Dr. David White is Director of the Hancock Biological Station, which is operated by Murray State University. This station is located along Kentucky Lake, the largest reservoir in the southeast U.S., created near the confluences of the Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland, and Tennessee Rivers. The Station has been recognized by the State of Kentucky as a Research Center of Excellence, and Murray State has joined with eight other colleges and universities to create a focal point for reservoir research. Dr. White proposes construction of two dormitories and two cabins for visiting scientists at the Hancock Biological Station. Construction of these four winterized residences would increase the capacity of the Station by more than 20, adding significantly to the presence of visiting researchers and students. Research on the ecology of reservoirs has obvious and important implications for society. Hancock Biological Station is currently a successful regional facility for student training and for some recently initiated research projects on reservoirs. Institutional commitments to the Station has increased its potential significantly, and it could develop into a nationally significant research facility. The proposed visitor housing will provide a critical mass of visiting investigators with access to the Station, and the site's full potential should be expressed as a result.
