IRES Track1: In-situ Jungle Biomechanics Laboratory (JBL) Research Experience in the Amazon Rainforest

该项目将一群不同的美国本科生和研究生带到秘鲁亚马逊雨林，在那里他们将与秘鲁科学家和学生合作，研究各种生物系统的生物力学和物理学。在接下来的三年里，该团队将把美国学生带到Finca las Piedras，这是一个位于秘鲁亚马逊雨林Madre de Dios地区的生物站。亚马逊雨林是地球上最大、生物多样性最丰富的雨林，其树木、蝴蝶和其他物种的种类是北美的数倍。在生物的自然栖息地观察生物导致了材料科学、工程学和机器人学的新原理的发现。然而，对于美国科学家来说，在这些生物多样性的地点进行研究存在重大障碍：传统上，野外地点设备不足，预算有限，基础设施也很少。对于学生在这些地方成功旅行和进行研究来说，大量的培训和指导是必要的。这笔赠款的目标是降低这些门槛，使美国本科生和研究生能够获得成功的科学研究经验。学生们将获得一个独特的地点进行实地研究，提高他们的跨文化意识，并加强秘鲁和美国之间的研究联系。该IRES计划将实施一个丛林生物力学实验室(JBL)，以(1)为美国本科生和研究生提供国际研究和专业经验，(2)为学生提供探索非传统生物进行生物力学和机器人研究的机会，以及(3)建立将在其他国际预算敏感的环境中建立的培训和研究实验室的范例。生物力学和机器人物理学的工作将通过高速相机、材料和流体测量设备、3D打印机以及使用节俭科学范例构建的临时设备来实现。申请的资金将为学生提供财政支持、培训、材料、用品和旅行，并由独立的第三方对项目目标进行评估。该项目将支持不同的美国学生群体，让他们在日益增长的生物灵感设计跨学科领域获得实际的现场研究经验。通过未来几年的改进和测试，拟议的JBL将成为在地球上高度生物多样性但基础结构有限的地区建立野外生物力学实验室的新兴模式。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。

This project brings a diverse group of U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest, where they will collaborate with Peruvian scientists and students to study the biomechanics and physics of a broad diversity of biological systems. Over the next three years, the team will bring US students to Finca Las Piedras, a biological station located in the Madre de Dios region of the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest. The Amazon is the largest and most biodiverse rainforest on Earth, with several times more species of trees, butterflies, and other species than North America. Observing organisms in their natural habitat has led to the discovery of new principles in material science, engineering, and robotics. However, significant barriers exist for US scientists to study in these biodiverse locations: field sites are traditionally under-equipped, budget-conscious, and with minimal infrastructure. Substantial training and mentorship are necessary for students to successfully travel and perform research in such locations. The goal of this grant is to lower these barriers and enable successful scientific research experiences for US undergraduates and graduate students. Students will gain access to a unique location to do field research, increase their intercultural awareness, and strengthen research ties between Peru and the US. This IRES program will implement a jungle biomechanics laboratory (JBL) to (1) provide international research and professional experience to US undergraduate and graduate students, (2) provide opportunities for the students to explore non-traditional organisms for biomechanics and robotics research, and (3) establish a paradigm for training and research laboratories to be built in other international budget-conscious settings. Biomechanics and robophysics work will be enabled by high-speed cameras, materials and fluid measurement devices, 3D printers, and ad-hoc equipment built using the paradigm of frugal science. The requested funding provides financial support, training, materials, supplies, and travel for the students and evaluation of the program goals by an independent third party. This program will support a diverse group of U.S. students, giving them practical field research experience in a growing interdisciplinary field of bioinspired design. Through the next few years of refinement and testing, the proposed JBL will be an emerging model for field-based biomechanics laboratories in highly biodiverse, yet infrastructurally limited regions of our planet.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.