Idaho EPSCoR Summer 2013 Newsletter

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IDAHO NSF EPSCOR | SUMMER 2013

RESEARCHER

In this issue:

- Communicating Science Simply - Making Global Data Relevant to Local Communities

- Students Learn Climate Science - Idaho EPSCoR Initiated Collaborations Lead to an Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) Project

Joe Schreiber National Science Foundation: Becoming the Messenger Workshop - Boise, Idaho

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Message from the Director

A newsletter publication of the Idaho EPSCoR Office

the RESEARCHER Idaho EPSCoR (208) 885-7102 www.idahoepscor.org Peter Goodwin, Project Director pgoodwin@uidaho.edu Rick Schumaker, Assistant Project Director rschumak@uidaho.edu Althea Sheets, Newsletter Editor althea@uidaho.edu

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Peter Goodwin,

Idaho EPSCoR Project Director

Congratulations to the many individuals who contributed to the preparation of Idaho’s National Science Foundation (NSF) EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII) Track 1 proposal during the past 18 months. Much hard work and dedication has resulted in a new, 5-year $20 Million award to Idaho! This is Idaho’s seventh statewide NSF EPSCoR Track 1 RII grant, and the largest to date.

This was one of the most competitive NSF EPSCoR competitions in the 25+ year history of the program, and we faced stiff competition from some large states. Developing such large complex proposals that build a community of researchers and educators is very challenging. The contributions of the Idaho EPSCoR Committee have been invaluable in ensuring that this project connects the strategic priorities of individual Universities and Colleges and the State Science and Technology Plan. It aligns well with Idaho’s new five-year strategic research plan for higher education, which identifies important areas where Idaho’s universities can take advantage of their complementary research strengths. The vision and engagement of Dr. Jacklin and Senator Noh (the Chair and Vice-Chair) in ensuring the impact of this project will move Idaho in new innovative directions that can be sustained well beyond the life of this award.

The NSF EPSCoR RII project will enable researchers from the University of Idaho, Boise State University, Idaho State University and many of Idaho’s two- and four-year higher education institutions to study the ways society and landscapes are interconnected. It aims to help Idahoans make science-based decisions about natural resources and provide them with a better understanding of the complex relationship between people and the environment. The interdisciplinary research team will include researchers in physical and social geography, economics, sociology, ecology, hydrology, public policy, urban planning, computer science, communication and visualization. The grant will support the addition of 11 new faculty members strategically located at our research universities. The project also will fund dozens of student research projects and internships, with an emphasis on recruiting students from groups underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). In addition, it will bring together community members and students in place-based research and education at study areas across the state. At the same time, the EPSCoR grant will continue to strengthen cyberinfrastructure in Idaho as researchers and students share and analyze data gathered during this and resulting projects. It truly represents an ambitious and important vision.

In an era of reduced federal research funding, we will work to expand the reach of this research infrastructure funding to a statewide community of researchers, educators, and stakeholders. It will position Idaho to make informed decisions about our shared future and contribute new knowledge and solutions to state and national priorities.

Again, congratulations to the Idaho Science Community.

This material is based in part upon work supported by: The National Science Foundation under grant number EPS-0814387. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

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Communicating Science Simply

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Participants at the National Science Foundation Science: Becoming the Messenger Workshop hosted by Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, May, 2013

Communicating the important of science to society is fundamental to any researcher’s success. The key is an ability to communicate science in a way that makes science understandable for everyone. Albert Einstein says it best, “Most of the fundamental ideas of science are essentially simple, and may, as a rule, be expressed in a language comprehensible to everyone.” A top priority for Idaho EPSCoR is to enable the research community to communicate science effectively. As stated in the EPSCoR 2030 Report, recommendation 5, “The EPSCoR Success Story” needs to be told. The public must see the connection between a scientist’s research and the impacts on quality of life, economic development and high quality in education.

The National Science Foundation Office of Legislative and Public Affairs (OLPA) created an interactive workshop series that target the effective communication in research and education in science and engineering throughout the EPSCoR community. In May, NSF OLPA hosted this workshop “Science: Becoming the Messenger” in Boise to help 100+ of Idaho scientists, engineers and educators to communicate effectively to non-technical audiences. The two-day event featured three prominent speakers: Emmy Award-Winning television producer Joe Schreiber; former Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) executive Dan Agan; and bestselling science journalist Chris Mooney. “As we become better communicators, our neighbors, colleagues, and students will have a chance to get excited about science they hear about from us...and that is always a good thing!”, said workshop participant Amy Christopherson, College of Southern Idaho.

