Ecological Visions Report

Vision 2: Areas B and C

Incentives for anticipatory and innovative research; promoting standardized data exchange

Prepared for BIO 344 - Ecology at Wilkes University1 October 2004

Keith Heim, Sahima Rasul, Annie Searfoss, Andrea Rumford

In this presentation we will discuss Vision 2

Vision 2: Area B Create new incentives to recognize ecology

research Encourage anticipatory and innovative

research Vision 2: Area C

Establish the standardization of data collection, data documentation, and data sharing

Area B in detail…

Create new incentives to recognize ecological research People should be rewarded for outstanding

ecological contributions Technology Synthesis Informatics Quantitative approaches

Area B in detail…(cont’d) P. 2

In order to answer the difficult problems facing ecology, experts need to: Coordinate their efforts in creative ways Make their voices heard to funding agencies

In order to achieve these tasks they will need some incentives

Area B in detail…(cont’d) P. 3

Encourage anticipatory and innovative research Provide training to young scientists Continue educational programs for ecologists

in order to keep up with new technology

Recommended Actions for Area B

Action 2: Seek a Nobel or Equivalent Prize in Ecology

Create a prestigious award to recognize individual contributions in the field

Develop a committee of respected scientists and influential ecological leaders from outside the discipline

Action 3: Establish an annual award for the best new

instrument or new technology

New instruments and technology serve as being: Essential Profitable A good way to increase ecological

understanding

Action 4: Establish an international contest among

collaborative groups to solve an annual ecological challenge.

Gather a group of graduate students Pose an ecological challenge Have them find solutions to the challenge Post their solutions Give an award for the best solution

Action 5: Create a prestigious journal on methods development.

Recognize and encourage research Showcasing important new methods Provides high profile outlet for ecological

findings

Note: A new section can also be added to an existing journal

Area C in detail… Promote the standardization of data

collection, data documentation, and data sharing To this date, there is still haphazard and

inaccessible forms of research, which places a burden on the progress within ecological research

Organized data is in formats that are no longer useful or credibly identifiable Most importantly, this information is simply not

accessible

Area C in detail…(cont’d) P. 2 Currently, technological researchers are

forming templates in which ecologists can take their data and format it into documents that will allow easier access.

Ecology as a whole would benefit from: The development of technological means Cultural inducements Training opportunities to effectively represent

ecological knowledge.

Area C in detail…(cont’d) P. 3 To implement the idea, proposals have been

given to increase: Effort in technology development Training in ecoinformatics Training in Ecological CyberInfrastructure

(ECI) All data should be digitally inputted early into the research Generate metadata (information about the data itself) Easily accessible to all parts of the world ECI should be efficient, flexible, and consistent in describing

and reporting ecological information.

Area C in detail…(cont’d) P. 4 These advances will allow:

Rapid downloads of datasets, promoting more analysis of ecological knowledge

Faster growth of ecological understanding A decreased amount of time required looking

for supportive information on topics of research

The prevented onset of other ecologists copying your idea

Inspiration for more thorough research on the topic

Recommended Actions for Area C

Action 6: Develop a data registry

The registry would allow simple input of data into a basic format This will generate a catalog, organizing these

datasets It would help identify the author and/or

researcher involved with the dataset

Action 7: Make raw data and metadata easily and freely

available.

Share for the analysis and modeling of ecological data

Identifies what research is currently being explored

Action 8: Convince funding agencies and federal agencies to

require and support open access to data.

Free access for the public

Broadens public awareness and knowledge

Action 9: Encourage training in ecoinformatics both during

graduate school and in ongoing programs.

Workshops

Meetings

Why should the American public care?

Ecology has many practical applications in the environment Air pollution Water pollution Degraded land Waste management Loss of biological diversity Invasive and pest species Global climate change

Imagine the field of ecology without contributions from: Cowles – nature is dynamic Shelford – law of tolerances Elton – niche as community function Haeckel – coined the term “ecology”

What does this have to do with Northeastern Pennsylvania?

Mines have created environmental problems Presence of iron sulfide in the water

Use of wetlands to clean up water Culm banks diminish greenery and prevent

herbaceous growth Culm won’t hold water Culm conducts heat Prevents growth Land needs to be graded and fertilized

Most people are unaware these problems exist

How is this relevant to Wilkes University?

Students are becoming more aware of ecological problems, findings, and research due to the wonderful faculty at Wilkes University

People outside of the field of biology still need to become knowledgeable about the incentives and opportunities the field of ecology has to offer

Create incentives for students at Wilkes

Teach students how to use ecoinformatics and data sharing

Get students involved in Eco Challenge

References

Klemow, Kenneth. Class Lecture. Sept. 2004.

Klemow, Kenneth. Personal Website. 30 Sept 2004.

Palmer, M., Bernhardt, E., et al. www.esa.org/ecovisions. 15 Sept 2004.