Science in the Sierra Madre: developing infrastructure for multidisciplinary research at the CICHAZ field station

FSML的这份改进赠款提案解决了位于马德雷山脉东方的“阿瓜萨尔卡”科学研究中心（CICHAZ）外地站的基础设施和共用仪器的需求（http：//www.cichaz.org/）。CICHAZ位于墨西哥中部独特的Sierra y Huasteca地区，该地区具有高度的生物和文化多样性，但缺乏学术和研究机构。这个野外工作站与德克萨斯A M大学有联系，每年接待越来越多的科学家，他们需要广泛的科学资源。自2005年成立以来，CICHAZ已接待了来自30多个国际机构的150多名自然科学和社会科学研究人员，培养了9名博士。和两篇硕士论文，并吸引了11个NSF资助的项目。CICHAZ为本科生、当地居民和美国公众提供研究和文化体验。除了为多达11名研究人员提供长期住宿外，空间站还建立了包括室内养鱼室，24个水生生态系统阵列和一个小型分子生物学实验室在内的设施。该奖项将提供基础设施和设备，用于收集和分析基因组数据;植物和动物的受控饲养;以及该地区的生态和进化研究。有了这笔赠款，现有的实验室将被转换成一个标准的分子湿实验室，具有MinIon基因组测序仪。这将使研究人员能够在实地考察期间原位收集和分析核酸数据。将建立两个新的温室设施，以容纳动物和植物进行对照研究，并进行可持续的改进，以满足预期的能源需求增长。最后，该站将获得一个移动的实验室，灵活地配备用于河流采样、水质分析和沉积岩芯提取的仪器。这些拟议的改进对外联工作产生了根本性的影响，并将确保更广泛的影响举措的成功，包括美国和墨西哥本科生的研究经验，以及当地K-12学生，重点是将实地和环境方法与最先进的测量和分析技术相结合。该移动的实验室将彻底改变与学校和偏远土著社区的接触，使访问研究人员能够与工作人员一起设计当地社区的推广计划。

This FSML improvement grant proposal addresses the infrastructure and shared instrumentation needs of the Centro de Investigaciones Cientificas de las Huastecas "Aguazarca" (CICHAZ) field station located in the Sierra Madre Oriental (http://www.cichaz.org/). CICHAZ is located in the unique Sierra y Huasteca region of central Mexico, an area high in biological and cultural diversity but devoid of academic and research institutions. This field station is associated with Texas A&M University and hosts an increasing number of scientists annually who need a broad array of scientific resources. Since its founding in 2005, CICHAZ has hosted over 150 researchers in the natural and social sciences from over 30 institutions internationally, fostered 9 Ph.D. and two Master's theses, and attracted 11 NSF-funded projects. CICHAZ has provided research and cultural experiences for undergraduates, local residents, and members of the U.S. public. In addition to long-term lodging for up to 11 researchers, the station has built up facilities including an indoor fishroom, an array of 24 aquatic mesocosms, and a small laboratory for molecular biology. This award will provide the infrastructure and equipment for collecting and analyzing genomic data; controlled husbandry of plants and animals; and ecological and evolutionary studies in the region. With this grant, an existing laboratory will be converted into a standard molecular wet lab, featuring a MinIon genome sequencer. This will enable researchers to collect and analyze nucleic acid data in situ within the course of a field stay. Two new greenhouse facilities will be erected to house animals and plants for controlled studies, as well as sustainable improvements to address the anticipated increase in energy needs. Finally, the station will acquire a mobile laboratory flexibly equipped with instruments for stream sampling, water quality analysis, and sedimentary core extraction. These proposed improvements have fundamental impacts on outreach efforts, and will ensure success of broader impacts initiatives including research experiences for US and Mexican undergraduates, and for local K-12 students, focused on integrating field and environmental approaches with state-of-the-art techniques for measurement and analysis. The mobile laboratory will revolutionize engagement with schools and with remote indigenous communities, by enabling visiting researchers to work with staff in designing outreach programs in local communities.