IRES Track 1: International Collaborative Experiences to Track Arctic LaKe Systems (ICE TALKS)

在不同时间尺度上进行的大量观测表明，高纬度地区的气候和环境变化正在加速，导致永久冻土融化。记录和量化这些变化，特别是在融化过程中形成和演变的湖泊环境中，对于加强了解和预测气候变化对微生物群落发展、营养动员、微量气体和溶解化合物向大气和水系统释放等各种过程的影响至关重要。IRES网站跟踪北极湖泊系统国际合作经验（ICE TALKS）计划支持美国研究生和本科生在斯德哥尔摩大学及其博林气候变化中心科学家的指导下开展实地和实验室项目，以量化这些变化。ICE TALKS计划支持的项目的总体目标是为地球和环境科学界开发一套一致的观测数据，以观测高纬度系统在融化条件下的物理/地质、化学和生物反应。在不同的解冻阶段收集这些观测结果是建立下一代预测模型的基础，以推断这些脆弱的生态系统将如何应对未来的气候变化。我们的具体计划目标是使ICE TALKS研究员：（1）与国际教师和UNH教师进行共同指导的研究，促进研究独立性的发展;（2）获得领导协作但个性化研究项目的经验;（3）培养研究技能，这对于理解系统在应对气候强迫时迅速变化至关重要，以及（4）磨练专业技能，以支持研究员作为专注于沟通和指导的科学家的持续发展。ICE TALKS研究员计划将为9名本科生和12名研究生（3年项目共21名学生）提供研究和专业发展，共同指导国际研究经验。研究生将从几个UNH为基础的MS招募。和博士计划和通过PI教授的课程，优先招聘那些UNH的研究生研究员，他们计划在指导的实地季节之后继续他们的ICE TALKS研究。本科生将通过PI和少数民族服务机构（MSIs）的同事之间的伙伴关系招募。参与的本科生将获得旅行后学年的后续支持，以准备和参加UNH的本科生研究会议，随后的项目年分享他们的研究成果。本科生将与该领域的研究生组成团队，因为研究生将接受培训，成为导师和学员。ICE TALKS计划旨在培养现场和实验室环境中的研究技能，并培养学生的协作和有效沟通的能力。拟议的研究活动将加强UNH和我们的MSI合作伙伴之间的研究伙伴关系。该项目由国际学生研究经验计划和刺激竞争性研究的既定计划（EPSCoR）共同资助。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Numerous observations, taken across varied time scales, indicate climate and environmental change are accelerating in the high latitudes resulting in permafrost thaw. Documenting and quantifying these changes, particularly in lake environments that form and evolve during the thaw process, are essential for enhancing understanding and predictions of the impact of climate change on a variety of processes ranging from microbial community development, nutrient mobilization, release of trace gases and dissolved compounds to the atmosphere and water systems. The IRES Site International Collaborative Experiences to Track Arctic Lake Systems (ICE TALKS) program supports U.S. graduate and undergraduate students to carry out field- and lab- based projects to quantify these changes under the mentorship of scientists from Stockholm University and its Bolin Centre for Climate Change. The overarching goal of the projects enabled by the ICE TALKS program is to develop consistent sets of observations of the physical/geological, chemical and biological responses of high latitude systems under thawing conditions for the Earth and environmental science community. Assemblage of such observations across a variety of thaw stages is foundational for building the next generation of predictive models to infer how these vulnerable ecosystems will respond to future climate change. Our specific program objectives are to enable ICE TALKS fellows to: (1) Conduct co-mentored research with international faculty and UNH faculty which fosters the development of research independence; (2) Gain experience leading a collaborative yet individualized research project; (3) Build research skills critical for understanding systems changing rapidly in response to climate forcing, and (4) Hone professional skills to support the continued development of fellows s as scientists focused on communication and mentoring. The ICE TALKS Fellows program will provide both research and professional development for 9 undergraduate and 12 graduate students (21 students in total over the 3-year project) in a co-mentored international research experience. Graduate students will be recruited from several UNH-based M.S. and Ph.D. programs and through courses taught by the PIs, with a priority on recruiting those UNH-based graduate fellows who plan to continue their ICE TALKS research beyond the mentored field season. Undergraduate students will be recruited through partnerships between the PIs and colleagues at Minority-Serving-Institutes (MSIs). Participating undergraduates will receive post-trip academic year follow-up support to prepare for and participate in UNH’s undergraduate research conference the subsequent project year to share their research findings. Undergraduates will be placed into teams with graduate students in the field, as graduate students will be trained to be both mentors and mentees. The ICE TALKS program is designed both to develop research skills in field and laboratory settings and to develop the students’ abilities to work collaboratively and communicate effectively. The proposed research activities will strengthen research partnerships between the UNH and our MSI partners.This project is jointly funded by the International Research Experience for Students program and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.