The ecology and evolutionary biology faculty at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln began a initiative (IEEA) in 1999 to foster research and graduate education in both basic and applied ecology, evolution, and behavior. The UNL faculty in these areas constitute one of the strongest research groups on campus, with faculty from biological sciences, natural resource sciences, geosciences, agronomy, the State Museum, plant pathology, entomology, psychology, and anthropology. The goal has been to develop stronger linkages between applied and basic scientists across academic units into an integrated, highly competitive program.