The Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL) was founded in 1951 by Dr. Eugene P. Odum of the University of Georgia, who began ecological baseline studies on the Savannah River Site (SRS) with financial support from the Atomic Energy Commission. Throughout its history, SREL has been operated by The University of Georgia.

SREL’s mission, as defined in its Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is to provide an independent evaluation of the ecological effects of SRS operations through a program of ecological research, education, and outreach. This program involves basic and applied environmental research, with emphasis upon expanding the understanding of ecological processes and principles, and upon evaluating the impacts of industrial and land use activities on the environment.

This mission is accomplished through a broad-based program of field and laboratory research conducted on the SRS and published in the peer-reviewed scientific literature; by providing education and research training for undergraduate and graduate students from colleges and universities throughout the United States and abroad; and by engaging in community outreach activities and service to professional organizations.

SREL is a research unit of The University of Georgia. Internally, SREL is organized into four research groups, an outreach program, and support services.