UMN Natural Resources Research Institute

We are proud to kick off the 2025 MITI Forum this morning in Virginia, MN. Together with our partners and stakeholders, we are coming together in a shared goal: to accelerate the Upper Midwest’s role in leading the next generation of industrial innovation. https://bit.ly/4oASY3G

05.11.2025 17:09 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

A deer crossing sign next to a road leading through a forest with an actual deer in the background.

Talking deer collisions with University of Minnesota: Raphael Stern and NRRI's Ron Moen with the UMN Center for Transportation studies discuss how deer collisions affect MN drivers and how we can all stay safe. https://twin-cities.umn.edu/news-events/talking-deer-collisions-university-minnesota

28.10.2025 20:17 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Promotional image for the North American Biochar Conference 2025, featuring logos of NABCO and the Natural Resources Research Institute at the University of Minnesota. Includes a website link for biocharconference.com and dates from September 15-18. Background pattern resembles stylized plant rows.

We're proud to be an exhibiting sponsor at the 2025 North American #Biochar Conference. #NRRI researchers will be presenting throughout #NABC, discussing the use of biochar in steelmaking, coal ash remediation, and stormwater management. Stop by booth 604 to learn more!

15.09.2025 15:51 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Brown: Smart forestry saves birds — and people, too "As climate change expands the range and population of pests, birds become even more important — but their population is in decline," Aaron Brown writes.

“Birds give us clues about how to interact with our environment,” said Alexis Grinde, NRRI Wildlife Ecologist. “Secret messages almost. When you unlock that ability you can see so much more." https://www.startribune.com/bird-loss-climate-change-logging-wildlife/601461539?utm_source=gift

28.08.2025 21:12 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

News Release: NRRI Appoints Spigarelli as New Endowed Taconite Chair | Natural Resources Research Institute Dr.

NRRI is pleased to announce that Dr. Brett Spigarelli has been appointed the new Endowed Taconite Chair. Established to advance MN’s iron ore industry, the Chair is a senior leadership position at NRRI charged with driving long-term research innovation. https://bit.ly/47bxrch

26.08.2025 20:13 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Mining created these Lake Superior black sand beaches. One’s a tourist destination, the other a Superfund site. Operations left behind uniquely colored beaches in Minnesota’s Silver Bay and Michigan’s Gay. But the materials are different.

NRRI researcher Matt Mlinar offers some background on MN iron mining for #CuriousMinnesota https://www.startribune.com/black-beach-silver-bay-lake-superior-mining-stamp-sands-michigan/601446696

22.08.2025 15:06 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

The Lakes are not okay: Wildfires Bring Long-Term Damage to Minnesota’s Waters Meteorologist Lea Zmurko reports on how wildfire smoke is impacting water quality, increasing nutrient levels, and endangering fish populations in MN.

Research shows that forest fires are leaving a lasting mark on MN lakes - elevating nutrient and sediment levels. NRRI's Chris Filstrup is studying lakes in burned watersheds to see how these changes are impacting water quality and the ecosystem.
www.wdio.com/good-morning... #NRRI #FireLakes

15.08.2025 21:57 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

How Research Is Helping to Solve a Problem in the Steel Industry Trees and other biomass — which absorb CO2 — can be processed at the end of their life span into an engineered biocarbon for steelmaking.

Cally Hunt, a Biomass Process Engineer at NRRI, is featured in the MN Women's Press for her work on utilizing engineered biocarbon in the steelmaking process. www.womenspress.com/how-research...

01.08.2025 17:27 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Natural Resources Research Institute holds open house The University of Minnesota's Natural Resources Research Institute held an open house to show the public their latest projects.

We had an excellent open house last Friday afternoon at NRRI Duluth! Thanks to everyone who made it out for interesting discussion on opportunities for MN to lead the transformation of bedrock industries. Thanks to #WDIO for event coverage: bit.ly/46mgprw

21.07.2025 17:14 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 1

NRRI open house will explore Industrial Transformation research UMD's Natural Resources Research Institute is inviting the public in from 2-4 p.m. Friday to see its work around Industrial Transformation.

Join us tomorrow for our public open house! Friday, July 18, 2-4pm. Tour the Duluth facility and learn about our integrated research focusing on industrial transformation. www.wdio.com/lift-online/...

17.07.2025 17:24 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Join us this Friday for NRRI's public open house!

When: Friday, July 18, 2 - 4 p.m.
Where: NRRI Duluth - 5013 Miller Trunk Highway / Hwy. 53
What: Researchers will highlight exciting opportunities for MN to lead the transformation of bedrock industries.
bit.ly/44QdFAb

16.07.2025 15:57 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Hot dogs and minnow traps: an effective approach to controlling invasive rusty crayfish | WTIP A pack of hot dogs and a minnow trap may seem like unlikely tools for conservation, but new research from the Natural Resources Research Institute at the University of Minnesota Duluth shows they can ...

Hot dogs and minnow traps: an effective approach to controlling invasive rusty crayfish >> wtip.org/hot-dogs-and...

11.07.2025 17:27 — 👍 3    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 0

Join us for our summer public open house!
When: Friday, July 18, 2025 from 2 - 4 p.m.
Where: NRRI Duluth - 5013 Miller Trunk Highway, Duluth MN 55811
What: Researchers will highlight opportunities for MN to lead the transformation of bedrock industries.

26.06.2025 11:50 — 👍 1    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 0

Researchers ID organisms behind algae blooms near Barker's Island By sequencing DNA from a bloom near Barker’s Island in Superior last fall, researchers linked the toxins to Microcystis aeruginosa. The Minnesota Sea Grant called it a “breakthrough discovery.”

What causes blue-green algae blooms in the Duluth-Superior Harbor? How can we predict harmful blooms? NRRI researchers and partners are one step closer to finding out: they have identified the cyanobacteria species responsible for the bloom’s toxins. bit.ly/408h2AS

18.06.2025 20:43 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Northern Minnesota forest recovering from May wildfires, but lakes could suffer for years The woods are already starting to regenerate in the area scorched by the Camp House Fire near Brimson, Minn. But researchers worry ash and fine sediment washing into lakes and streams could lead to fu...

What happens to water quality in northern lakes after a wildfire? NRRI researchers are hoping their study of recent wildfire impacts in northern MN will help land managers make informed decisions about lake and forest management after a wildfire. bit.ly/45wEiME

18.06.2025 20:18 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Wildfires could leave lakes murky for years Research that began after the 2021 Greenwood Fire seeks to understand how wildfires affect a lake’s water quality, and for how long. It also looks at what that means for mercury accumulation in fish.

When you're a limnologist you worry about lakes and water quality. NRRI's Chris Filstrup was concerned after the 2021 Greenwood Fire and quickly jumped into research mode, launching a study to find out more. This year, that work is even more important. bit.ly/4dAfRj4
#FireLakes #NRRI #LCCMR #MNENRTF

29.05.2025 18:32 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

The threats wildfires pose to Minnesota's 10,000 lakes WCCO has been reporting for weeks about the impacts of the northeastern Minnesota wildfires on the ground and in the air, but new research shows it could also impact the state's waterways.

Update on the wildfires in northern MN: NRRI researcher Chris Filstrup talks to #WCCO about the impacts of wildfires on Minnesota's lakes. 🔥https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-lakes-wildfire-pollution/
#NRRI #AppliedResearch #WildfiresMN

28.05.2025 15:42 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 1