NSF East Asia and Pacific Summer Institute (EAPSI) for FY 2013 in Japan

这一行动资助了科罗拉多博尔德大学的约书亚·斯捷潘内克于2013年夏天在东京小谷内市的东京学园大学开展了一个生物学研究项目。该项目的标题是“两栖硅藻属的分类和系统发育研究”。主持会议的科学家是真山茂树博士。硅藻是一种重要而多样的微藻，几乎在所有的水环境中都能找到。在硅藻中，Amphora属的成员被挑出来作为潜在的重要生物燃料来源，因为它们能够自然地产生大量的细胞油。尽管被证明是有希望的，但该群体的多样性和进化史仍然鲜为人知，削弱了其潜在的有用性。初步数据显示，Amphora是一个远亲亚群的集合，广泛分布在硅藻生命树上。该项目利用日本独特的植物区系以及日本硅藻研究人员的专业知识，继续调查文昌鱼属的分类和进化史。通过有针对性地收集已知的Amphora种群，然后分离和培养现有的Amphora分类群，正在实现这些目标。从这些集合中，正在使用形态和分子技术构建一棵进化树。合作成果包括：描述和发表在采集过程中遇到的新物种；迄今为止采样最广泛的文氏菌属系统发育；洞察硅藻中重要谱系和特征的演变。EAPSI奖学金的广泛影响包括为研究员提供美国以外的第一手研究经验；对各自地点的科学、科学政策和科学基础设施的介绍；以及对社会、文化和语言的定位。这些活动符合NSF的目标，即在其科学家、工程师和教育工作者的职业生涯早期为国际合作进行教育，从而确保拥有一支具有全球意识的美国科学队伍。在日本进行研究的独特经验将通过科罗拉多大学的系级研讨会传播。这些活动将突出所开展的研究，以及通过EAPSI奖学金为一大批年轻研究人员提供的文化经验，他们可以从类似的经历中受益。此外，这项研究的结果为进化论研究的“真实世界”应用提供了一个理想的例子，并将在科学界之外产生更广泛的影响。通过科罗拉多大学进化外展委员会的公共推广项目，这项研究将提供一个机会，将进化带出实验室，并以一种普通公众可以接触到的方式展示其实际重要性。讲述正在进行的进化论研究如何影响人们？S日常生活与实际问题和决策密切相关，是这项进化论研究的重要组成部分。

This action funds Joshua Stepanek of the University of Colorado Boulder to conduct a research project in Biology during the summer of 2013 at Tokyo Gakugei University in Koganei, Tokyo. The project title is "Taxonomic and Phylogenetic Investigation of the Diatom Genus Amphora." The host scientist is Dr. Shigeki Mayama.Diatoms are an important and diverse group of microalgae found in virtually all aquatic environments. Within diatoms, members of the genus Amphora have been singled out as a potentially important biofuels source due to their ability to naturally produce large amounts of cellular oil. Although shown to be promising, the diversity and evolutionary history of the group continues to be poorly understood, undermining its potential usefulness. Preliminary data has shown Amphora to be a collection of distantly related subgroups, widely distributed throughout the diatom tree of life. This project continues an investigation into the taxonomy and evolutionary history of the genus Amphora, utilizing both the unique flora of Japan, as well as the expertise of Japanese diatom researchers. These goals are being met through the targeted collection of known Amphora populations, followed by the isolation and culturing of Amphora taxa present. From these collections, an evolutionary tree is being constructed using morphological and molecular techniques. Collaborative outcomes include: the description and publication of new species encountered during collections; the most extensively sampled phylogeny to date for the genus Amphora; and insights into the evolution of important lineages and characteristics within diatoms.Broader impacts of an EAPSI fellowship include providing the Fellow a first-hand research experience outside the U.S.; an introduction to the science, science policy, and scientific infrastructure of the respective location; and an orientation to the society, culture and language. These activities meet the NSF goal to educate for international collaborations early in the career of its scientists, engineers, and educators, thus ensuring a globally aware U.S. scientific workforce. The unique experience of conducting research in Japan will be disseminated through departmental seminars at the University of Colorado. These will highlight the research conducted, as well as the cultural experience obtained through an EAPSI fellowship to a broad group of young researchers who could benefit from a similar experience. Furthermore outcomes from this study provide an ideal example of "real world" applications of evolutionary research and will have broader impacts outside the scientific community. Through public outreach programs of the Evolution Outreach Committee at the University of Colorado, this research will provide an opportunity to bring evolution out of the laboratory and demonstrate its practical importance in an accessible way to a general public audience. Relating how ongoing evolutionary research effects people?s everyday lives and is closely tied to practical problems and decision marking is an important component of this evolutionary study.