Collaborative Research: Ecologies of Participation in Island Karst Science and Conservation: A Comparative Multimethods Approach

沿海和岛屿处于两个复杂挑战的震中：气候的多变性和发展的影响。评估这些挑战的全面范围需要超越这些环境的物理可见或表面上的东西。在有岩溶的沿海和岛屿环境中尤其如此，在岩溶景观中，水形成了包括洞穴、天坑和地下水含水层在内的独特地形。过去和正在进行的对美国波多黎各(PR)沿海喀斯特系统的勘探、科学研究和保护工作说明了研究和保护喀斯特的利害关系。虽然美国20%的地区是喀斯特，但它是40%的美国公众饮用水的来源。在波多黎各，考虑到37%的领土是喀斯特，这些价值要高得多。这个由西弗吉尼亚大学和美国地球物理联盟合作的项目借鉴了科学技术研究(STS)、人类学和地理学的理论和方法，考察了主要是非传统参与者及其以志愿者为基础的组织在过去和现在所扮演的角色，这些组织致力于探索、科学和保护各种形式的喀斯特。这些知识将对美国地质学、考古学和其他专注于关键地带环境的同类科学的历史、现在的挑战和未来做出原创性的贡献。数据将包括档案信息、访谈、焦点小组和与参与者的基于民族志的实地访问。这些数据将用于生成支持沿海喀斯特科学和保护工作的空间和社会网络，这些工作主要由洞穴探险家、科学家、保护从业者和志愿者进行。STS通报的参与生态框架将为这一网络分析提供信息，该网络分析旨在使谁、什么和如何参与正在进行的社会技术和环境变化的工作付诸实施。结果将使用ArcGIS StoryMaps这一有效的基于网络的互动平台以西班牙语和英语向更广泛的受众传播。这些结果不仅对生活在喀斯特系统上或附近的社区有价值，而且对普通公众也很重要，因为喀斯特具有国家和文化价值。这一奖项反映了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。

Coasts and islands are at the epicenter of two compounding challenges: variability in climate and the impact of development. Assessing the full scope of these challenges requires going beyond what is physically visible or on the surface of these environments. This is especially the case in coastal and island environments with karst, landscapes in which water forms a distinct topography including caves, sinkholes, and groundwater aquifers. Past and ongoing exploration, scientific study, and conservation work in the coastal karst systems in the US territory of Puerto Rico (PR) illustrate what is at stake with the study and conservation of karst. While 20% of the United States (US) is karst, it is the source of 40% of the American public’s drinking water. In Puerto Rico these values are much higher, given that 37% of the territory is karst. Drawing from theories and methods in Science and Technology Studies (STS), anthropology, and geography, this collaborative project between West Virginia University and the American Geophysical Union examines the past and current role of mostly non-traditional actors and their volunteer-based organizations dedicated to the exploration, science, and conservation of karst in its varied forms. This knowledge will make an original contribution to the history, present challenges, and future of geology, archaeology, and other kindred sciences focused on critical zones environments in the US. Data will include archival information, interviews, focus groups, and ethnographic field-based visits with participants. This data will be used to generate the spatial and social networks undergirding coastal karst science and conservation efforts mostly carried out by cave explorers, scientists, conservation practitioners and volunteers. The STS-informed Ecologies of Participation Framework will inform this network analysis which aims to operationalize the who, what, and how of participation in ongoing socio-technical and environmental change. Results will be disseminated in both Spanish and English to a broader audience using ArcGIS StoryMaps, an effective web-based and interactive platform. These results will not only be valuable for communities living on or near karst systems everywhere, but they are also important for the general public given karst’s national and cultural value.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.