Transcript
Page 1: BIOGEOSCIENCES INSTITUTE & KANANASKIS FIELD STATION - long version

What BGS has learned over our 66 years:

• As the name of our Institute suggests we have found that bringing together groups from diverse disciplines ignoring traditional bundling of researchers e.g. biological field stations, can prove to be a very innovative and practical approach to research and transfer of research knowledge.

• Research clusters which have central interdisciplinary model perform best e.g. NSF Critical Zone Observatories.

• Also we found that having a year-round facility in which researchers and educators can organize meetings and interact in both structure and informal settings synergizes collaboration and new ideas.

• Establishment of long-term data arrays and research sites e.g. research watersheds attract the best researchers from around the world.

• Technical support for instrument arrays and data transfer and archiving at recognized depositories.

Page 2: BIOGEOSCIENCES INSTITUTE & KANANASKIS FIELD STATION - long version

With our long record of supporting research excellence we are an eager support with both facilities and personnel of a Mountain

Network of Center of Excellence.

Page 3: BIOGEOSCIENCES INSTITUTE & KANANASKIS FIELD STATION - long version

The southern Canadian Rockies will be impacted in the coming decades by changing climate and perhaps as important by

increasing human use

Page 4: BIOGEOSCIENCES INSTITUTE & KANANASKIS FIELD STATION - long version

Research clusters which might be useful to the NCE

• Invasive species in mountain environments. For example, we are currently being

invaded by earthworms which have a significant impact on native ecosystems! • Vegetation change and natural disturbance will become an increasing problem

with climate and human utilization of mountains. We need a better understanding of the processes involved.

• Hydrology and biogeochemistry have been significantly ignored in the Canadian

Rockies. Particularly below-ground processes. Although both have had significant studies- long-term research has been sporadic.

• Fluvial and hillslope geomorphology has been significantly ignored particularly

considering its importance in natural disturbances and in determining the template upon which most ecological and environmental processes occur.

• Human-use and occupation of the mountains still requires rigorous studies


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