Applied Cultural Research Program

ECCo created the applied cultural research program in 2010.  The program engages in applied research that can inform ECCo's actions to improve conservation efforts in the Andes/Amazon region and in Chicago.  The program also fosters interdisciplinary collaborations with scientists in the Museum and in Universities.  Our current efforts involve 1) investigating how different land-use planning processes correlate with biological diversity outcomes in selected Chicago Wilderness woodlands (the RESTORE project), 2) investigating and documenting the contexts for production of urban material culture (Urban Collections project), and 3) investigating and developing quality of life planning processes with indigenous communities in the buffer zone of the Cordillera Azul National Park.