Methodological Training in Soil Analysis with Applications in Native Andean Soil Management

授予一名文化人类学家的这一方法培训奖将使研究人员通过在马里兰州大学学习课程和在安第斯山脉进行研究，更加精通土壤科学。这一培训将使研究人员能够进一步研究安第斯土著农民如何利用知识进行耕作和作出耕作决定。将利用计算机和认知科学的技术，将本地知识作为“专家系统”进行研究。这项研究很重要，因为研究人员将能够更好地了解世界上受土壤侵蚀和肥力丧失困扰的地区的农民的土壤管理做法。这些知识将与北美农民的类似研究进行比较，以设计有助于保持土壤肥力的方案。

This methodological training award to a cultural anthropologist will allow the researcher to become more proficient in soil science by taking courses at the University of Maryland and conducting research in the Andes mountains. This training will allow the researcher to further his studies of how native Andean farmers use knowledge in conducting their farming and making farming decisions. The native knowledge will be studied as an "expert system" using techniques from computer and cognitive science. This research is important because the researcher will become equipped to better understand the soil management practices of farmers in an area of the world plagued by soil erosion and loss of fertility. This knowledge will be available to be compared with similar studies of North American farmers in order to design programs which can help preserve soil fertility.