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Introduction to the Hitchcock Center for Chemical Ecology

The Hitchcock Center for Chemical Ecology is a renowned program within the College of Science, dedicated to advancing the field of chemical ecology through global influence. By collaborating internationally and integrating technical and conceptual advances from multiple fields, the program aims to re-synthesize, reinvigorate, and advance chemical ecology.

Advancing the Field

The program focuses on conducting research at the unique interface between chemistry and biology, establishing Nevada as a world leader in this field. The research conducted has global benefits, particularly in health and agriculture, and has substantive impacts on Nevada. The center brings international recognition to the state by serving as an epicenter for chemical-ecology research and arid-land bioprospecting.

Research Areas

The program's research areas include:

• Testing the most fundamental hypotheses in chemical ecology
• Examining the genetic basis of phytochemical defense
• Demonstrating how geographic variation in phytochemical diversity shapes ecological communities and microevolutionary processes

Chemical Ecology Program Outreach

The program participates in outreach efforts relevant to chemical ecology, including:

1. Existing K-12 outreach programs, such as pairing with teachers to develop genetics or chemistry teaching modules
2. Teacher or student research experience groups (funded by Earthwatch Institute, NSF-RET supplements, and other sources)
3. Creating public displays and associated outreach materials or events at the University museums

Economic Benefits

The program has direct employment benefits for scientists and provides benefits to major employers in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and agricultural industries in Nevada. Partnerships with industrial collaborators lead to the recruitment of new companies to Nevada, and discoveries of new drug candidates and insecticides stimulate the growth of related start-up companies and the licensing of University intellectual property rights.