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马德雷德迪奥斯地区的生物站。亚马逊是地球上最大、生物多样性最丰富的雨林，树木、蝴蝶和其他物种的种类是北美的几倍。观察自然栖息地中的生物体导致了材料科学，工程和机器人技术的新原理的发现。然而，美国科学家在这些生物多样性地点进行研究存在重大障碍：野外场地传统上装备不足，缺乏意识，基础设施很少。大量的培训和指导是必要的学生成功地旅行，并在这些地方进行研究。 该补助金的目标是降低这些障碍，并为美国本科生和研究生提供成功的科学研究经验。 学生将获得一个独特的位置做实地研究，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）为学生提供探索生物力学和机器人研究的非传统生物的机会，以及（3）建立一个在其他国际环境中建立培训和研究实验室的范例。生物力学和机器人物理学工作将通过高速摄像机、材料和流体测量设备、3D打印机以及使用节俭科学范式建造的特设设备来实现。申请的资金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计划目标进行评估。该计划将支持美国学生的多元化群体，让他们在不断增长的跨学科生物启发设计领域的实际实地研究经验。通过未来几年的完善和测试，拟议中的JBL将成为一个新兴的模式，为基于现场的生物力学实验室在高度生物多样性，但基础设施有限的地区，我们的星球。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过评估使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准的支持。

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.