Idaho EPSCoR will continue this communication theme “Scientists as Communicators” at our Idaho Annual Meeting to be held in McCall, Idaho, October 7-9, 2013.

Making Global Data Relevant to Local Communities

climate models with temperature, precipitation, winds, solar radiation and humidity at small scales (~ 2 miles).

Dr. John Abatzoglou, assistant professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Idaho, along with other scientists in Idaho have generated local-scale climate projections from regional-scale atmospheric variables, through a process called statistical downscaling. Their state-of-the art process allows us to understand future climate by incorporating observed weather patterns with

Local-scale climate projections are critical in helping us understand the potential ramifications of climate change on water resources, wildfires, and other natural resources.

Idaho Research is leading to a better understanding of the processes associated with climate fluctuations within the same season (months), across multiple seasons (years), and even changes that span decades. It is helping other

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scientists, farmers, land managers, and policy makers in Idaho and other Western states to better understand and plan for water and natural resource management in a changing climate.

Idaho and other western states depend heavily on natural resources (including agriculture, forestry, recreation, and energy). The vigor of these resources depends on the timing and availability of water, which is itself directly related to the climate. Global Climate Models cannot be used directly for local studies and planning because they have coarse spatial resolution, typically unable to distinguish features smaller than 100 miles long on the landscape. Idaho has added significant research capacity, including researchers with expertise in downscaling of Global Climate Models to make them useful at the local level.

Predicted percent change in annual snowfall liquid water equivalent for 2031-2060 versus 1950-1999 averaged from 14 downscaled CMIP5 models. Areas that received less than 25mm snowfall liquid water equivalent under current climate conditions are highlighted white.

Big Hit! 5th Annual Junior Faculty Leadership Workshop with Contributions from Natalie Willoughby, New Mexico EPSCoR

This year, NM EPSCoR received 24 applications from applicants with backgrounds ranging from science to computing to education.

Idaho, Nevada, and New Mexico NSF EPSCoR formed a consortium of EPSCoR states with similar research agendas related to climate change and water resources in 2009. The consortium model significantly increases opportunities for scientific collaboration and enhances each state’s ability to secure competitive funding and tackle complex climate change research agendas.

The annual workshop for junior faculty at the Valles Caldera Science & Education center in Jemez Springs, New Mexico was a big hit. The three-day workshop in January 2013 was packed with exercises and collaboration for the largest group of junior faculty with the most diverse academic backgrounds in the workshop’s five year history. Idaho attendees were: Dr. Sanchari Ghosh, Boise State University; Dr. Raghunath Kanakala, Idaho State University and Dr. Robert Heinse, University of Idaho.

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THE PEOPLE OF IDAHO EPSCOR DONNA DELPARTE, Associate Professor, Idaho State University Donna Delparte joined the Department of Geosciences faculty in 2012. Dr. Delparte earned her Ph.D. in geography from the University of Calgary, Canada.

She has an extensive background in the cross-disciplinary applications of GIS and remote sensing in the fields of geosciences, resource management and conservation/environmental planning. Dr. Delparte’s current research focus relates to visualization, 3D modeling and analysis. She is using 3D platforms to visualize her research work with photogrammetry, Structure from Motion (SfM), LiDAR and point-cloud generation from gaming devices. Specific research applications relate to avalanche flow modeling and hazard mapping, terrain models, land cover change and image analysis.

OUTREACH AND EDUCATION CRYSTAL KOLDEN, Students Learn Global Climate Science University scientists in Idaho are working together to overcome key barriers to teaching high school students about climate change. Researchers are providing teachers and students with: 1) a better understanding of fundamental climate science, 2) access to and knowledge of resources and activities to use in the classroom, and 3) place-based materials that are relevant to the local communities where students live.

KATHERINE HEGEWISCH, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Idaho Katherine Hegewisch is a postdoctoral researcher working with Dr. John Abatzoglou in the Department of Geography at the University of Idaho.

Dr. Hegewisch earned her Ph.D. in Physics from Washington State University in 2010. Dr. Hegewisch is working on the statistical downscaling of global climate models (GCMs). Additionally, her research analyzes future climate prediction scenarios of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) in order to understand the impact of climate change in the northwest.

SANCHARI GHOSH, Postdoctoral Postdoctoral Researcher, Boise State University Sanchari Ghosh is a postdoctoral researcher in Economics at Boise State University with Dr. Kelly Cobourn. She earned her Ph.D. in economics from Oklahoma State University in 2012.

Her current research involves assessing the potential economic gains of having a water market in Idaho versus water banks, as well as applying remote sensing data on trading based on consumptive use.

