EDITORS: Photos available on request. Contact Roger Sutton at News and Information Services by e-mail at [email protected].

ANN ARBOR—U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) visited the University of Michigan Biological Station near Pellston on Aug. 8 and was given a tour of the facilities by Station Director James Teeri. Since its establishment in 1909, the station has continually served as a major instructional and research center for students and scientists from around the world. Today, with its rustic, original buildings standing alongside up-to-date research facilities, it is one of the largest climate change observatories in the world, according to Teeri.

Scientists project that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will double over the next 50 years, and the congressman was particularly interested in the research projects at the station that are investigating the effects of this doubling on Michigan’s woods and waters.

“I appreciate the opportunity to learn about the exciting and important environmental and climate research that is occurring at the U-M Biological Station,” said Rep. Stupak, who has been a leader in Congress on protecting the Great Lakes, sponsoring legislation to address such issues as bulk diversion of Great Lakes water, drilling for gas and oil under the lakes, and invasive species. “The Biological Station is a local and national resource that many people in the area don’t realize even exists, yet the work being done here is helping us in Congress better understand the environmental challenges facing our region and our nation, and providing us with the knowledge both to combat and adapt to these environmental changes.”

Teeri agreed that the visit was valuable. “I am extremely pleased that Congressman Stupak is making every effort to understand, and to develop wise policies for, the major environmental problems that human society is encountering,” he said.

[email protected]Bart Stupak