Field Station Planning for the Ecological Research and Education Center, University of Kentucky

肯塔基州大学获得一笔赠款，该赠款将使其生态研究和教育中心（EREC）作为实地考察站的充分利用的5年计划得以制定。该台站位于蓝草生态区内，这是东部落叶林的一个独特的、人们知之甚少的子集，没有其他野外台站。有一个18年的研究历史的网站，主要是使用半场的方法（复制人工系统在外地），基于人工溪流，中生态系统，池塘和鸟舍。最近的一系列改进，包括提供了极好的室内研究和会议空间、新的研究举措和资助成功、课程使用的迅速扩大、生物技术信息中心外联举措的出现以及行政领导的任命，使现在成为关注外地站发展的理想时机。 在与其他人谁已经成功地做到了这一点，一个规划过程已经设计，并参与者谁可以帮助指导这项工作已经招募。推进本地早熟禾物种和系统的研究，同时进行实验和监测的流行和入侵物种和疾病的影响，是EREC目前的研究重点。将收集和分析长期数据集，以便利用统计时间序列分析来发现趋势。 将开发模型来预测和解释数据中的模式。对入侵物种的半实地研究将补充实地研究和实验室分析。规划过程本身的活动直接资助这项赠款将确定监测，技术，通信和设施的改进可能证明最有利于推进这项工作，并吸引更多的研究合作者从英国和其他机构。 这将通过两个研讨会来实现，包括当地人员和外部专家，以及与多个利益相关者团体的持续磋商。EREC的一个关键举措是继续扩大本科教学，STEM教师培训和社区外展，教师，研究生，本科生和英国数学与科学教育改革创新合作伙伴的贡献。REU网站和BIOTIC外展计划正在极大地扩大这一教育作用的范围。重点是增加对生态科学的理解-它的发现，应用和新的前沿-在整个范围内的个人以前接触到这些发展。我们将利用各种机会，帮助我们的公民邻居将其中一些付诸实践。规划过程将有助于确定如何整合研究，教学和推广，以达到最佳效果。有关该中心的更多信息，请访问网站http://darwin.uky.edu/~EREC/。

The University of Kentucky is awarded a grant that will enable the development of a 5-year plan for the full utilization of its Ecological Research and Education Center (EREC) as a field station. The station is situated within the Bluegrass Ecoregion, a unique and poorly understood subset of the Eastern Deciduous Forest, where no other field stations are located. There is an 18-year history of research on the site, dominated by the use of semi-field approaches (replicated artificial systems in the field), based on artificial streams, mesocosms, ponds, and aviaries. A series of recent improvements, including the availability of excellent indoor research and meeting space, new research initiatives and funding successes, rapidly expanding use for coursework, the emergence of the BIOTIC outreach initiative, and the appointment of administrative leadership make this an ideal time to focus on field station development. In consultation with others who have done this successfully, a planning process has been designed, and participants who can help guide this effort have been recruited.Advancing the study of native Bluegrass species and systems, while conducting experiments and monitoring the prevalence and impact of invasive species and diseases, is the current focus of research at EREC. Long-term data sets are to be gathered and analyzed to detect trends using statistical time-series analyses. Models will be developed to predict and explain patterns in the data. Semi-field studies of invasive species will complement field studies and laboratory analyses. The planning process itself-the activity directly funded by this grant-will identify the improvements in monitoring, technology, communications, and facilities likely to prove most beneficial for advancing this work and for attracting additional research collaborators from UK and other institutions. This will be accomplished through two workshops, including both local personnel and outside experts, and ongoing consultation with multiple stakeholder groups.A key initiative at EREC is the continuing expansion of undergraduate teaching, STEM teacher training, and community outreach, with contributions from faculty, graduate students, undergraduates, and collaborators in UK's Partnership for Innovation in Mathematics and Science Education Reform. The REU Site and BIOTIC outreach programs are greatly expanding the reach of this educational role. The focus is on increasing the understanding of ecological science--its findings, applications, and new frontiers--to individuals across the full range of previous exposure to these developments. Opportunities will be exploited to help our citizen neighbors put some of them into practice. The planning process will help determine how to integrate research, teaching, and outreach to best effect. For more information about the center, please visit the website at http://darwin.uky.edu/~EREC/.