RaMP: Understanding Plant Species Rarity: Causes and Consequences from Genes to Ecosystems

目前的植物研究和保护人员不足以应对未来几十年的主要环境挑战，包括生物多样性丧失、气候变化、粮食不安全和环境退化。美国现在和不久的将来都面临着植物学训练有素的科学家的严重短缺，同时大学中植物学和植物科学的学位课程和课程设置也在减少，这也威胁到我们国家的资源管理。迫切需要在扩大历史上被边缘化群体对科学的参与方面取得重大进展，包括参与植物研究和保护。为了解决这一主要的培训缺口，一个合作团队——稀有植物斜坡网络将由四个植物园组成：亚特兰大植物园、加利福尼亚植物园、莫顿植物园和圣地亚哥植物园。这些组织将在稀有植物的保护、遗传学、生态学、经济植物学和生物地理学方面培训本科毕业后的学员。稀有植物RaMP网络将由每个机构的研究人员、科学家和保护专业人员组成，他们将担任导师和共同导师，并聘请三组8名学员，每个参与机构每年为两名学员提供服务。招聘实践将包括来自STEM中代表性不足群体的参与者；然后，这些学士学位获得者将参与更广泛的影响活动，这将在项目期间为他们提供支持。稀有植物RaMP网络的五个目标是：1)为学士毕业后的学员提供职业指导和专业发展；2)扩大对植物科学和保护的参与；3)授权学员进行独立和合作研究，这将加强他们向其他研究人员、政策制定者和公众传播科学的能力；4)形成一群同辈，他们之间持久的联系/关系将为未来几年的合作提供机会；5)提高植物科学组织科研人员的指导技能和能力。为了改善学员体验，导师和共同导师将接受包容性指导实践方面的培训。学员和共同导师将参加每两周一次的专业发展主题会议，在其中一个参与机构举行的年度研讨会，以及每年一次的国家会议。网络将是协作的，交换思想，并促进参与者和合作组织之间的长期关系。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。

The current plant research and conservation workforce is not adequate to meet the major environmental challenges of the coming decades that include biodiversity loss, climate change, food insecurity, and environmental degradation. The United States is facing severe shortages of botanically trained scientists, now and in the near future, as well as a decline in degree programs and course offerings in botany and plant science in universities which also threatens the management of our nation’s resources. There is an urgent need for major advances in broadening participation in the sciences from historically marginalized groups, including engagement in plant research and conservation. In order to address this major training gap, the Rare Plant RaMP Network, a collaborative team, will be assembled from four botanical gardens: the Atlanta Botanical Garden, California Botanic Garden, the Morton Arboretum, and the San Diego Botanic Garden. These organizations will train postbaccalaureate mentees in conservation, genetics, ecology, economic botany, and biogeography of rare plants. The Rare Plant RaMP Network will consist of researchers, scientists, and conservation professionals at each institution who will serve as mentors and co-mentors and engage three cohorts of eight mentees each with each participating institution serving two mentees per year. Recruitment practices will include participants from groups underrepresented in STEM; these baccalaureates will then engage in Broader Impacts activities that will support them during the program. The five objectives of the Rare Plant RaMP Network are to 1) provide career guidance and professional development to post-baccalaureate mentees; 2) broaden participation in botanical sciences and conservation; 3) empower mentees to perform independent and collaborative research that will strengthen their ability to communicate science to other researchers, policymakers, and the general public; 4) form a cohort of peers whose lasting bonds/relationships will provide opportunities for collaborative work in the years to come; and 5) improve the mentoring skills and capacities of researchers in botanical science organizations. To improve mentee experiences, mentors and co-mentors will be trained in inclusive mentoring practices. Mentees and co-mentors will take part in bi-weekly meetings focusing on professional development topics, an annual symposium at one of the participating institutions, and one national conference per year. The network will be collaborative, exchange ideas, and foster long-term relationships among participants and collaborating organizations.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.