Operation CRETE: Fostering Collaborations, Expanding Research Horizons, and Establishing and Transforming Networks for Early-Career Biogeographers

美国地理学家协会生物地理学专业小组（BSG）的使命是促进生物地理学家之间的互动，促进生物地理学研究和教学的积极发展，促进思想的交流。虽然BSG是一个强大而充满活力的组织，但它的成员可以从国际生物地理学会（IBS）两年一次的会议等更广泛的思想交流中获益。地理学家熟悉内部和跨学科的工作，建立知识桥梁的能力是该学科的一项特殊优势。IBS会议为国际层面的思想交流提供了一个渠道，将促进合作，扩大所有生物地理学家现有的研究视野，并为BSG内参加的早期职业生物地理学家建立重要的研究网络。该项目将促进早期职业教师、博士后和研究生参加2011年1月在希腊克里特岛举行的第五届国际生物地理学会（IBS）会议。该项目的具体目标是抵消生物地理学家的参与成本，这些人最不可能提供自己的资金，而最有可能从增强的专业联系网络中获益。IBS是一个年轻的学会，成立于2000年，其两年一次的会议已成为主要的国际会议，专门关注生物地理学。IBS的创始成员包括来自生物地理学所有分支学科的个人，以及著名的地理学家和BSG的前任主席。至关重要的是，IBS会议为地理、地质和生物科学系的主要生物地理学家提供了一个独特的会议机会。该项目的目标是培养新的合作网络，为早期职业生物地理学家的目标群体扩展研究视野。会议的国际性质将为学生和早期职业教师提供一个变革的机会，让他们听取主题演讲者和会议参与者的意见，参加跨学科和跨学科的讨论，研讨会和专题讨论会，并与来自世界各地的领域杰出的研究人员会面。BSG将通过资金选择标准促进妇女和少数民族BSG成员的加入。BSG还将鼓励所有与会者努力通过正常渠道或通过会议产生的主题期刊发表他们的演讲主题。

The mission of the Biogeography Specialty Group (BSG) of the Association of American Geographers is to promote interactions between biogeographers, stimulate active research and teaching development in biogeography, and facilitate the exchange of ideas. While the BSG is a strong and vibrant group, its members stand to gain from an even greater exchange of ideas such as at the biennial meetings of the International Biogeography Society (IBS). Geographers are familiar with intra- and interdisciplinary work, and the ability to create knowledge bridges is a particular strength within the discipline. The IBS meetings represent an outlet for idea exchange at the international level that would foster collaboration, expand existing research horizons for all Biogeographers, and establish important research networks for the attending early career Biogeographers within the BSG. This project will promote participation of early-career faculty, post doctoral students and graduate students in the 5th International Biogeography Society (IBS) conference in Crete, Greece, January 2011. The specific goal of this project is to offset the cost of participation for biogeographers who are the least able to provide their own funding and are the most likely to gain from the enhanced network of contacts professionally. The IBS is a young society, established in 2000, and its biennial conference has become the leading international conference focused specifically on Biogeography. Founding IBS members included individuals from all of the sub-disciplines within Biogeography as well as noteworthy Geographers and past presidents of the BSG. Crucially, the IBS conferences provide a unique opportunity for meetings among leading biogeographers who have homes within Geography, Geology, and Biological Science departments. The goal of this project is to foster new collaborative networks expanding research horizons for the targeted group of early career Biogeographers. The international nature of the conference will provide a transformative opportunity for students and early career faculty to listen to keynote speakers and session participants, to participate in inter- and intra-disciplinary discussions, workshops and symposia, and to meet outstanding researchers in their fields from across the world. The BSG will promote the inclusion of women and minority BSG members through funding selection criteria. The BSG will also encourage all participants to work towards publication of their presentation topics through normal outlets or through themed journal issues resulting from the conference.