Science in the Sierra Madre: developing infrastructure for multidisciplinary research at the CICHAZ field station

该FSML改进拨款提案解决了位于Sierra Madre Oriental （http://www.cichaz.org/）的Huastecas“Aguazarca”（CICHAZ）野外站的基础设施和共享仪器需求。CICHAZ位于墨西哥中部独特的Sierra y Huasteca地区，该地区生物和文化多样性高，但缺乏学术和研究机构。这个野外研究站与德克萨斯农工大学（Texas a&m University）有联系，每年接待越来越多需要广泛科学资源的科学家。自2005年成立以来，共接待了来自国际30多个研究机构的150多名自然科学和社会科学领域的研究人员，培养了9篇博士论文和2篇硕士论文，吸引了11项nsf资助项目。CICHAZ为本科生、当地居民和美国公众提供研究和文化体验。除了为多达11名研究人员提供长期住宿外，该站还建立了一些设施，包括室内养鱼室、24种水生中游动物阵列和一个小型分子生物学实验室。该合同将提供收集和分析基因组数据的基础设施和设备；控制植物和动物的饲养；以及该地区的生态和进化研究。有了这笔拨款，现有的实验室将转变为标准的分子湿实验室，配备MinIon基因组测序仪。这将使研究人员能够在实地停留期间就地收集和分析核酸数据。将建立两个新的温室设施来饲养动物和植物进行对照研究，并进行可持续的改进，以应对预期的能源需求增长。最后，该站将获得一个灵活的移动实验室，配备溪流采样、水质分析和沉积岩心提取的仪器。这些建议的改进对推广工作具有根本性的影响，并将确保更广泛的影响举措的成功，包括为美国和墨西哥本科生以及当地K-12学生提供研究经验，重点是将现场和环境方法与最先进的测量和分析技术相结合。移动实验室将使访问研究人员能够与工作人员合作，在当地社区设计推广项目，从而彻底改变与学校和偏远土著社区的接触。

This FSML improvement grant proposal addresses the infrastructure and shared instrumentation needs of the Centro de Investigaciones Cientificas de las Huastecas "Aguazarca" (CICHAZ) field station located in the Sierra Madre Oriental (http://www.cichaz.org/). CICHAZ is located in the unique Sierra y Huasteca region of central Mexico, an area high in biological and cultural diversity but devoid of academic and research institutions. This field station is associated with Texas A&M University and hosts an increasing number of scientists annually who need a broad array of scientific resources. Since its founding in 2005, CICHAZ has hosted over 150 researchers in the natural and social sciences from over 30 institutions internationally, fostered 9 Ph.D. and two Master's theses, and attracted 11 NSF-funded projects. CICHAZ has provided research and cultural experiences for undergraduates, local residents, and members of the U.S. public. In addition to long-term lodging for up to 11 researchers, the station has built up facilities including an indoor fishroom, an array of 24 aquatic mesocosms, and a small laboratory for molecular biology. This award will provide the infrastructure and equipment for collecting and analyzing genomic data; controlled husbandry of plants and animals; and ecological and evolutionary studies in the region. With this grant, an existing laboratory will be converted into a standard molecular wet lab, featuring a MinIon genome sequencer. This will enable researchers to collect and analyze nucleic acid data in situ within the course of a field stay. Two new greenhouse facilities will be erected to house animals and plants for controlled studies, as well as sustainable improvements to address the anticipated increase in energy needs. Finally, the station will acquire a mobile laboratory flexibly equipped with instruments for stream sampling, water quality analysis, and sedimentary core extraction. These proposed improvements have fundamental impacts on outreach efforts, and will ensure success of broader impacts initiatives including research experiences for US and Mexican undergraduates, and for local K-12 students, focused on integrating field and environmental approaches with state-of-the-art techniques for measurement and analysis. The mobile laboratory will revolutionize engagement with schools and with remote indigenous communities, by enabling visiting researchers to work with staff in designing outreach programs in local communities.