RCN: Refining and diversifying ecological immunology

对寄生虫的免疫力在进化生态学中一直没有得到充分研究。近年来，对野生动物免疫功能自然变异的原因和后果的研究，称为生态免疫学，已经改变了生物学的多个领域。 为了促进这一新领域的持续生产力和扩展，理论的完善和方法的一致性将是至关重要的。这笔赠款将有助于汇集36个国际公认的生态学家，进化生物学家和免疫学家i）开发新的技术和概念，ii）提高研究问题的广度和深度，iii）建立新的跨学科合作，iv）刺激学校教师和公众的推广和培训机会（通过定期更新的网站）。该网络将向所有科学家开放。 目前的网络成员非常多样化，女性成员占50%，许多人认为自己属于少数群体。 这样一个多元化的团体，与美国以外举行的会议（五年内五分之二）相结合，将培养国际社会感，并使早期职业参与者接触多种科学和社会文化。此外，高中教师直接参与这一计划将增加在美国小学，初中和高中课堂纳入进化思想。总之，该网络将为进化生物学和免疫学提供新的视角，这两者都应该对人类健康有深刻的见解。 在教学上，该网络将为来自代表性不足背景的学生提供培训，并使高中教师、学生和感兴趣的公众接触到真正综合的现代科学领域。

Immunity to parasites has historically been understudied in evolutionary ecology. In recent years efforts to understand the causes and consequences of natural variation in immune function in wild animals, termed ecological immunology, has transformed multiple realms of biology. To foster continued productivity and expansion of this new field, theoretical refinement and methodological consistency will be critical. This grant will help bring together 36 internationally recognized ecologists, evolutionary biologists, and immunologists to i) develop new techniques and concepts, ii) enhance breadth and depth of research questions, iii) establish new interdisciplinary collaborations, and iv) stimulate outreach and training opportunities for schoolteachers and the public (through a routinely updated website). This network will be open to all scientists. The current network membership is highly diverse, with 50% female members and many individuals who identify themselves as belonging to minorities. Such a diverse group, in conjunction with meetings held outside the USA (2 out of 5 over a five year period), will foster a sense of international community and expose early-career participants to a multitude of scientific and social cultures. Also, the direct engagement of high school teachers in this program will augment the inclusion of evolutionary thinking in American elementary, middle and high school classrooms. In sum, the network will provide novel perspective to evolutionary biology and immunology, both of which should be insightful for human health. Pedagogically, this network will provide training for students from underrepresented backgrounds and expose high school teachers, their students, and the interested public to a field of truly integrative, modern science.