Centers & Initiatives

As a land-grant institution, one of West Virginia University’s primary objectives is research. Innovative, multidisciplinary research is carried out throughout the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design. A key component of executing that mission is the development and support of a range of research centers, initiatives, and laboratories.

• Appalachian Hardwood Center: Established in 1987 by the West Virginia state legislature, the Appalachian Hardwood Center provides research and technical support for the wood products industry.
  
  
• Renewable Materials and Bioenergy Research Center: The primary objectives of the Renewable Materials and Bioenergy Research Center are to provide research leadership to the forest products sector in the Appalachian region, and to promote the success of the wood products industry and economic development in this region.
  
  
• Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: The Cooperative Research Units were created to enhance graduate education in fisheries and wildlife sciences and to facilitate research among natural resource agencies and universities on topics of mutual concern.
  
  
• Geospatial Research Unit: The Geospatial Research Unit (GRU) of the National Soil Survey Center (NSSC) supports the natural resource business needs of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) through the innovative use of geographic information sciences and related technologies.
  
  
• International Culture Collection of Arbuscular and VA Mycorrhizal Fungi: A National Science Foundation funded project, The International Culture Collection of Arbuscular and VA Mycorrhizal Fungi preserves valuable germplasm and makes this germplasm available to researchers and the public.
  
  
• Natural Resource Analysis Center: By incorporating technologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing, the Natural Resource Analysis Center provides valuable data for use in environmental planning, environmental and natural resource economics, forest and wildlands recreation, wildlife management, forest ecology, and land and water resource reclamation.
  
  
• Organic Research Project: The West Virginia University Organic Research Farming project provides scientifically sound research and education to support organic growers and gardeners.
  
  
• Rumen Fermentation Profiling Laboratory: Employing processes pioneered by the lab administrators, the Rumen Fermentation Laboratory provides accurate and cost-effective feed and feed usage analysis for farmers and feed representatives around the world.
  
  
• Soil Testing Laboratory: The mission of the WVU Soil Testing Lab is to provide basic soil fertility analysis for farmers, landowners, and homeowners. This service is provided at no cost to West Virginia residents. Currently, the lab processes approximately 10,000 soil samples each year.
  
  
• West Virginia Small Ruminant Project: The Project’s goal is to help farmers increase the economic efficiency and overall profitability of their small ruminant enterprises through improved production practices and through the introduction of new technologies and to help revitalize this industry in West Virginia.
  
  
• Institute of Water Security and Science: The Institute of Water Security & Science’s mission is to develop sustainable solutions addressing contemporary water quality and quantity problems, while strengthening West Virginia’s water security, and environmental, economic, social and cultural well-being, and broadening West Virginia University’s water stewardship impact and prominence nationally and globally.
• West Virginia University Natural History Museum: Housed in Percival Hall, our natural history museum provides enhanced learning opportunities, promotes economic development, and ensures maintenance of natural history collections in the Appalachians.
• Westvaco Natural Resources Center: Created through the generous support of the MeadWestvaco Corporation, the Westvaco Natural Resources Center offers a scenic and spacious setting for meetings, conferences, and courses in the heart of the West Virginia University Forest.
  
• WVU Evansdale Greenhouse: Completed in the summer of 2012, This state-of-the-art facility under the direction of the Division of Plant and Soil Sciences is a center for teaching, research and outreach.