The National Park Service (NPS) recognizes that science must play an increasingly central role in designing responsible and sustainable use and management activities of the national parks. In addition to the use of science as a means to improve park management, parks can be centers for broad scientific research and inquiry. Therefore, the NPS will facilitate research in parks where it can be done without impairing other park values.

The following resources provide guidance to potential investigators who wish to conduct research at Acadia National Park:

• General Conditions for Research at Acadia (pdf - 148kb) - This file contains conditions specific to research conducted in the park. General conditions for conducting research in national parks are found on the NPS Research Permit and Reporting System website.
• Guidelines for Submitting GIS and Tabular Data from Research at Acadia (pdf - 61kb) - This document provides guidance on the park's requirements and procedures for submitting data, reports, and associated information from research projects. It also outlines contact information, acceptable formats, metadata requirements, and the types of information required to be submitted to the park at the completion of a project.

Application Procedures
To obtain initial permission to conduct field research and/or collecting of specimens within areas administered by the National Park Service, you are required to complete and submit materials that enable park staff to evaluate the proposed activities and potential impacts on resources, policy, and visitor experiences. These materials include:

• application form,
• study proposal, and 
• copies of existing peer-reviews or the names of individuals you recommend to review your proposal.

To begin the permit application process, visit the NPS Research Permit and Reporting System (RPRS) website.

The RPRS website also contains instructions for the application process, frequently asked questions, links to other research-related websites, and links to submit or view Investigator Annual Reports (IARs)—reports detailing the accomplishments of ongoing or completed research projects.