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利益，但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，该项目将开发一个培训计划生物机会和科学培训（BOATS），以准备下一代领导人解决当代和未来的问题。许多应届大学毕业生缺乏获得有意义的研究经验和有形的应用技能，在现代学士学位课程。当学生，特别是那些来自较低社会经济背景的学生，必须在本科期间工作，而不是追求实习或半工半读机会时，获得这种经验就会受到阻碍。因此，学生可能会完成他们的学位，但由于缺乏经验，只能找到有限的工作机会，这可能导致学生完全离开科学。针对学生在本科学位期间培训机会有限，亚拉巴马的海洋环境科学联盟（MESC）将与当地政府和非营利组织合作开发学士后实习计划，以提供实践培训，有形的职业技能和网络机会。这种培训与专业发展相结合，将促进BOATS参与者在海洋科学方面的研究生教育和/或未来职业生涯的追求，并帮助培养未来的领导者，以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。这些压力影响生境、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。位于莫比尔-滕索三角洲之间（即，美国的亚马逊河流域）和墨西哥湾北方的渔业肥沃新月区，亚拉巴马的MESC已经准备好解决多种压力源如何影响生物体的分布和相互作用。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重大挑战。了解这些因素之间的协同作用是至关重要的基础和应用科学家。该船培训计划涉及多个压力源之间的相互作用的前沿研究，同时提供与学术和非学术科学家的培训和经验，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到位的船计划是有影响力的基础和应用科学，同时准备下一代的领导者和他们的导师，以解决沿海生态系统中的复杂问题。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。

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.