OTS field course (PASI): Expanding the frontier in tropical ecology through embedded sensors
With funding from the National Science Foundation, the Organization for Tropical Studies will conduct a conduct a Pan-American Advanced Studies Institute (PASI) to introduce tropical ecologists from the Americas to recent developments in embedded sensor networks. Embedded Sensor Networks offer a powerful combination of distributed sensing capacity and open possibilities for countless applications in ecological research. The frontiers of ecology expand as biologists think of new applications and engineers develop the necessary tools to increase our understanding of how ecological systems work. The Program: In this two-week training, 15 scientists will lead a group of up to 30 tropical ecologists on exploring potential new applications of embedded sensor networks in tropical ecology, and discuss how the field can be reshaped as ecologists generate hypotheses to uncover new aspects of tropical forests. The Institute will take place at the La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica, where OTS has established, in collaboration with the Center for Embedded Networked Sensing (CENS) of the University of California, a Rainforest Ecological Research Portal supported by a cluster of towers outfitted with the necessary cyber-infrastructure for demonstrations and field projects. Lectures will be divided in three modules: the first will review how the field of ecology has advanced through the application of sensor technologies, how sensors have been applied to critical questions in terrestrial ecology, and identify critical questions in tropical ecology for which sensor network may open up new avenues of research. Part II will focus on the technological component, introducing and reviewing all aspects of a sensor network, from the individual elements to the data that they generate. The final module will review case studies in which sensors have been successfully incorporated to answer ecological questions, and will include more practical tutorial and hands-on exercises to cross-train the participants in the actual generation of hypothesis and deployment and operation of short- and long-term sensor setups Costs: OTS will cover international airfare and field station fees (room/board) for all participants. Program requisites: This program is aimed at senior Ph.D. students, post-doctoral fellows, and young faculty from the US and the Americas (about 50% of the accepted students must come from countries in the Americas outside of the USA). Invited faculty: * Hank Loescher (NEON)- establishing reliable sensor network systems * Fabio Silva (U. of Southern California) - data collection and management * Mike Allen (U. California, Riverside) - soil sensor networks * Tom Harmon (U. California, Merced) - sensor networks in aquatic systems * Mitch Aide (U. Puerto Rico) - acoustic sensing * Peter Narins (UCLA) - animal communication * Roland Kays (NY State Museum) - animal tracking * Steve Oberbauer (Florida International)- carbon flux * Lawren Sack (UCLA) - plant hydraulics * David and Deborah Clark (La Selva) - forest dynamics * Erin Riordan (UCLA) - remote sensing/ground truthing Deadline for application: March 15, 2010 Inform participants of admission: May 3, 2010 PASI: August 16-31, 2010 Coordinators: Dr. Phil Rundel, UCLA, CENS Dr. Carolina Murcia, OTS Dr. Eric Graham, UCLA, CENS For further information contact: Carolina Murcia carolina.murcia @ ots.ac.cr http://www.ots.ac.cr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=532&Itemid=32 8
