RCN-UBE: Rocky Mountain Sustainability and Science Network: Enhancing undergraduate student learning of biological concepts

迫切需要为本科生开发基于经验的学习机会，以激发他们对科学，生物学和全球可持续发展的兴趣。在山间西部，气候变化的影响通过大规模的现象表现出来，如松树树皮甲虫爆发，野火增加，长期干旱和入侵物种。所有这些问题，其中许多与土地使用的变化相互作用，正在影响依赖自然资源进行娱乐，就业和经济稳定的社区。我们如何让下一代公共土地管理者具备应对气候变化影响所需的多学科技能？落基山可持续发展和科学网络（RMSSN）将联合收割机结合真实的-世界职业和生物教育利用实地经验，以解决公共土地的可持续性和生态完整性的关键问题。这个网络的更广泛的影响集中在本科生对生物和可持续性概念的理解及其在土地管理中的应用。RMSSN努力增加多文化人口的代表性，通过少数群体服务机构的积极参与和有目的的外展活动，RMSSN有四个主要目标。首先，确定和评估学生通过体验式学习发展对可持续性和生物科学的理解的机会。其次，在联邦机构、非营利组织和学术机构之间建立伙伴关系，以解决可持续发展和学生发展问题。第三，建立体验式科学学习的模式和设计评估工具，这将有助于RMSSN学习模式在全国其他体验式学习项目中的应用。第四，培养多样化的下一代土地管理者，他们擅长解决快速变化和多元文化的西部山区可持续发展问题所需的科学。该项目由生物科学理事会和本科教育司共同支持。

There is an urgent need to develop experience-based learning opportunities for undergraduate students that will invigorate their interest in science, biology, and global sustainability. In the intermountain west, the impacts of climate change are manifest through large scale phenomena such as the pine bark beetle outbreak, increased wildland fire, long-term drought, and invasive species. All these issues, many of which interact with changes in land use, are impacting communities that depend on natural resources for recreation, jobs, and economic stability. How can we prepare the next generation of public land stewards with the multidisciplinary skills needed to address impacts of climate change? The Rocky Mountain Sustainability and Science Network (RMSSN) will combine real-world careers and biological education using field experiences to address critical issues for the sustainability and ecological integrity of public lands.The broader impacts of this network focus on undergraduate understanding of biological and sustainability concepts and their application to land management.The RMSSN strives to increase the representation of the multicultural demographic of the western states through active engagement of minority serving institutions and purposefully outreach. The RMSSN has four principle goals. First, identify and assess opportunities for students to develop their understanding of sustainability and biological sciences through experiential learning. Second, build partnerships among federal agencies, non-profits, and academic institutions to address issues of sustainability and student development. Third, build a model of experiential science learning and design assessment tools which will facilitate the application of the RMSSN learning model to other experiential learning programs throughout the country. Fourth, establish a diverse next generation of land stewards who excel in the sciences required to address sustainability issues in the rapidly changing and multicultural intermountain west. This project is supported jointly by the Biological Sciences Directorate and the Division of Undergraduate Education.