NSERC CREATE TerreWEB: Terrestrial Research on Ecosystems & World-wide Education & Broadcast

全球变化正在成为我们这个时代最重要的问题之一，然而公众和政府仍然没有动力对公共行为和政策进行根本性的改变。造成这一现象的原因深深植根于人类文化模因。此外，一个重要因素是传统研究战略产生的科学信息和预测缺乏清晰度，以及科学家与公众之间在激励行动方面的沟通不足。毕业生正在进入缺乏应对全球变化带来的这些关键挑战的技能的劳动力大军。TerreWEB的目标是创建一个丰富、创新、协作的研究生培训环境，以解决(1)在了解全球变化对陆地生态系统的影响和制定缓解和适应战略方面的关键科学差距(70%的计划重点)，以及(2)评估全球变化沟通不足的因素，为解决这些不足开发新的沟通战略，并衡量这些战略的有效性(30%的计划重点)。因此，新一代的科学家将在自然科学研究、行为决策研究和科学传播方面进行综合培训。该项目属于NSERC的第一优先领域(环境科学与技术)，并将对另外两个领域(自然资源与能源；信息与通信技术)做出贡献。TerreWeb包括一个由11名UBC研究人员组成的强大的跨学科网络，他们连接了6个研究生项目，并因其在研究和培训方面的卓越表现而得到国际认可。这一核心得到了广泛的合作者网络的支持，这些合作者提供了不同的专业知识和培训机会。该计划包括共同监督、合作、新课程、系列研讨会、轮换、实习、专业发展以及促进团队合作和指导的基础设施。TerreWeb将通过进一步的计划培训14名硕士、13名博士和5名PDF，以招收有前途的本科生。TerreWeb受训人员将参与对加拿大至关重要的气候变化科学、社会科学和传播研究的界面。

Gobal change is emerging as one of the most important issues of our time, yet the public and governments have remained unmotivated to make fundamental changes in public behaviour and policy. The reasons for this are strongly rooted in human cultural memes. Moreover, an important contributor is the lack of clarity in scientific information and projections arising from traditional research strategies, as well as communication deficits between scientists and the public for motivating action. Graduates are entering the workforce deficient in skills for meeting these critical challenges posed by global change. The goal of TerreWEB is to create an enriched, innovative, collaborative graduate training environment that addresses (1) key scientific gaps in understanding the impacts of global change on terrestrial ecosystems and developing strategies for mitigation and adaptation (70% program emphasis), and (2) evaluating the factors underlying global change communication deficits, developing novel communication strategies for addressing these deficits, and measuring the efficacy of those strategies (30% program emphasis). A new breed of scientists will thus emerge with integrated training in natural sciences research, behavioral decision research and science communication. This program falls within NSERC's first priority area (environmental science & technologies) and will make contributions to two others (natural resources & energy; information & communication technology). TerreWEB includes a strong interdisciplinary network of 11 UBC researchers who bridge six graduate programs and are internationally recognized for their excellence in research and training. This core is supported by a broad network of collaborators who provide diverse expertise and training opportunities. The program includes co-supervision, collaboration, new courses, a seminar series, rotations, internships, professional development, and an infrastructure to foster teamwork and mentoring. TerreWEB will train 14 Masters, 13 PhD and 5 PDFs with further programs to recruit promising undergraduates. TerreWEB trainees will engage at the interface of climate change science, social science and communications research of critical importance to Canada.