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

肯塔基大学获得了一笔赠款，用于制定一项5年计划，以充分利用其生态研究和教育中心（EREC）作为实地研究站。该站位于蓝草生态区，这是东部落叶林的一个独特而鲜为人知的子集，没有其他野外观测站。在该地区已有18年的研究历史，主要采用半现场方法（现场复制人工系统），基于人工溪流、生态系统、池塘和鸟舍。最近的一系列改进，包括优秀的室内研究和会议空间的可用性，新的研究计划和资助的成功，课程作业的迅速扩大，生物技术推广计划的出现，以及行政领导的任命，使现在成为专注于野外站发展的理想时机。在与其他成功地做到这一点的人协商后，设计了一个规划过程，并招募了能够帮助指导这项工作的参与者。推进本土蓝草物种和系统的研究，同时进行实验和监测入侵物种和疾病的流行和影响，是EREC目前的研究重点。将收集和分析长期数据集，以便使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。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——由该基金直接资助的活动——将确定监测、技术、通信和设施方面的改进，这些改进可能被证明最有利于推进这项工作，并吸引来自英国和其他机构的更多研究合作者。这将通过两个讲习班来完成，包括当地人员和外部专家，并与多个利益攸关方团体进行持续协商。EREC的一项关键举措是继续扩大本科教学、STEM教师培训和社区外展，并得到教师、研究生、本科生和英国数学和科学教育改革创新伙伴关系的合作者的贡献。REU网站和生物推广计划极大地扩展了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、应用和新领域——让以前接触过这些发展的个人全面了解。我们将利用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将研究、教学和外展活动结合起来，以达到最佳效果。欲了解更多有关该中心的信息，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/.