Developing a Regional Research Vision for Enhancing Field Station Resources: A Plan for Connecting the Dots

北方亚利桑那大学获得一笔赠款，用于进行规划过程，以整合北方亚利桑那州的野外台站和相关资源。 规划过程将集中在该地区的研究愿景的发展。国际公认的专家和一个强大的地方和区域科学家小组将被招募参与制定一套研究问题，解决日益增长的关注和气候变化的科学和政策影响的问题。 随后的研究愿景将指导随后的规划研讨会，通过有效地管理和管理我们的综合资源的步骤将被构建。 这些资源包括：梅里亚姆-鲍威尔研究站（北方亚利桑那大学），弗拉格斯塔夫的植物园（独立，非营利），西南实验花园阵列（SEGA：通过NSF MRI奖给NAU的正在开发的公共花园场设施），以及核桃溪教育和研究中心（普雷斯科特学院和NAU在普雷斯科特国家森林的合作伙伴关系）。与会者将包括北方亚利桑那州的联邦和私人土地管理人员。作为这些规划讲习班的高潮，获奖者将制定一项五年战略计划，该计划将在与参与讲习班的外部专家不断协商的情况下制定。重点突出的规划进程将使主要机构能够更好地将支出与未来的需要相匹配，提高其可持续性和促进研究以促进共同利益的能力。将管理人员和美洲原住民纳入规划过程将有助于将研究与公众利益和面临气候变化重大额外威胁的弱势群体更紧密地联系起来。在规划过程中，研究和推广，K-12教育，本科和研究生教育，以及与管理人员的沟通之间的明确联系将被培养。

Northern Arizona University is awarded a grant to conduct a planning process to integrate field stations and related resources in Northern Arizona. The planning process will be centered on the development of a research vision for the region. Internationally recognized experts and a strong group of local and regional scientists will be enlisted to participate in developing a suite of research questions that address growing concerns and issues regarding the science and policy implications of climate change. The ensuing research vision will guide the subsequent planning workshop, through which steps for efficiently administering and managing our integrated resources will be constructed. These resources include: the Merriam-Powell Research Station (Northern Arizona University), The Arboretum at Flagstaff (independent, non-profit), the Southwest Experimental Garden Array (SEGA: common garden field facility under development through a NSF MRI award to NAU), and the Walnut Creek Center for Education and Research (a partnership of Prescott College and NAU on the Prescott National Forest). Participants will include federal and private land managers across Northern Arizona. As a culmination to these planning workshops, the awardee will construct a five-year strategic plan that will be developed with continued consultation from the outside experts who were involved in the workshops. The focused planning process will enable key institutions to better match expenditures to future needs, enhancing their sustainability and their ability to foster research for the common good. Inclusion of managers and Native Americans in the planning process will help tie research more closely to benefits to the general public and to disadvantaged populations facing significant additional threats from climate change. During the planning process, explicit ties between research and outreach, K-12 education, undergraduate and graduate education, and communication with managers will be cultured.