FSML: Skukuza Science Leadership Initiative: Critical Researchers Accommodations in Kruger National Park, South Africa

热带研究组织(OTS)是一个由全球近60所大学、学院和研究机构组成的联盟，其中包括美国的41所大学、学院和研究机构。该联盟致力于推动热带系统的研究和教育，并应用科学见解来加强热带地区的政策。自2003年以来，OTS一直与南非国家公园和南非非营利性组织Nsasani Trust合作，在南非克鲁格国家公园(KNP)为美国和南非本科生开展研究型教育项目。KNP占地19485平方公里，在稀树草原生态和生态系统适应性管理方面的研究具有世界级的悠久历史。OTS项目包括学期和暑期课程以及暑期研究经验。2014年，OTS获得了国家科学基金会和南非政府的资助，建设了Skukuza科学中心(SSC)，这是一个研究和教育设施，包括演讲厅、实验室和图书馆，为美国和南非研究人员与学生之间的国际合作提供关键的研究基础设施。SSC于2017年建成。目前的项目提供了基本的研究人员住房，离SSC很近。它扩大了美国和南非科学家之间的合作和科学交流的机会，并为来自代表性不足社区的本科生提供了从事人与自然稀树草原生态系统耦合动态的科学研究的机会。南非克鲁格国家公园(KNP)在稀树草原生态和保护区内生态系统适应性管理方面的研究具有世界级的悠久历史。自2003年以来，热带研究组织(OTS)由全球近60所大学和研究机构组成的联盟，为美国和南非的本科生实施了一项研究型教育计划，包括学期和暑期课程以及暑期研究经验。2011年，南非国家公园(SANParks)和当地的非营利组织Nsasani Trust共同成立了Skukuza科学领袖倡议(SLI)，以支持美国和南非科学家的研究、实地教育，并为周围的当地社区提供大量的环境教育项目。OTS和SSLI在KNP的行政中心Skukuza占据了一个3英亩的校园。在国家科学基金会和南非政府的资助下，在Ssli校园建造了Skukuza科学中心，该中心由一个干湿实验室、图书馆和报告厅组成。目前的项目使OTS能够在SSLI校园内建造研究人员住宿，离NSF资助的SSC很近。四个住宿单位，每个面积约55平方米，将用夯土和再生混凝土建造，以尽量减少对环境的影响。这些建筑的设计是灵活的，可以容纳8名研究人员短期停留(合住)或4名研究人员长期停留。这将大大缓解KNP研究人员的住宿短缺问题，并将提高研究人员的生产率。SSLI校园被一道电围栏包围，以阻止危险动物进入，因此研究人员可以一天24小时安全地从宿舍步行到SSC。它扩大了美国和南非科学家之间的合作和科学交流的机会，并为来自代表性不足社区的本科生提供了从事人与自然稀树草原生态系统耦合动态的科学研究的机会。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) is a consortium of nearly sixty universities, colleges and research institutions worldwide, including 41 in the U.S. The consortium works to advance research and education in tropical systems and applies scientific insights to enhance policy in the tropics. Since 2003, in partnership with South African National Parks and the South African non-profit Nsasani Trust, OTS has been operating research-based education programs for U.S. and South African undergraduate students in Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa. At 19,485 km2, the KNP has a long history of world-class research on savanna ecology and on adaptive management of ecosystems. The OTS programs include semester and summer courses as well as summer research experiences. In 2014, OTS received funding from the National Science Foundation and the Government of South Africa to construct the Skukuza Science Center (SSC), a research and education facility, including a lecture hall, laboratory and library, providing critical research infrastructure for international collaboration between U.S. and South African researchers and students. The SSC was completed in 2017. The current project provides essential researcher housing in close proximity to the SSC. It expands opportunities for cooperation and scientific exchange among U.S. and South African scientists, as well as opportunities for undergraduate students from underrepresented communities to engage in scientific research on the dynamics of coupled human-natural savanna ecosystems. Kruger National Park (KNP) in South Africa has a long history of world-class research on savanna ecology and on adaptive management of ecosystems within protected areas. Since 2003, the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), a consortium of nearly 60 universities and research institutions worldwide, has operated a research-based education program for U.S. and South African undergraduate students that includes semester and summer courses and summer research experiences. In 2011 OTS, the South African National Parks (SANParks) and a local non-profit, the Nsasani Trust, jointly established the Skukuza Science Leadership Initiative (SSLI), to support research by U.S. and South African scientists, field-based education and to provide numerous environmental education programs for the surrounding local communities. OTS and SSLI occupy a three-acre campus in Skukuza, the KNP's administrative center. Funding from the National Science Foundation and the Government of South Africa enabled construction of the Skukuza Science Center on the SSLI campus, consisting of a dry and wet laboratory, library and lecture hall. The current project enables OTS to construct of researcher accommodations on the SSLI campus, in close proximity to the NSF-funded SSC. Four accommodation units, each roughly 55 m2 in area, will be built from rammed earth and recycled concrete to minimize environmental impact. The design of the buildings is flexible, housing eight researchers for short stays (sharing accommodation) or four researchers for long-stay periods. This will significantly alleviate the shortage of accommodations for researchers in the KNP and will increase researcher productivity. The SSLI campus is surrounded by an electric fence to keep out dangerous animals, so researchers can safely walk from the accommodations to the SSC 24 hours a day. It expands opportunities for cooperation and scientific exchange among U.S. and South African scientists, as well as opportunities for undergraduate students from underrepresented communities to engage in scientific research on the dynamics of coupled human-natural savanna ecosystems.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.