RCN UBE: MIRC and MB Research Coordination - Food, Energy, Water, Ecosystem Resources (FEWER)

密西西比河和湄公河是世界上最大的河流系统。两者都为数百万人提供食物、能源、水和生态系统资源。人为干扰的历史（如大坝建设）和气候变化带来的挑战继续影响着这些河流系统及其所支持的生态系统。食品、能源、水和生态系统资源（less）研究协调网络（RCN）项目的目的是促进少数民族研究所研究合作（MIRC）内的科学家建立网络，以解决共同感兴趣的科学问题。MIRC由来自20多个美国机构的教师科学家组成，并在MIRC附属的科学家和来自越南、泰国、马来西亚和柬埔寨机构的教师之间建立网络。less RCN将重点关注生物学的四个领域：(1)水生生物学和生态系统科学；(2)传统用途植物和天然产物；(3)生物燃料原料和酶系统；④气候变化对湄公河流域生物多样性的影响。将根据其中一个主题制定具体的研究项目，由网络内一个以上机构的教师和学生组成的研究小组将向less RCN指导委员会提交立场文件，以便在资助期限内安排项目的启动。教师应该利用各种机制让研究生和本科生参与这项研究，包括为本科生提供的机构资金、通过网络提供的REU资金以及其他资金来源。一些学生实习奖励将直接通过RCN获得。less RCN将加强粮食、能源、水和生态系统资源等新兴领域，并促进MIRC内部科学家之间以及MIRC与国际合作伙伴之间的新研究合作。从学术发展的角度来看，该项目旨在增加从事国际研究的少数民族和服务少数民族的教师数量。它还将解决对密西西比河系统和湄公河下游流域的利益相关者重要的科学问题。该项目与美国国务院“湄公河下游倡议”的目标一致，外国伙伴国的政府官员以及美国国务院都了解并将定期向其通报这项由美国国家科学基金会资助的RCN项目的成果。该项目由生物科学理事会和本科教育司教育和人力资源理事会共同资助，作为其应对《本科生物学教育的愿景与变革：行动呼吁》（http://visionandchange/finalreport/）所提出的挑战的努力的一部分。

The Mississippi River and the Mekong River are among the largest river systems in the world. Both provide food, energy, water, and ecosystem resources to millions of people. The history of anthropogenic perturbations (e.g., dam building) and challenges due to climate change continue to impact these river systems and the ecosystems that they support. The purpose of the Food, Energy, Water, and Ecosystem Resources (FEWER) Research Coordination Network (RCN) project is to facilitate the networking of scientists within the Minority Institute Research Collaborative (MIRC) - which consists of faculty-scientists from more than 20 U.S. institutions and between MIRC-affiliated scientists and faculty from institutions in Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia - to address scientific problems of mutual interest. The FEWER RCN will focus on four areas in biology: (1) Aquatic Biology and Ecosystem Science; (2) Traditional-Use Plants and Natural Products; (3) Biofuel Feedstocks and Enzyme Systems; and (4) Impact of Climate Change on Biodiversity in the Mekong Basin. Specific research projects will be developed under one of these themes and research groups consisting of faculty and students from more than one institution within the network will submit position papers to the FEWER RCN steering committee so that the initiation of projects may be scheduled during the term of the grant. Faculty are expected to engage graduate students and undergraduates in this research using a variety of mechanisms, including institutional funding for undergraduates, REU funding that is available across the network, and other funding sources. A few student internship awards will be available directly through the RCN. The FEWER RCN will enhance emerging areas in food, energy, water and ecosystem resources and facilitate new research collaborations between scientists within MIRC and between MIRC and the international partners. From an academic development perspective, this project aims to increase the number of minority and minority-serving faculty engaged in international research. It will also address scientific problems of importance to stakeholders within the Mississippi River system and the Lower Mekong Basin. This project is aligned with the goals of the U.S. Department of State's "Lower Mekong Initiative" and officials from governments within foreign partner countries as well as the U.S. State Department are aware of and will be informed on a periodic basis of results from this NSF-funded RCN effort. This project is being jointly funded by the Directorate for Biological Sciences and the Directorate for Education and Human Resources, Division of Undergraduate Education as part of their efforts to address the challenges posed in Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education: A Call to Action (http://visionandchange/finalreport/).