Ecosystem Science and Management at TAMU: Shared Vision and Administrative Philosophy

1. Ecosystem Science and Management at TAMU: Shared Vision and Administrative Philosophy Jianbang Gan June 25, 2012

2. Presentation outline • About ESSM • Our vision and mission • Our strengths, opportunities, and challenges • Ways forward • About me • Motivation • Qualifications • Administrative philosophy

3. My perspectives of ESSM

4. A question/choice for ESSM To become a leader or follower (or passive defender) during this time of change (in our profession and the environment for our profession)?

5. ESSM vision The Department aspires to be a premier ecosystem science and management program that significantly impacts the science, education, and management affecting ecosystems.

6. ESSM mission • Teaching • Educating future leaders in the science and stewardship of rangeland, forest, and wetland ecosystems • Research • Advancing knowledge through discovery and translational research • Extension • Delivering outreach and continuing education programs that provide pragmatic solutions to diverse stakeholders

7. What sets ESSM apart? “Our vision of science-based problem solving in Ecosystem Science and Management guides our education, research, and extension programs. We're problem solvers who use technology with a fresh approach.”

8. Why science-based? • Complexity of natural resource management entails the use of science and technology. • Advances and promises of science and technology make it possible.

9. Job outlook for college graduates, 2010-15 • Projected shortage in business and science specialists • Need strong research and development and efficient business management skills • Expected strong job markets for • Biostatistician • Climate change analyst • Computer graphics technologist • Environmental scientist • Green industry products manager • Land use planner and manager • Natural resource conservation specialist • Restoration forester • Water resource specialist Source: Goecker et al. 2010 (sponsored by USDA)

10. Some numbers about our people • 47 faculty • 31 on campus (3 major buildings) • 16 off campus (10 AgriLife Research & Extension Centers) • 175 undergraduate students in 5 degree programs (17, 20, 27, 55, 56) • 94 graduate students (39 PhD, 55 MS) • 28 staff Sources: ESSM website for faculty & staff; OISP for student enrollment in spring 2012

11. Our strengths • Our people (faculty, staff, students, and alumni) • Our programs (quality and diversity) • Our strategic plan • Our achievements

12. Some recent achievements/initiatives • Merger of Forest Science and Rangeland Ecology and Management • New unified undergraduate curriculum • Increased quantity and quality of graduate students, and ESSM graduate degrees • NSF, DOE, NASA, USDA CAP grants • Technology applications in extension • International involvements • etc.

13. Our opportunities • Pressing issues in ecosystem science and management at global, national, and local levels • Emerging and rising markets for ecosystem services and associated jobs • Huge and rich playing field

14. Issues (unsustainability) = Opportunities Resolving the unsustainable is our core business. Fortunately and unfortunately, our business is sustainable.

15. Headings (Keywords) in the MA synthesis report Ecosystems & Human Well-being: • Biodiversity • Desertification • Business & Industry • Wetlands & Water • Health

16. Payments for ecosystem services • Carbon $176 billion (2011) • Watershed services $9.25 billion (2008) • Biodiversity $2.4-4.0 billion (2011) Sources: Ecosystem Marketplace and World Bank

17. Our playing field The world’s rangeland The world’s forests Source: FAO Source: University of Idaho • Forestland, rangeland, and wetland consist of 33% (31%), 26% (40%), and 7% (5%) of total land area in the U.S. (world), respectively.

18. Our major challenges • Resource limitations • Budget • Faculty replacement and retention • Expanding and changing demand • Higher expectations from our stakeholders • Change in our professions/disciplines and broader fields of science and technology • Change in the industries/stakeholders we serve/interact and the associated markets • Change in demographics All these mean: • We must become more efficientandeffective. • We must take initiatives to leadin the changing environment or at least be better adapted to the changes.

19. Ways forward • Integration • Innovation We are good at both. Let’s do it!

20. Why integration and innovation? • Enhance synergies • Improve efficiency • Solve complex problems • Accommodate changes in funding sources and demand for our products/services Plus, innovation is a prerequisite for a premier department.

21. What and how to integrate or innovate? • Teaching + Research + Extension • Science + Management + Policy • On-campus + Off-campus • Biophysical + Socioeconomic (human dimensions) • Integration within each subset • External collaboration (e.g., 3E = Ecology, Economics, Engineering)

22. Teaching • New undergrad curriculum • Graduate degrees in Ecosystem Science and Management • Student recruitment, advising, and career development • Undergrad research, internships, service learning, and study abroad • Interaction among students in different majors/disciplines

23. Research We cannot and don’t have to do everything, but we must excel in something important. Potential focal areas (examples): • Water, fire, climate change, business and environment, etc. Approaches: • Working groups and centers • Collaboration between on- and off-campus faculty • Collaboration with other departments and institutions • Support for seeking funding for large integrated projects (domestic and international)

24. Extension • Traditional clients • New clients (especially in rural-urban interface areas) • Ecosystem services • Applications of new technologies • Connection with teaching and research • Collaboration with TFS and other units

25. Development • Connected to our alumni, friends, clients, industries, organizations, and agencies • Priorities • Endowed faculty chairs • Graduate and undergraduate scholarships • This is external integration and everyone’s job.

26. Some things about me

27. Why do I apply? • Compassion for ESSM • Motivated by our opportunities and challenges • Experience and willingness to serve

28. My experience: Administration ESSM TAMU: • Exploratory Committee • ADH for ESSM Undergraduate and Graduate Programs Other institutions • Undergraduate program coordinator • International program coordinator

29. My experience: Teaching • Led or involved in curriculum development • Taught 14 courses in different subjects • Chaired graduate advisory committees in FORS and RLEM • Advised undergraduate students and visiting scholars (Fulbright Scholar, Thomas Jefferson Fellows, etc.)

30. My experience: Research • PI/Co-PI for 30+ projects including several large integrated projects • Grant review panelist for 2 NSF and 7 USDA programs • Publications: refereed journal papers, books, online encyclopedia, etc. • Associate Editor and Editorial Board • International research experience (Africa, Asia, and Latin America)

31. My experience: Extension • PI/Co-PI for several extension/outreach projects (Funds for Rural Americans, Farmers Home Administration, EPA, State Agencies) • Developed extension/outreach materials (factsheets, brochures, online information, etc.) • Presentations at extensions/outreach workshops and farmers conferences • Consultancy to the industry • Served on a state forestry planning committee and a state forestry education consortium

32. Administrative philosophy Roles/Functions of DH: • Visionary • Innovator • Facilitator • Advocator • Cooperator

33. Administrative philosophy Administrative approaches: • Shared governance • Transparency • Mission oriented • Effectiveness and efficiency • Adaptive management • Faculty/staff driven • Incentive/reward mechanisms

34. My motto Heart, mind, and hands.

35. Final words We are an integrative system. And, only together, we can and will succeed.

36. Thanks!