About The Adirondack Research Consortium
The Adirondack Park is one of the most unique and ecologically diverse places in North America - a vast landscape where wild forests, rural communities, pristine waters, and working lands coexist. Within that complexity lies a challenge:
How do we ensure that decisions about the future of the Park are rooted in sound science, local knowledge, and broad collaboration?
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The Adirondack Research Consortium (ARC) has offered answers to that question for over 30 years. Founded in 1994 with a simple but powerful idea - that research should inform actions and solutions - ARC serves as a vital bridge between science and the people who care for the Adirondacks.
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We bring together researchers, policy makers, community leaders, educators, students, and citizens to share knowledge and address the region’s most pressing challenges. ARC is a living network and an open table where conversation turns into collaboration.
Our Annual Conference on the Adirondacks is a centerpiece of this work. It’s where ideas are tested, partnerships are born, and questions about climate change, biodiversity, economic resilience, and stewardship are explored in depth. In addition, ARC hosts roundtables, research forums, and special initiatives throughout the year, like the North Country Climate-Ready Workforce Roundtable. All our programs are designed to spark solutions, elevate local voices, and foster the next generation of conservation leaders.
In partnership with Colgate University, ARC publishes the Adirondack Journal of Environmental Studies (AJES) to share peer-reviewed research, commentary, and analysis that inform and inspire solutions to environmental and community challenges in the Adirondack region.
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The Adirondack Research Consortium, together with Paul Smith's College and The Wild Center, is a founding member of the Adirondack Climate Outreach and Resilience Network. The ACORN rural resilience network includes local communities, organizations, and engaged individuals across the 14-county region of Northern New York State. ACORN’s goal is to plant the seeds that catalyze regional climate conversations, connect neighbors with neighbors, and foster community-level leadership that builds on the strength of our region from the ground up. In 2024, the ACORN network received nationwide recognition as a Trust for Civic Life - Civic Entrepreneur grantee through its Adirondack Community Foundation partnership.
Taken as a whole, our work at the Adirondack Research Consortium is grounded in a belief that science should serve people, and that partnerships across sectors and disciplines are essential for building a resilient future for the Adirondack Park and its human and natural communities.
