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。保持生态连通性提高了生态系统在不断变化的气候中的弹性，这在美国东南部(Seus)-美国生态和生物多样性最丰富的地区之一-尤其重要。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，由于缺乏进入公共土地的机会以及实地和课堂培训机会不足，在Seus以经验为基础的学习机会往往受到限制。缺乏实践教育经验对来自历史上在生态和自然资源方面代表性不足的群体的学生造成了不成比例的影响，并减少了劳动力的整体多样性。从森林到水(W2W)计划提供了一种使命驱动的实践方法，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。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，增加生态学领域的多样性、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提供身临其境的队列和实地项目的培训机会。W2W利用与NSF的国家生态观测网络(NEON)和位于Ichauway的琼斯中心(JCI；一个非营利性研究站)的培训，在连接生态系统之间的水、碳和养分通量的关键领域技术方面培训本科毕业生--这是生态连接的关键标志。W2W坡道学员将在两个Seus霓虹区接受培训：Ozarks建筑群，有三对陆地和水生霓虹灯现场，包括受威胁的长叶松生态系统的最西北部；东南部，有两个地点在JCI广阔的长叶松生态系统中。W2W参与者将通过培训模块和NEON和JCI的实践体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进行互动。该计划将衔接课堂、田野、实验室和独立研究方法，提供全面的生态田野体验，参与者将获得田野研究的知识、技能和自信。W2W群体将有机会展示和发表他们的研究成果，并获得认证生态学家的专业资格证书。对于参与者来说，该计划将促进向生态劳动力的过渡。对于生态学科，该计划将使生态科学多样化，并支持我们在面对不断变化的气候时扩大对环境系统的理解。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。