*UNI Tallgrass Prairie Center to hold open house* CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa's Tallgrass Prairie Center will hold a fall open house from 3 to 5 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 12, to showcase new renovations and building expansion. The center is located on the western edge of campus at 2412 W. 27th Street, west of Hudson Road. Visitors can learn about programs and projects, visit with the staff, view the facilities and landscape and enjoy refreshments. "We really want to encourage everyone to come and see what is going on," said Daryl Smith, director of the center. "We have lots of programs that will interest many people. The open house is a good opportunity to learn about what we are doing. We are also very proud of our newly renovated and expanded facilities which include a new laboratory, seed storage room, new office space for graduate students and expanded shop and equipment storage facilities." The center's mission is to restore native vegetation for the benefit of society and environment through research, education and technology.There are three primary programs that include the Prairie Institute, the Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management Program (IRVM) and the Natural Selections Program (Iowa Ecotype Project). The Prairie Institute continues UNI's 35-year commitment to prairie reconstruction, restoration, management and advocacy. The IRVM program assists Iowa counties in implementing programs utilizing native vegetation. The Natural Selections Program provides and promotes source-identified seed of Iowan origin to increase its commercial availability and affordability. This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided. For more information, visit www.tallgrassprairiecenter.org. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp