Shortgrass Steppe Field Station

该奖项支持在位于科罗拉多东北部的中原实验靶场的一个野外站建造一座新建筑，该建筑配有会议和视听设备。自1938年以来，该网站一直在进行研究。自20世纪60年代以来，Shortgrass Steppe（SGS）野外站一直存在于该网站。该研究站的研究已被全世界公认为草原生态学重要发现的来源。SGS的研究还为该地区的土地管理提供了重要的有用知识。新的教室/会议设施将包括一个可容纳60人的大型会议室，一个可容纳15-30人的小型会议室和一个办公室。该建筑将支持来自科罗拉多州立大学、北方科罗拉多大学和农业研究服务局的学生、教师和其他研究人员的多学科需求，并将促进来自其他机构的访问教师和学生使用空间站。新设施还将支持教育工作者和自然资源口译员的需求，不断努力向从小学到大学的各级学生，个人牧场主，放牧协会，保护团体和公众解释短草草原的生物学和管理。通过五年多前启动的战略规划进程确定了新大楼的必要性。 这座大楼和战略计划中确定的其他大楼的建设将得到科罗拉多州立大学和北方科罗拉多大学的大量财政支持。

This award supports construction of a new building with space and AV equipment for meetings and classes at a field station located on the Central Plains Experimental Range in northeastern Colorado. Research at the site has been conducted since 1938. The Shortgrass Steppe (SGS) Field Station has been in existence at the site since the 1960's. Research at the Station has been recognized worldwide as a source of important findings in grassland ecology. SGS research has also provided important knowledge useful for land management in the region. The new classroom/meeting facility will contain a large room for groups of up to 60 individuals, a smaller conference room for 15-30 individuals, and an office. The building will support the multi-disciplinary needs of students, faculty and other researchers from Colorado State University, the University of Northern Colorado, and the Agricultural Research Service, and will facilitate use of the Station by visiting faculty and students from other institutions. The new facility will also support the needs of educators and natural resource interpreters in ongoing efforts to explain the biology and management of the shortgrass steppe to students at all levels from elementary school through college, individual ranchers, grazing associations, conservation groups, and the general public. The need for the new building was identified through a strategic planning process initiated over five years ago. Construction of this building and of others identified in the strategic plan will be aided by substantial financial support from Colorado State University and the University of Northern Colorado.