RaMP: Native American Capacity Building to Explore Biological Systems Resilience: Weaving Traditional Ways of Knowing with Western Science

生物学的一个基本问题是分子、生理、生态和生态系统的恢复力是如何相互关联的——在系统和尺度上共同或不同的网络模式。面对加速的气候变化和其他人类对生物系统的干扰，这个问题显得尤为紧迫。这项研究的总体目标是通过创建一个将大学与当地部落联系起来的网络，并围绕共同的价值观和科学目标建立一个协作框架，以公平、非采掘的方式参与土著知识系统，从而改变学术界的社会、文化和知识结构。该项目为一系列项目的开发提供了一个框架，这些项目涉及与部落合作伙伴相关的系统中的多个层面的生物弹性，并建立了智力和文化关系，将生物学的子学科和不同的认识方式整合在一起。这个项目的土著RaMP学士毕业后学员将参与与部落、导师和共同导师共同开发的尊重、关系、互惠和负责任的项目，以满足部落的需求。这项工作将通过在项目开发的每一步充分吸引部落国家和人民参与，尊重和维护土著知识。最终，该项目将为美国的土地授予机构奠定基础，通过在项目开发的每一步充分参与部落国家和人民，尊重和维护土著知识，这样土著系统就可以与西方知识系统一起应用，从而揭示生物系统恢复力的新视角。这项工作将把学习生物系统弹性的西方科学方法与土著知识结合起来，以“两只眼睛看”的土著范式培训学员。此外，在项目中采用土著研究方法将使参与者（学员、导师和共同导师）能够在学术界探索部落国家建设的文化主题。在这个项目中，将充分整合部落主权和自决，以及与长期决策一致的社区和公共领导精神。该项目将支持约30名自认为是美洲原住民/阿拉斯加原住民/原住民的回国后学员。学员将在发展科学、专业和文化技能方面得到支持，这将使他们能够在部落社区接受进一步的教育或参加STEM活动。研究的生物系统将从分子尺度到景观和生态系统尺度，包括鲑鱼孵卵恢复力的机制，长期农林业疾病抗性，以及土壤健康和管理对部落食物主权的影响。开展部落研究能力建设，可以作为部落与大学互动过程的典范。最后，在我们快速变化的世界中，了解弹性人类生态系统的特性具有迫切的重要性。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。

A fundamental question in biology is how are molecular, physiological, ecological, and ecosystem system resilience interrelated – network patterns that are common or divergent across systems and scales. This question is especially urgent in the face of accelerating climate change and other human perturbation to biological systems. The overarching goal of this research is to transform the social, cultural, and intellectual fabric of academia by creating a network connecting universities with local tribes and building a collaborative framework around shared values and scientific goals that engages Indigenous knowledge systems in equitable, non-extractive ways. This project provides a framework for the development of a suite of projects addressing many levels of biological resilience in systems relevant to Tribal partners and builds intellectual and cultural relationships that will integrate subdisciplines in biology and different ways of knowing. This project’s Indigenous RaMP postbaccalaureate mentees will engage in respectful, relational, reciprocal, and responsible projects developed with Tribes, mentors, and co-mentors to meet Tribal needs. This work will honor and uphold Indigenous knowledge by fully engaging Tribal nations and people at every step of project development. Ultimately, this project will lay the groundwork for land-grant institutions in the US to honor and uphold Indigenous knowledge by fully engaging Tribal nations and people at every step of project development so Indigenous systems can be applied together with Western knowledge systems to shed new light on biological systems resilience.This work will intertwine Western scientific approaches to learning about biological systems resilience with Indigenous knowledge to train mentees in the Indigenous paradigm of “two-eyed seeing.” Further, employing Indigenous research methodologies in the project will enable participants (mentees, mentors, and co-mentors) to explore the cultural theme of Tribal nation building in academia. Within this program, there will be full integration of Tribal sovereignty and self-determination and a spirit of community and public leadership that aligns with long-term decision making. The project will support ~30 post-bac mentees who identify as Native American/Native Alaskan/Indigenous. Mentees will be supported in developing scientific, professional, and cultural skills that will position them to pursue further education or STEM activities in and with tribal communities. Biological systems of study will range from the molecular to the landscape and ecosystem scales, including mechanisms of salmon hatchery resilience, long-term agroforestry disease resistance, and the impacts of soil health and stewardship on tribal food sovereignty. Engaging in Tribal research capacity building, can serve as a model for the process of interaction between Tribes and universities. Finally, understanding the properties of resilient human-ecological systems is of urgent importance in our rapidly changing world.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.