Expanding Research, Education and Outreach: Planning Proposal for The Notre Dame Linked Experimental Ecosystem Facility

水是这个星球上生命的基础，使水生生态系统成为世界上最重要的生态系统之一，但它们也是最危险的。 ND-LEEF是一个全球独特的现场，科学家和工程师可以找到解决方案，我们的一些最大的环境挑战，特别是对水生系统的威胁。该设施以实验流域的形式将相互连接的溪流、池塘和湿地独特地结合在一起。研究人员可以操纵生态系统类型，单独或链接，同时仍然嵌入在自然环境中，弥合了实验室和现场规模之间的关键差距。ND-LEEF位于圣约瑟夫县（IN）的一个当地公园内，其地理位置方便了公众的访问，并允许进行有意义的研究翻译和推广。在四年的时间里，该项目已惠及1400人，其中包括800名当地k-12儿童。该项目将通过确定潜在用户和可能限制目前使用的障碍，最大限度地发挥ND-LEEF的科学、教育和外联潜力，并帮助制定一项克服障碍的计划，以最大限度地发挥ND-LEEF的影响和效率。该项目的目标是为ND-LEEF创建一个五年战略计划，为进一步的基础设施增长提供信息，确定潜在用户，吸引这些用户加入ND-LEEF，促进区域科学合作，为本科教育提供平台，并加强当地STEM推广。该计划将包括确定150英里驾驶距离内的潜在用户。项目团队将进行访谈，以确定使用障碍，并确定增加研究人员及其学生使用的策略。 该项目包括为当前和确定的潜在研究人员/教育工作者举办的为期一天的区域研讨会，将（i）更详细地探索ND-LEEF的增长潜力，（ii）确定所需的新型基础设施，（iii）确定当前的使用障碍，（iv）促进跨研究和教育兴趣的区域合作，以及（v）为发展ND-LEEF社区奠定基础。

Water is the basis for life on this planet, making aquatic ecosystems some of the most critical in the world, but they are also the most imperiled. ND-LEEF is a globally unique field site where scientists and engineers can find solutions to some of our greatest environmental challenges, especially threats to aquatic systems. The facility represents a unique combination of interconnected streams, ponds, and wetlands in the form of experimental watersheds. Researchers can manipulate ecosystem types, individually or linked, while still being embedded within the natural environment that bridges a critical gap between laboratory and field scales. Set within a local park in St Joseph County (IN), ND-LEEF's location facilitates access to the public and allows for meaningful research translation and outreach. In four years, programming has reached 1400 individuals, including 800 local k-12 children. This project will maximize the scientific, education and outreach potential of ND-LEEF by identifying potential users, roadblocks that may be limiting current use, and help develop a plan to overcome hurdles to maximize the impact and efficiency of ND-LEEF. The goal of this project is to create a five-year strategic plan for ND-LEEF to inform further infrastructure growth, identify potential users, draw these users to ND-LEEF, facilitate regional scientific collaborations, provide a platform for undergraduate education and enhanced local STEM outreach. The plan will include identification of potential users within a 150-mile driving distance. The project team will conduct interviews to identify barriers for usage, and identify strategies to increase use by researchers and their students. The project includes a one-day regional workshop for current and identified potential researchers/educators that will (i) explore the growth potential of ND-LEEF in greater detail, (ii) identify required novel infrastructure, (iii) identify current barriers to use, (iv) promote regional collaboration across research and educational interests, and (v) lay the groundwork for growing an ND-LEEF community.