RCN UBE: MIRC and MB Research Coordination - Food, Energy, Water, Ecosystem Resources (FEWER)

密西西比河和湄公河是世界上最大的河流系统。 两者都为数百万人提供食物、能源、水和生态系统资源。 人为扰动的历史（例如，水坝建设）和气候变化带来的挑战继续影响着这些河流系统及其所支持的生态系统。 粮食，能源，水和生态系统资源（FEWER）研究协调网络（RCN）项目的目的是促进少数民族研究所研究合作（MIRC）内的科学家联网-由来自20多个美国机构的学院科学家组成，以及MIRC附属科学家和来自越南，泰国，马来西亚，- 解决共同关心的科学问题。 该项目将侧重于生物学的四个领域：（1）水生生物学和生态系统科学;（2）实用植物和天然产品;（3）生物燃料原料和酶系统;（4）气候变化对湄公河流域生物多样性的影响。 具体的研究项目将根据这些主题之一和研究小组组成的教师和学生从网络内的一个以上的机构将提交立场文件，以更少的RCN指导委员会，使项目的启动可以在赠款的期限内安排。 预计教师将使用各种机制，包括本科生的机构资助，整个网络提供的REU资金和其他资金来源，让研究生和本科生参与这项研究。 一些学生实习奖将直接通过RCN提供。 FEWER RCN将加强粮食，能源，水和生态系统资源的新兴领域，并促进MIRC内部科学家之间以及MIRC与国际合作伙伴之间的新研究合作。 从学术发展的角度来看，该项目旨在增加从事国际研究的少数民族和少数民族服务的教师人数。它还将解决对密西西比河系统和湄公河下游流域的利益攸关方具有重要意义的科学问题。 该项目与美国国务院的“湄公河下游倡议”的目标一致，外国合作伙伴国家的政府官员以及美国国务院都知道并将定期了解NSF资助的RCN工作的结果。该项目由生物科学理事会和本科教育司教育和人力资源理事会共同资助，作为其努力解决本科生物学教育中的愿景和变革所带来的挑战的一部分：行动呼吁（http：//visionandchange/finalreport/）。

The Mississippi River and the Mekong River are among the largest river systems in the world. Both provide food, energy, water, and ecosystem resources to millions of people. The history of anthropogenic perturbations (e.g., dam building) and challenges due to climate change continue to impact these river systems and the ecosystems that they support. The purpose of the Food, Energy, Water, and Ecosystem Resources (FEWER) Research Coordination Network (RCN) project is to facilitate the networking of scientists within the Minority Institute Research Collaborative (MIRC) - which consists of faculty-scientists from more than 20 U.S. institutions and between MIRC-affiliated scientists and faculty from institutions in Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia - to address scientific problems of mutual interest. The FEWER RCN will focus on four areas in biology: (1) Aquatic Biology and Ecosystem Science; (2) Traditional-Use Plants and Natural Products; (3) Biofuel Feedstocks and Enzyme Systems; and (4) Impact of Climate Change on Biodiversity in the Mekong Basin. Specific research projects will be developed under one of these themes and research groups consisting of faculty and students from more than one institution within the network will submit position papers to the FEWER RCN steering committee so that the initiation of projects may be scheduled during the term of the grant. Faculty are expected to engage graduate students and undergraduates in this research using a variety of mechanisms, including institutional funding for undergraduates, REU funding that is available across the network, and other funding sources. A few student internship awards will be available directly through the RCN. The FEWER RCN will enhance emerging areas in food, energy, water and ecosystem resources and facilitate new research collaborations between scientists within MIRC and between MIRC and the international partners. From an academic development perspective, this project aims to increase the number of minority and minority-serving faculty engaged in international research. It will also address scientific problems of importance to stakeholders within the Mississippi River system and the Lower Mekong Basin. This project is aligned with the goals of the U.S. Department of State's "Lower Mekong Initiative" and officials from governments within foreign partner countries as well as the U.S. State Department are aware of and will be informed on a periodic basis of results from this NSF-funded RCN effort. This project is being jointly funded by the Directorate for Biological Sciences and the Directorate for Education and Human Resources, Division of Undergraduate Education as part of their efforts to address the challenges posed in Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education: A Call to Action (http://visionandchange/finalreport/).