RaMP: Biological Opportunities and Training in Science (BOATS)

沿海生态系统通过航运和贸易、渔业和旅游业提供了许多经济效益，但也面临着气候和人为干扰的重大挑战。需要一支多样化、熟练和综合的劳动力队伍来评估和应对与跨部门管理沿海生态系统相关的迫在眉睫的挑战，以平衡商业、保护和旅游利益。为了创造这样的劳动力，该项目将制定一个培训计划，生物机会和科学培训（BOATS），以培养下一代领导人解决当代和未来的问题。在现代学士学位课程中，许多新近毕业的大学毕业生缺乏获得有意义的研究经验和实际应用技能的机会。学生，尤其是那些社会经济背景较低的学生，在本科期间必须工作，而不是寻求实习或勤工俭学的机会，这阻碍了他们获得这种经验。因此，学生可能完成学位后发现，由于缺乏经验，工作机会有限，这可能导致学生完全离开科学领域。针对在本科期间培训机会有限的学生，阿拉巴马州海洋环境科学联盟（MESC）将与当地政府和非营利组织合作，开发一个学士学位后实习项目，提供实践培训、切实的职业技能和交流机会。这种培训与专业发展相结合，将有助于船舶参与者追求研究生教育和/或未来的海洋科学职业，并帮助培养未来的领导者来解决沿海生态系统中的复杂问题。由于广泛的气候和人为干扰，沿海海洋生态系统正在经历根本性的变化。这些压力源影响栖息地、生物和食物网动态，最终改变沿海社区所依赖的生态系统服务和资源。阿拉巴马州的MESC位于莫比尔-天索三角洲（即美国的亚马逊河）和墨西哥湾北部的渔业肥沃新月之间，可以很好地解决多重压力因素如何影响生物的分布和相互作用。环境变化正在推动物种向北迁移（即局部化），同时引起缺氧、盐度、温度和碱度的前所未有的变化。再加上污染和过度捕捞，环境变化对沿海生态系统构成了重大挑战。了解这些因素之间的协同作用对基础科学家和应用科学家来说都是至关重要的。BOATS培训项目涉及多种压力源之间相互作用的前沿研究，同时为学术和非学术科学家提供培训和经验，以解决沿海环境中的复杂问题。正在进行的合作研究和设施已经到位，使BOATS项目对基础科学和应用科学产生影响，同时为下一代领导者和他们的导师做好准备，以解决沿海生态系统中的复杂问题。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。

Coastal ecosystems provide numerous economic benefits through shipping and trade, fishing, and tourism, but are facing significant challenges from climatic and man-made disturbances. A diverse, skilled, and integrated workforce is needed to assess and meet imminent challenges associated with managing coastal ecosystems across sectors to balance commercial, conservation, and tourism interests. To create such a workforce, this project will develop a training program Biological Opportunities And Training in Science (BOATS) to prepare the next generation of leaders to tackle contemporary and future problems. Many recent university graduates lack access to meaningful research experiences and tangible applied skills in modern baccalaureate degree programs. Gaining such experience is hampered when students, particularly those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, must work during their undergraduate years instead of pursuing internships or work study opportunities. Thus, students may complete their degrees only to find limited job availability due to lack of experience, which can lead students to leave the sciences completely. Targeting students with limited training opportunities during their undergraduate degrees, the Alabama’s Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium (MESC) will develop a postbaccalaureate internship program in collaboration with local government and nonprofit organizations to provide hands-on training, tangible career focused skills, and networking opportunities. This training coupled with professional development will facilitate the pursuit of graduate education and/or future careers in ocean science for BOATS participants and help develop future leaders to address complex problems in coastal ecosystems.Coastal marine ecosystems are experiencing radical changes due to widespread climactic and anthropogenic disturbances. These stressors affect habitats, organisms, and food web dynamics, ultimately changing ecosystem services and resources relied upon by coastal communities. Situated between the Mobile-Tensaw Delta (i.e., America’s Amazon) and the Fisheries Fertile Crescent in the Northern Gulf of Mexico, Alabama’s MESC is well poised to address how multiple stressors influence organisms’ distribution and interactions. Environmental change is driving species northward (i.e., topicalization), while simultaneously causing unprecedented changes in hypoxia, salinity, temperature, and alkalinity. Coupled with pollution and overfishing, environmental change poises significant challenges for coastal ecosystems. Understanding the synergistic interactions among these factors is paramount for both basic and applied scientists. The BOATS training program involves cutting edge research on interactions among multiple stressors while providing training and experience with academic and nonacademic scientists to address complex issues in coastal environments. Ongoing collaborative research and facilities are in place for the BOATS program to be impactful for basic and applied science while preparing the next generation of leaders and their mentors to solve complex problems in coastal ecosystems.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.