NRT-HDR: Interdisciplinary Studies in Entomology, Computer Science and Technology NETwork (INSECT NET)

NRT-HDR：昆虫学、计算机科学和技术网络(昆虫网)的跨学科研究昆虫占地球上800万动植物物种的四分之三。昆虫在人类和生态健康中发挥着关键作用，包括通过授粉支持植物结出的果实，作为鸟类等野生动物的食物，以及促进营养循环。昆虫也是植物的主要害虫，也是人类和动物疾病的媒介。由于一系列复杂的相互作用因素，许多昆虫物种在世界各地的丰度和分布显示出戏剧性和令人震惊的变化。传统的昆虫监测方法是劳动密集型的，不能大规模部署。自动监测、绘制地图和预测昆虫丰度和分布随时间的变化的网络物理系统(CP)将极大地提高我们对影响生物多样性的驱动因素的理解，同时支持社区和政策制定者做出保护有益物种和减轻害虫影响的决策。这项授予宾夕法尼亚州立大学的国家科学基金会研究培训奖建立了昆虫学、计算机科学和技术网络(昆虫网络)的跨学科研究，使学生能够跨学科工作，并与利益相关者团体合作，制定昆虫生物多样性危机的解决方案。来自3所学院的8个系的教师团队将共同培训和共同指导35名领取津贴的博士生(25名NSF资助，10名助理)和数百名额外的学生，通过课程和项目提供。INSECT Net是一个跨学科项目，融合了生命科学、计算机科学、工程和数据科学，同时利用人工智能的进步。昆虫网独特的解决方案驱动型方法-合作的学生团队开发CP，通过课程作业、实习和研究项目满足利益相关者的需求-鼓励创造性和动态的问题解决，使学生能够轻松适应新的挑战、概念和团队。学员将培养成长心态、趋同心态和团队科学技能。学员将获得(1)昆虫系统学(2)生态学(3)传感器设计(4)能效优化(5)人工智能系统的持续学习和适应(6)机器人系统(7)数据集成(8)和数据管理，包括设计利益攸关方可访问的可视化工具。受训者将接受向不同受众(包括公众和K-12学校)传播科学、项目管理和融合研究最佳做法的正式指导。学员将通过实习、创业计划和与我们的利益相关者咨询委员会的接触来扩大他们的专业技能和网络。昆虫网的培训机会将在宾夕法尼亚州立大学新的农业和生态科学技术和人工智能研究生证书中正式确定。昆虫网独特的招聘渠道将利用与少数民族服务机构的新的和现有的合作伙伴关系，将潜在的学生与现有的学生和校友联系起来。NSF研究培训(NRT)计划旨在鼓励为STEM研究生教育培训开发和实施大胆的、具有潜在变革意义的新模式。该计划致力于通过创新的、基于证据的、与不断变化的劳动力和研究需求保持一致的综合实习生模式，在高度优先的跨学科或趋同研究领域对STEM研究生进行有效培训。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

NRT-HDR: Interdisciplinary Studies in Entomology, Computer Science and Technology NETwork (INSECT NET)Insects constitute three-quarters of the eight million animal and plant species on Earth. Insects play a critical role in human and ecological health, including supporting fruit set by plants through pollination, serving as food for wild animals such as birds, and facilitating nutrient cycling. Insects are also key pests of plants and vectors of human and animal diseases. Many insect species are showing dramatic and alarming changes in their abundance and distributions around the world, due to a complex suite of interacting factors. Traditional approaches for monitoring insects are labor intensive and cannot be deployed at large scales. Cyber-physical systems (CPS) to autonomously monitor, map and predict changes in insect abundance and distributions across landscapes and over time will dramatically improve our understanding of the drivers influencing biodiversity, while supporting communities and policymakers to make decisions that conserve beneficial species and mitigate impacts of pests. This National Science Foundation Research Traineeship award to Penn State University establishes the INterdisciplinary Studies in Entomology, Computer Science and Technology NETwork (INSECT NET), empowering students to work across disciplines and collaborate with stakeholder groups to develop solutions to the insect biodiversity crisis. A faculty team from 8 departments, spanning 3 colleges, will co-train and co-mentor 35 stipend-paid PhD trainees (25 NSF funded, 10 associates) and hundreds of additional students through curricular and program offerings.INSECT NET is a transdisciplinary program integrating the life sciences, computer science, engineering, and data science, while leveraging advances in artificial intelligence. INSECT NET’s unique solutions-driven approach - where collaborative student teams develop CPS to address stakeholder needs through coursework, internships and research projects - encourages creative and dynamic problem-solving, empowering students to readily adapt to new challenges, concepts, and teams. Trainees will develop a growth mindset, a convergence mindset, and skills in team science. Trainees will gain competencies in (1) insect systematics (2) ecology (3) sensor design (4) energy efficient optimizations (5) continual learning and adaptation of AI systems (6) robotic systems (7) data integration (8) and data management, including designing visualization tools accessible to stakeholders. Trainees will receive formal instruction in communicating science to diverse audiences (including the public and K-12 schools), project management, and best practices for convergence research. Trainees will expand their professional skills and networks through internships, entrepreneurship programs, and engagement with our Stakeholder Advisory Board. INSECT NET’s training opportunities will be formalized in a new Graduate Certificate in Technology and AI for Agricultural and Ecological Science at Penn State. INSECT NET’s unique recruitment pipeline will connect prospective students with current students and alumni, leveraging new and existing partnerships with Minority Serving Institutions.The NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) Program is designed to encourage the development and implementation of bold, new potentially transformative models for STEM graduate education training. The program is dedicated to effective training of STEM graduate students in high priority interdisciplinary or convergent research areas through comprehensive traineeship models that are innovative, evidence-based, and aligned with changing workforce and research needs.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.