The RII Proposal is funded for 3 years!

1. The RII Proposal is funded for 3 years!

2. August 20: Review the Proposal as a Whole September: CSYS Group meets to recruit the database/programmer, postdocs, and grad students and to begin the modeling work Streams Group meets to organize, and eventually purchase small equipment and materials VT EPSCoR begins IF awards RFP, Communication Plan and other activities October 12: Strategic Planning meeting with Jim Gosz We know what was funded, and now we need to detail how we will implement the grant.

3. OVERALL PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Complex Systems Modeling for Environmental Problem Solving 1. Introduction Vermont’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (VT EPSCoR) proposes for the next phase of its Science and Technology (S&T) infrastructure building to partner with the University of Vermont (UVM), the State, and private sector to enhance science and engineering in the State to focus on Complex Systems Modeling for Environmental Problem Solving. Through very intensive work by VT EPSCoR and its governing board, a new State Science and Technology (S&T) Plan will guide S&T infrastructure investments for economic growth in Vermont. This proposal is integral to this state-wide strategic plan and the proposal’s theme has been carefully chosenfor itsState, regional and national importance. This proposal has three main components: development of a research group in Complex Systems; a Streams Project for Outreach for STEM education enhancement and service to the broader community; and Outreach to the Private Sector with incentives for innovation.

5. Research Component Who? What? How?

7. Who?? CSYS Group (Eppstein, Rizzo, Bongard, Stevens, Goodnight, Molofsky, joined by P. Bierman) Science Leaders (Watzin, Gotelli, Bowden, Hession) 4 graduate students 3 postdocs External Advisory Committee Bar Yam, Brown, Reckhow

8. Research: Fundamental Research Questions to be Addressed by the Complex Systems (CSYS) Core using multiple Complex Systems Approaches Overarching Question: How do physical, chemical, and biological processes that operate on different temporal and spatial scales interact to affect watershed ecosystem function? Question 1. How do non-linear processes generate spatial and temporal dynamics in phosphorus loading to surface waters in the Lake Champlain Basin? Question 2. How can watershed patterns of biodiversity be explained and forecast by complex systems models of nutrient inputs and disturbance regimes? Question 3: How much model complexity is necessary to usefully explain and predict the behavior of linked landscape-river-lake ecosystems?

9. What?? Modeling of the identified datasets Collaborative Projects (Pilot Grants) Collaborative Proposals in future No educational efforts are promised Long term outcomes will include a collaborative group for modeling, tests of hypotheses, and resources for the State Short term outcomes – see Logic Model

10. HOW??

12. Streams Project: An education outreach, community based research project in service of the State of Vermont Who? Sallie Sheldon, Declan McCabe, Charles Goodnight, TBH oversight (quality, constancy), an army of students and teachers and faculty ANR Staff as available What? Sampling; Phosphorus, fecal coliform ribotyping and macroinvertebrates identified from as many sites on streams and rivers for 3 full years Database development, web based community research effort

14. Private Sector Outreach

15. For Us Strategic Planning = Assessment Plan Our assessment plan is a Logic Model and Output Time Line We are ahead of other states in our strategic planning because we have had a Logic Model and Time Line from the beginning. The NSF EPSCoR Director has said that our Logic Model and Output Time Line will serve as an excellent nucleus for our planning and planning meeting. Kelvin Chu and Joy Livingston

16. Mission of VT EPSCoR • Vermont EPSCoR builds science and engineering infrastructure. We are dedicated to STEM education, to developing the workforce for the STEM academic and private sector research in Vermont and contributing to the economic well-being of the state and region. We are guided by the State Science &Technology Plan that considers ways in which academic research and the private sector can interact. • Approach: • invest in physical facilities and faculty at UVM • work with high school and undergraduate students with their teachers • assist small technology businesses. • Goals: • increase competitiveness of faculty and small businesses for federal funds • encourage students to enter STEM majors and careers. • train STEM teachers to enhance their teaching

17. Vision of Vermont EPSCoR • VT EPSCoR builds science and engineering infrastructure in Vermont by investing in human and physical resources for academic and private sector research and development. • We envision that with each phase of NSF EPSCoR funding that we move to a new level of infrastructure in the State that supports science and engineering, STEM education and the private sector. In the current phase of VT EPSCoR our vision is to: • develop a complex systems modeling capacity for the state • apply complex systems approaches to the Lake Champlain watershed • have a broad impact on the students and teachers in Vermont • enable transformative research and support technology businesses in Vermont