Thomas More University Ohio River Biology Field Station

The Biology Field Station is a 25-acre teaching and research facility owned by Thomas More University. The Station is located in California, KY and is situated along the banks of the Ohio River, 17 miles upstream from Cincinnati, Ohio. The site was a previous site of the U.S. Government Lock and Dam 35, built in 1919, and one of 51 wicket dams along the Ohio River. The Field Station includes classrooms, research and teachings labs, a conference center & lodge, STEM Outreach Center, four houses, and an interpretive nature trail. Since acquiring the property in 1967, the University Department has been conducting ecological research projects, teaching field courses, and leading outreach programs for K-12 schools.

Following major renovations to the Field Station, the Center for Ohio River Research and Education at the Biology Field Station was established in 1998. Since then, a significant increase in our teaching, research and outreach programs has occurred, and a strong increase in external funding has been obtained during this same period to support the programs. The Center has become a regional resource for environmental education, research, consulting and community service. Students and faculty have worked with a diverse group of professionals with backgrounds in science, engineering, education and other similar disciplines and with extensive work experience in consulting, government, private industry, teaching, and research. Some of the current research projects include measure greenhouse gases from the Ohio River to monitoring water quality and conserving endangered freshwater mussel populations, among others. The Outreach Programs at the Field Station are varied in nature and range from daylong field trips for grade schoolers, weeklong summer camps for high schoolers, and workshops/professional development opportunities for teachers.