Begun in 1998 as the Watershed Institute, Inc., the Urban Ecology Institute was founded on the belief that urban ecological restoration is vital to the future health of cities and their residents. As such, UEI is deeply committed to connecting the academy, science and research to real on-the-ground work with communities, and harnessing the power of such institutions to make a tangible difference in the quality of life in underserved neighborhoods. Housed at Boston College Law School, UEI works closely with the Lynch School of Education to develop curriculum and assessment tools, and the Department of Environmental Studies to develop program content and specific scientific tools. The result is a set of programs that help communities build and maintain healthy, safe and vibrant cities by improving science and civic education for middle and high school youth and by working with urban communities to understand, advocate for, and transform natural resources.