RaMP: Woods to Water (W2W) for Training the Next Generation of Ecologists and Natural Resource Managers

RaMP：用于培训下一代生态学家和自然资源管理者的森林到水 (W2W)

• 批准号: 2319669
• 负责人: Christina Staudhammer
• 金额: $ 297.69万
• 依托单位: University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2024-02-01 至 2028-01-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2319669&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RaMP; Woods; Water; W2W; Training

Sustaining biological diversity and ecosystem services requires that future generations learn to understand and maintain connectivity between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Maintaining ecological connectivity promotes ecosystem resilience in a changing climate, which is particularly important in the Southeastern United States (SEUS) —one of the most ecologically and biologically diverse regions of the US. Experience-based learning can help early career scientists understand critical linkages between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. However, opportunities for experience-based learning in the SEUS are frequently limited by a lack of access to public lands and insufficient field and classroom training opportunities. The lack of hands-on educational experiences disproportionately impacts students from groups that are historically underrepresented in ecology and natural resources, and reduces the overall diversity of the workforce. The Woods to Water (W2W) program provides a mission-driven, hands-on approach that focuses young people's attention on global climate change to help develop a generation that can find solutions. By providing training in standardized methods and data science, W2W will add 30 field-trained ecologists to the workforce, increasing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in ecology.To achieve this goal, W2W will provide training opportunities with an immersive cohort- and field-based program in terrestrial and aquatic settings. W2W leverages training with NSF’s National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) and the Jones Center at Ichauway (JCI; a non-profit research station) to train postbaccalaureates in key field techniques that link water, carbon, and nutrient fluxes among ecosystems —a key signature of ecological connectivity. W2W RaMP mentees will receive training in two SEUS NEON Domains: the Ozarks complex, with three pairs of terrestrial and aquatic NEON field sites, including the northwesternmost range of the threatened longleaf pine ecosystem; and the Southeast, with two sites in JCI’s expansive longleaf pine ecosystem. W2W participants will gain immersive experience through training modules and hands-on experience with both NEON and JCI. Participants will interact with scientists, technicians, and researchers working in and around these sites. The program will dovetail classroom, field, laboratory, and independent research approaches to provide comprehensive ecological field experiences, and participants will gain knowledge, skills, and self-confidence in field research. W2W cohorts will have opportunities to present and publish their research and obtain professional credentials as certified ecologists. For participants, this program will facilitate transition into the ecological workforce. For the discipline of ecology, the program will diversify the ecological sciences, and support the need to expand our understanding of environmental systems in the face of a changing climate.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.

维持生物多样性和生态系统服务要求子孙后代学会理解和维持陆地和水生生态系统之间的连通性。保持生态连通性可以提高生态系统在气候变化中的恢复能力，这对于美国东南部地区（SEUS）尤其重要，美国东南部地区是美国生态和生物多样性最丰富的地区之一。基于经验的学习可以帮助早期职业科学家了解陆地和水生生态系统之间的关键联系。然而，由于无法进入公共土地以及实地和课堂培训机会不足，SEUS 中基于经验的学习机会常常受到限制。缺乏实践教育经验对来自历史上在生态和自然资源领域代表性不足的群体的学生造成了不成比例的影响，并降低了劳动力的整体多样性。 Woods to Water (W2W) 计划提供了一种以使命为导向的实践方法，将年轻人的注意力集中在全球气候变化上，以帮助培养能够找到解决方案的一代人。通过提供标准化方法和数据科学方面的培训，W2W 将增加 30 名经过实地培训的生态学家加入劳动力队伍，从而提高生态学的多样性、公平性、包容性和可及性。为了实现这一目标，W2W 将在陆地和水生环境中通过沉浸式队列和实地项目提供培训机会。 W2W 利用 NSF 国家生态观测站网络 (NEON) 和伊肖韦琼斯中心（JCI；非营利性研究站）的培训，对学士后进行关键领域技术培训，这些技术将生态系统之间的水、碳和养分通量联系起来，这是生态连通性的关键标志。 W2W RaMP 学员将在两个 SEUS NEON 领域接受培训：Ozarks 综合体，拥有三对陆地和水生 NEON 场地，包括受威胁的长叶松生态系统的最西北范围；和东南部，在 JCI 广阔的长叶松生态系统中拥有两个地点。 W2W 参与者将通过 NEON 和 JCI 的培训模块和实践经验获得身临其境的体验。参与者将与在这些地点及其周围工作的科学家、技术人员和研究人员互动。该项目将课堂、实地、实验室和独立研究方法相结合，提供全面的生态实地经验，参与者将在实地研究中获得知识、技能和自信。 W2W 群体将有机会展示和发表他们的研究成果，并获得作为认证生态学家的专业证书。对于参与者来说，该计划将促进他们向生态劳动力的转变。对于生态学学科，该计划将使生态科学多样化，并支持在气候变化的情况下扩大我们对环境系统的理解的需要。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。