The Holcomb Research Institute, a division of Butler University, was founded in 1973 through a bequest from Indianapolis industrialist J. I. Holcomb. For the next 20 years, the Institute studied scientific aspects of environmental concerns in Indiana, the nation, and the world. Specifically, the Water Sciences program focused on the chemistry, physics, and mathematics of ground-water and surface-water resources. The Biotic Resources Program emphasized study of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The Environmental Economics and Policy Analysis Program conducted research on the economics of water and biological resource projection and development.