Michael Dreslik, a dedicated Illinois Natural History Survey research scientist of nearly three decades, will be the survey’s next director and Illinois State Biologist at the Prairie Research Institute.
Dreslik’s career at INHS began in 1997 while pursuing his doctorate in natural resource ecology and conservation at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His career has been built on a dedication to field-based research, science for the public good, and the INHS mission.
“INHS has endured for more than 165 years because it has produced knowledge that matters,” Dreslik said. “It has documented change, informed decisions, and trained generations of scientists and stewards. Such a legacy is not simply inherited. It must be sustained and renewed through deliberate leadership, persistent inquiry, and responsibility.”
Dreslik has served as interim INHS director since January. Prior to that, he led the Urban Biotic Assessment Program and the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Program. He has served as director of the Population and Community Ecology Lab, PaCE Lab, since 2017.
Dreslik’s research generates critical understanding necessary for guiding conservation decisions. With a focus on amphibians and reptiles, particularly chelonians and pit vipers, he is studying some of the most imperiled vertebrate groups in Illinois and around the world. He has led major studies on ornate box turtles, eastern massasauga rattlesnakes, spotted turtles, and Blanding’s turtles that were directly tied to species recovery efforts, mitigating the impact of infrastructure development, and agency planning in Illinois and across the U.S.
At the PaCE Lab, Dreslik’s team provides the scientific data needed by decisionmakers at agencies like the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Illinois Tollway, county forest preserves, and federal agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Their work helps agencies meet regulatory mandates while improving ecological outcomes.
“From a personal perspective, the mission of INHS is a source of professional clarity. It matches my values as a field ecologist and as a public servant. I have never viewed science as an end in itself,” he said. “I am interested in results that reduce extinction risk, inform climate adaptation, and preserve functional ecosystems.”
As a researcher and leader, Mike has secured significant funding and his work has been published nearly 100 times. He maintains appointments on state and national advisory panels, as well as international panels, committees, and boards, and has conducted stakeholder outreach at schools, expos, and training events.
“We do not operate in isolation from the communities we serve,” he noted. “Our scientists regularly advise state agencies, participate in public meetings, and support nonprofit organizations and local governments. We respond to legislative requests, contribute to environmental planning processes, and provide training for conservation practitioners.”
The Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign provides scientific expertise and transformative research to the people of Illinois and beyond. PRI is home to the five state scientific surveys: the Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois State Archaeological Survey, Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois State Water Survey, and Illinois Sustainable Technology Center.