compatability of development and preservation
• Enhancing learning among colleges and university students from various disciplines by encouraging their participation in the design and execution of research and other scholarly activities
• Contributing to the science and environmental education of K-12 students by linking teachers to project opportunities and linking curriculum to ongoing GSL research activities.

Join the GSLI network! Visit the partnership gateway through the website. Read about current activities and projects. Register and receive free access to an international directory of partners who share an interest in the GSL. Participate in discussions on current GSL issues on the interactive blog.

The Great Salt Lake Institute creates partnerships with educational, non-profit and governmental institutions.

To contact the Great Salt Lake Institute:

Email: GSLInstitute@westminstercollege.edu

Online: www.greatsaltlakeinstitute.org