Workshop: Sino-US Collaborative Research On Critical Transitions In History Of Life

研讨会：中美合作研究生命保护史的临界转变罗哲熙、道格拉斯·H·欧文和萨缪尔·A·鲍林拟议活动的智力价值地球及其多样性的历史具有几个关键转变的特征，包括新元古代后生动物的起源，二叠-三叠纪的大生物灭绝和随后的恢复，中生代花卉植物和活的脊椎动物谱系的起源，以及早新生代哺乳动物的辐射。理解这些转变的一个关键问题是生态过程和对物理环境变化的反应的相对重要性。在过去的十年里，中国和美国在理解这些重大的演化转变方面取得了重要的发现和研究进展。这两个国家在地质和古生物研究方面拥有非凡的科学资源和互补的实力。PI和合作者提议举办一个研讨会，将在这些研究领域最活跃的美国和中国的科学家聚集在一起，交流思想和数据，并在两国培养更有效的地质年代学、沉积学、同位素和有机地球化学以及古生物学的科学家网络。继2005年夏天美中组织者初步讨论之后，10-12美国科学家将于2005年秋天在华盛顿特区与来自主要国家研究机构和大学的中国同行会面，这是一次关于生命历史中的关键转变的拟议研讨会。这次研讨会将探讨未来合作研究生命历史上的重大转变及其相关环境变化的潜力。将特别注重发展地质年代学、同位素和有机地球化学、沉积地质学和古生物学的综合研究。双方将制定长期合作计划，并让美国科学家互访中国的相关机构和研究地点。广泛的影响拟议中的研讨会对美国和中国地球科学界具有广泛的影响。生命历史上的重大转变不仅引起了地貌学家的兴趣，也引起了地质年代学家、同位素和有机地球化学家以及沉积学家的兴趣，并最有可能促进美国和中国科学家之间的综合多学科研究。预计这些活动将建立一个具有共同目标的中美科学家网络，以促进知识和信息的共享。指导委员会将努力为初级科学家和学生创造参与国际合作的机会。

Workshop: Sino-US Collaborative Research OnCritical Transitions In History Of LifeConvenersZhe-Xi Luo (PI), Douglas H. Erwin & Samual A. BowringIntellectual Merit of Proposed ActivityThe history of earth and its diverse life are characterized by several critical transitions.These include the origins of metazoan animal phyla during the Neoproterozoic, the greatbiotic extinction and subsequent recovery through the Permo-Triassic transition, theMesozoic origins of flower plants and living vertebrate lineages, and the radiation ofmammals in the early Cenozoic. A critical issue in understanding these transitions is therelative importance of ecological processes and response to changes in physicalenvironment. Over the past decade important discoveries and research advances forunderstanding these great evolutionary transitions have came from China and the UnitedStates, the two countries with remarkable scientific resources and complementarystrength in geological and paleontological research.The PI and co-coveners propose to hold a workshop to bring together the US and Chinesescientists most active in these research areas, to exchange ideas and data, and to nurture amore effective network of scientists in geochronology, sedimentology, isotope andorganic geochemistry, and paleontology in both countries.Following preliminary discussion among US and Chinese organizers in the summer of2005, 10-12 American scientists will meet with Chinese counterparts from major nationalresearch institutes and universities in this proposed workshop on the Critical TransitionsIn History of Life in Washington, DC in the fall of 2005. This workshop will explore thepotential for future collaborative studies on the major transitions in history of life andtheir associated environmental changes. Particular focus will be given to development ofintegrated research in geochronology, isotope and organic geochemistry, sedimentarygeology and paleontology. Long-term plans for collaborative work and a reciprocal visitby US scientists to relevant institutions and research sites in China will be made.Broader ImpactThe proposed workshop has broad implications for the US and Chinese Earth Sciencescommunity. The major transitions in the history of life are of interest not only topaleontologists, but also to geochronologists, isotope and organic geochemists, andsedimentologists, and are most likely to stimulate integrated multidisciplinary researchbetween the US and Chinese scientists. It is expected that these activities will create anetwork of Chinese and American scientists with common goals so as to facilitate thesharing of knowledge and information. The steering committee will strive to createopportunity for junior scientists and students to be involved in international collaboration.