Research Philosophy & Policies

Research conducted at Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College contributes to:

• an improved understanding of the abundance, richness, diversity and distribution of species
• an enhanced understanding of connections to regional ecosystems and other disciplines
• a deeper understanding of the place of humans within the environment, especially as regards development of sustainable and equitable patterns of land use and social structure
• an understanding of the interconnections among all members of the natural environment, both biotic and abiotic. This improved understanding can be:
  • empirical – based on direct measurement and observation
  • conceptual – based on abstraction/modeling from empirical work
  • applied – influencing land management practices at Merry Lea and beyond

Responsibilities of Researchers:

Data

Researchers are requested to annually provide a description of each data set derived from their work on the Merry Lea property and a summary of research results. All researchers are requested to provide copies of final data sets derived from work on Merry Lea property to be archived at Merry Lea.

Publications and Reports

Researchers must acknowledge Merry Lea and the specific area of property where the research was conducted in any publications or reports. A copy of each publication or report resulting from work performed at Merry Lea shall be provided to the Research Oversight Committee as soon as they become available. This includes a copy of a thesis or dissertation when Merry Lea was used for graduate research. When research is long-term, the principal investigator will be asked to file progress reports every six months or one year, depending on the nature of the project. 

Permits

Investigators are responsible to acquire all necessary state and federal permits relating to their proposed study. Research cannot begin until copies of required permits have been submitted to the Research Director. Collection will only be permitted of organisms whose populations will not be harmed by the proposed collection.

Vehicle Use

Transportation to and from Merry Lea and to study sites on Merry Lea property is the investigator’s responsibility. A Merry Lea guest placard must be displayed on the dashboard of any vehicle being used for research while on the Merry Lea property. The use of any vehicle in areas other than those designated for use by the public is strictly prohibited unless authorized by the Merry Lea Research Oversight Committee after consultation with the Director of Natural Resource Management. Permission for vehicular access to areas behind locked gates and/or the use of tractors or other equipment to move large or heavy gear will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

General Conduct

Investigators and all persons associated with a research project must abide by the general standards of behavior required of all Merry Lea visitors. Merry Lea expects all faculty, staff, visitors, researchers, and students to conduct themselves in a respectful manner towards each other, wildlife, and the environment. For a comprehensive overview of Merry Lea’s code of conduct see Appendix B.

Grounds for Termination of Research Permit 

Permission to continue research at Merry Lea may be rescinded in case of the following:

1.  The principal investigator, students, or other participants fail to abide by their agreed-upon research plan.
2.  The investigator, students, or other participants fail to follow Merry Lea’s code of conduct and professionalism (Appendix B).
3.  The investigator, students, or other participants fail to comply with guidelines for the responsible use and care of animals.