The average AU student may never see the university campus until It’s time to graduate. And some may never make the journey to Athabasca, Alberta, at all. But a new initiative can help students explore one of the main features of their university’s hometown.

The Athabasca River Basin Research Institute (ARBRI) is ?an innovative interdisciplinary research centre that studies the Athabasca River Basin and its people from a broad range of perspectives.?

The ARBRI site explains the importance of the 1,538-km long Athabasca River (Alberta’s longest undammed river and its second largest by volume) and its basin.

The photo gallery offers a look at the basin’s natural beauty, as well as the effects of human activity, and other links provide info on Alberta’s many lakes and rivers and the UN Water for Life program.

Whether You’re interested in science, conservation, or just want a peek at AU’s natural surroundings, the ARBRI is worth a look.