SRN History

The Navy was formed in 1998 as a community service activity for the Freshmen Biology Learning Community - BEST, by Jim Colbert, associate professor of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology. As a regular user of the rivers and streams of central Iowa, he became concerned by the increasing problems facing those waters. BEST students, needing a community service project were the perfect group to tackle some of the issues. Not only was it a community service opportunity but also an educational activity, as the students and volunteers learned about and experienced the issues like water quality, organismal diversity and land stewardship.

Through the years many others have been instrumental in keeping the Navy afloat through support and volunteering. Several hundred students,dozens of Ames and Story County citizens and many ISU faculty, staff, and graduate students have participated and given countless hours to our biological community. The original idea of "Admiral" Colbert continues to educate our citizens and improve our environment today.