IRES Track I: Collaborative Research: U.S.-Indonesian Research Experience for Students on Sustainable Adaptation of Coastal Areas to Environmental Change

这是一个为期三年的IRES合作项目，为18名美国学生提供在地球、生命和数据科学方面的国际研究经验，并将其应用于印度尼西亚中爪哇北部沿海地区。这些合作活动将由波士顿大学（BU）、塔夫茨大学（TU）和印度尼西亚三宝垄的迪波尼戈罗大学（UNDIP）合作进行。每年有六名学生将在国外机构逗留六周，获得沿海地区研究的动手实验室和实地经验。除了气候变化带来的挑战外，世界各地的沿海城市都面临着应对自然、社会和经济挑战的巨大任务。三宝垄（印度尼西亚）是影响社会、经济、环境和基础设施的多重威胁的典型城市之一。评估当前和未来海岸灾害的影响需要了解地质、水文、生物物理和社会经济系统之间复杂的相互作用。要做到这一点，最好采取综合办法，其中包括对陆地和海洋动态进行研究，以确定自然和人为因素、它们的相对影响和有关后果。该项目旨在进行有效、创新和变革的研究，以了解沿海环境如何对自然和人为因素作出反应。地理空间技术将与大数据分析相结合，用于评估和监测沿海灾害的影响，目标是使沿海地区能够可持续地适应全球环境变化。学生将学习数据采集技术以及分析和解释科学信息的能力。该研究将结合前沿地理空间技术和数据分析的实地经验来调查以下研究问题：三宝垄沿海地区的地面沉降主要是由自然过程还是人为过程引起的？还是两个?我们如何确定主要因素？是由于地下水抽取、构造运动、火山活动还是多种因素的综合作用？2. 三宝垄市附近沿海水域的海洋生产力在多大程度上受到爪哇海海洋和大气参数气候条件变化的影响？气候变化如何影响沿海社区的渔业资源和经济生产力？我们如何建立模型来显示这些联系呢？3. 我们如何才能有效地监测和评估沿海海洋生态系统的健康和生产力？三宝垄沿海地区的人工斑块珊瑚礁和红树林造林工作是保护和恢复沿海生态系统的有效解决方案吗？4. 地理空间技术和大数据分析如何帮助揭示生态、经济和政策方面的关键相互作用，以评估和管理环境风险？我们如何衡量和评估与极端天气和沿海灾害有关的食物摄入模式和食品安全的变化？该项目将在美国和印度尼西亚的教师和学生之间建立一个长期的合作研究和培训计划。STEM专业的美国学生将有机会通过参与解决问题的研究活动，在国际和多学科环境中进行研究和实地工作。他们将通过网络视频会议和在合作机构共同教授的研讨会，接受外国合作者和美国私人顾问的指导。预计IRES的经验将a)扩大和利用与海外机构的伙伴关系，b)提高美国学生的全球意识和视角，以及c)发展多学科主题，提高对全球变化的理解，如珊瑚白化，栖息地多样性和沿海灾害。研究结果将通过同行评议的出版物和在会议上的发言加以传播。将与开发计划署和中爪哇北部地区的有关机构合作，分发这个项目产生的决策支助产品。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This is a collaborative three year IRES project for 18 US students to gain international research experience in earth, life and data sciences as applied to the coastal region of Northern Central Java, Indonesia. The collaborative activities will be performed in partnership between Boston University (BU), Tufts University (TU) and the University of Diponegoro (UNDIP), Semarang, Indonesia. A cohort of six students per year will gain hands-on laboratory and field experience in coastal zone research during a six-week stay at the foreign institution.Coastal cities worldwide are facing the enormous task to become resilient against physical, social and economic challenges, in addition to challenges due to climate variations. Semarang (Indonesia) is one of the cities that exemplifies the multiple threats affecting society, economy, environment, and infrastructure. Assessing the impacts of present and future coastal hazards requires an understanding of the complex interactions between geological, hydrological, biophysical and socioeconomic systems. This can be best achieved by an integrated approach that includes research on both land and sea dynamics to identify natural and anthropogenic factors, their relative influences and related consequences. This project seeks to undertake effective, innovative, and transformative research to understand how coastal environments respond to natural and anthropogenic factors. Geospatial technology combined with big data analytics will be applied to assessing and monitoring the effects of coastal hazards with the goal to enable the sustainable adaptation of coastal areas to global environmental change. Students will learn data acquisition techniques and the ability to analyze and interpret scientific information.The proposed research will combine field experience with cutting edge geospatial technology and data analytics to investigate the following research questions:1. Is land subsidence in Semarang coastal area mainly caused by natural or anthropogenic processes? Or both? How can we determine the prevailing factors; whether it is due to groundwater abstraction, tectonic movement, volcanic activities or a combination of factors? 2. To what extent is the marine productivity of coastal waters near Semarang city affected by changing climatologic conditions of oceanic and atmospheric parameters in Java Sea? How is climate variations impacting fisheries resources and the economic productivity of coastal communities? How can we build models that show the linkages? 3. How can we effectively monitor and assess coastal marine ecosystems health and productivity? Are artificial patch reefs and mangrove reforestation efforts in Semarang coastal region effective solutions for protecting and rehabilitating coastal ecosystems? 4. How can geospatial technology and big data analytics help in revealing crucial interactions between ecological, economic and policy aspects to assess and manage the environmental risks? How can we measure and assess the changes in food intake pattern and food safety in relation to extreme weather and coastal hazards?This project will establish a long term collaborative research and training program between US and Indonesian faculty and students. US students majoring in STEM fields will have an opportunity to conduct research and field work in an international and multi-disciplinary setting by engaging in problem solving research activities. They will be mentored by foreign collaborators and US PIs through web video conferencing and workshops jointly taught at the collaborating institution. The IRES experience is expected to a) broaden and leverage partnerships with overseas institutions, b) enhance US-student global awareness and perspectives, and c) develop multi-disciplinary themes that improve understanding of global change such as coral bleaching, habitat diversity, and coastal hazards. Research findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and presentations at conferences. In partnership with UNDIP and relevant agencies in Northern Central Java region, decision support products resulting from this project will be distributed.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.