Since its establishment in 1920 as the world’s first cave research entity, the “Emil Racovita” Institute of Speleology (ERIS) has been a leading international center for karst and cave research.  The mission of ERIS is to design, conduct, educate, and disseminate research findings worldwide. ERIS’s mission and vision for the future is to continue its dynamic national, regional, and international leadership in cave and karst research so that helps policymakers, educators, and the general public toward addressing the immediate problems of managing karst waters, karst landscapes, and their biological and physical resources.

Research: “Emil Racovita” Institute of Speleology conducts high-quality theoretical and applied research on most karst and cave issues. Its research activities combine a local to regional perspective with a global application. The ERIS develops and manages the Romanian cave inventory.

Education: ERIS offers in collaboration with Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj and other structures within the Romanian Academy, a range of undergraduate and graduate (Master and Doctoral) education programs in karst geology, biospeleology, and karst environmental conservation and protection. ERIS organizes conferences, workshops, and field trips to accommodate any international and national undergraduate and graduate programs.

Consulting: ERIS provides environmental consulting assistance in implementing its own research findings so as to improve natural cave and karst resource management.                                   (read more)