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Advance Innovative and Anticipatory Research

Advance Innovative and Anticipatory Research. Vision 2A: Build the Intellectual and Technical Infrastructure for Ecology . Nina Sweppenheiser, Kelli Sheets, Brandis Mooney, Amanda Henry. Prepared for BIO 344 - Ecology at Wilkes University 1 October 2004. Rationale.

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Advance Innovative and Anticipatory Research

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  1. Advance Innovative and Anticipatory Research Vision 2A: Build the Intellectual and Technical Infrastructure for Ecology Nina Sweppenheiser, Kelli Sheets, Brandis Mooney, Amanda Henry Prepared for BIO 344 - Ecology at Wilkes University 1 October 2004

  2. Rationale • Understanding the science of ecology • Limitations • Other areas are more advanced

  3. AR Action 1 Fully scope and then promote the four pronged Ecological Research for Sustainability Initiative

  4. Goal of Initiative • Develop research projects • Have large scale experiment and data collection • Synthesize solutions • Then link those solutions to real life • Create a resource for a “responsive future ecology”

  5. To Sustain Ecosystems we need: • New ways of thinking of ideas • New ways of testing ideas • No limits • Easily Obtain information • Funds that support idea generation • NSF incubation grants

  6. Support other initiatives and link with other Networks

  7. Relevance to NE PA • NE PA consists of many ecological systems • Water Pollution-Mines • NE PA consists of research issues

  8. Mine Drainage Sites Watersheds Estuaries Forests Wetlands Creeks Bogs Ecological Systems of NE PA

  9. Research Issues in NE PA • Biotechnology • Ecological Restoration • Natural Resource Management • Habitat Destruction and Reconstruction • Species Extinction

  10. Vision Relevance to Wilkes University • This specific vision initiative will have a positive impact on the approaches to research and the type of research done at Wilkes (expansion of research ideas) • Senior Research Projects • Faculty Research • Will result in more advanced research in any ecological or scientific topic and will be supported with unlimited access to information and technological tools

  11. Anticipatory Research Case Study: Understanding exchanges between large rivers and their flood plains • River-floodplain ecosystems are dynamic and biologically diverse • The movement of organic matter into and out of the floodplain is important to humanity and wildlife • It would be to our benefit to fully understand the biological mechanics of this habitat

  12. Questions that need to be answered • In order to make sure there is enough water for both humans and the natural system, these questions need to be answered: • “Under what conditions and at what scales is the floodplain a source of organic matter to the river?” • “Under what conditions and scales does the floodplain store such matter?”

  13. Questions Continued • “Are there thresholds in physical processes, habitat connectivity, or biotic community composition that cause the system to change state, such that the floodplain releases rather than stores carbon?” • The answers to these questions are imperative to our understanding of how to “preserve and restore ecosystems along rivers.”

  14. Vision Importance The average American in the world today doesn’t have strong feelings towards furthering ecological research. • They don’t see it as affecting their every day lives. • They may not see the consequences as being in the foreseeable future. • If educated somewhat on the issue, they may see investing money in ecological research as chance.

  15. Should anyone care? “Ecological understanding rests on knowledge that is gained from multiple avenues, including experimentation, theory and modeling, comparative observations, long term study, and synthesis.” • Evidence and facts sell people • Better technology and communication will provide people with more proven facts that ecology is something that needs to be taken seriously

  16. Should anyone care? “Anticipatory research – to use novel ideas, powerful data acquisition and management tools, and new technology that is developed to prepare for and perhaps build defenses, against what is coming next.” • People need to be aware that the choices that they make today will affect the lives of their children and grandchildren • Our future lies in maintaining our environment • Supporting new research methods and technology will allow for discovery of new solutions or approaches to possible ecological threats of the future

  17. Building Blocks This vision is the “building blocks needed for a proactive and responsive future ecology.” • Stronger research methods and the ability to use higher technological resources will lead ecology beyond where it stands today • The first step in trying to change people’s ways of thinking is to show them straight out the cause and effect of a situation • There has to be a point where someone decides that this is an important issue and will carry support into the future

  18. Ecological Visions Committee. (2004) Ecological Society of America. Ecological Science and Sustainability for a Crowded Planet. www.esa.org. Sources

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