Transcript 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
Understanding the science of ecology
 Limitations
 Other areas are more advanced
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AR Action 1
Fully scope and then
promote the four
pronged Ecological
Research for
Sustainability
Initiative
Goal of Initiative
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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”
To Sustain Ecosystems we need:
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New ways of thinking of ideas
New ways of testing ideas
No limits
Easily Obtain information
Funds that support idea generation
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NSF incubation grants
Support other initiatives and link with
other Networks
Relevance to NE PA
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NE PA consists of many ecological systems
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Water Pollution-Mines
NE PA consists of research issues
Ecological Systems of NE PA
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Mine Drainage Sites
Watersheds
Estuaries
Forests
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Wetlands
Creeks
Bogs
Research Issues in NE PA
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Biotechnology
Ecological Restoration
Natural Resource Management
Habitat Destruction and Reconstruction
Species Extinction
Vision Relevance to Wilkes
University
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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)
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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
Anticipatory Research
Case Study: Understanding exchanges between large
rivers and their flood plains
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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
Questions that need to be
answered
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In order to make sure there is enough water for
both humans and the natural system, these
questions need to be answered:
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“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?”
Questions Continued
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“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.”
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.
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
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
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
Sources
Ecological Visions Committee. (2004) Ecological Society of America.
Ecological Science and Sustainability for a Crowded Planet.
www.esa.org.