American Falls High School teacher, Tom Dieffenbach, and his students prepare to set up a weather station for monitoring dayto-day weather and long-term climate near Pocatello, Idaho

Teachers from 10 rural Idaho high schools have learned how to explain abstract concept of climate science in teachable units that students can understand. In addition, over 500 primarily underserved minority students experienced climate ‘Adventures’ in 2013 where they participated in the discovery process and learned how climate change may impact their local communities.

Idaho scientists working on climate change research and education are funded by multiple agencies, including the NSF EPSCoR, NASA, and the USDA. They have joined forces by working together to strengthen climate science education in Idaho, particularly at schools that serve Native American and Latino populations. Through the Intermountain Climate Education Network (ICE Net), teachers have been trained to use novel teaching resources, such as the Climate Science Matrix, to break down the key concepts of climate science and apply them in their science classes.

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CARIE GREEN, C4D@ISU Bridges Connections Nine modules were created in a Cyber-enabled Climate Change Curriculum Development project (C4D@ISU) for Idaho middle and high school students. Through data analysis, quantitative reasoning, and modeling, students investigate climate change research.

Specifically, the materials were designed to engage middle and high school teachers and students in learning about the hydrological, Carie Green, Assistant socio-economical, and cultural Professor, College implications of climate change in of Education, Idaho Idaho and the Pacific Northwest State University region.

of Hydrologic Sciences Hydrologic Information System (CUAHSI-HIS). This goal later become broader by linking three resources together: the MOSS cyberlearning website, a data entry portal, and the adventure learning curriculum.

These three resources will be heavily used in the MOSS residential K-12 and teacher education programs to teach about water resources under climate change scenarios.

This project is a collaboration between the University of Idaho McCall Outdoor Science School (Dr. Karla Eitel, Dr. Jan Eitel and Dr. R. Justin Hougham), University of Idaho College of Education, Department of Curriculum and Instruction (Dr. Brant Miller), Idaho State University Geospatial Software Laboratory (Dr. Dan Ames, Tiffani White and team, Donna Delparte) and The University of Texas at Austin.

The curriculum is currently being disseminated to middle and high school teachers across Idaho through blogs, emails, conference presentations, and professional development training. Teachers can use this curriculum to engage students in real-world scientific inquiry, specifically through highlighting the research of Idaho scientists and promoting interest in and understanding of STEM fields. The curriculum is also aligned to the Common Core State Standards; it enables students to analyze and interpret data, formulate arguments, and generate scientific claims.

C4D@ISU bridges the Idaho science community and K-12 teachers and students. Specifically, the C4D@ISU resulted from collaboration between Idaho EPSCoR scientists and educators. The modules span in purpose covering basic scientific evidence for climate change, hydrological impacts in the Salmon River basin, temperature and evaporation rates, and the social, economical, and cultural implications to Idaho communities. The curriculum is also linked with middle and high school social studies standards; modules are designed to challenge students to critically reflect on the historical and present day cultural ecology of Idaho Indigenous tribes and their personal connections to the places they live.

KARLA EITEL, Adventure Learning through Water and MOSS Adventure Learning through Water and MOSS focuses on preparing students who are capable of addressing two critical needs for the 21st century: stewardship of water resources and development of digital literacy skills.

The initial goal of our project was to create a simple interface for K-12 students to upload their water data to a database built on a platform called HydroServer Lite Interactive Web Client. It is designed to interface with the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement

Students use an iPad in the field to upload blog posts and water quality data to the CUAHSI HIS database through HydroServer Lite on the MOSS Adventure Learning website.

The tool developed out of this partnership is now being used in another research lab at Idaho State University under the direction of Dr. Ben Crosby. In addition, a citizen science program through University of Idaho extension, called IDAH2O – Master Water Stewards, is using it for their data entry as well.

Sixteen MOSS graduate students use the adventure learning website weekly with their K-12 field groups. These students lead teams of 8-10 K-12 students (mostly 6th grade) on inquiry driven expeditions to collect field data on water resources. K-12 students then post this data on the website along with pictures, videos, and writing.

Through these content resources, communication tools and data upload processes, more than 2500 students and teachers at MOSS will be able to participate in research, education and outreach.

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RESULTS FROM PRIOR SUPPORT

cultural experiences required to enhance their global perspective. Twenty-four University of Idaho doctoral students are participating in the project.

Dr. Nilsa Bosque-Perez, Professor, Department of Plant, Soil and Entomological Sciences, University of Idaho

Idaho EPSCoR Initiated Collaborations which led to the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) Project Several IGERT project faculty, including Project Director Nilsa A. Bosque-Perez, co-PIs Lisette Waits and Sanford Eigenbrode, and participating faculty Jan Boll, received NSF-EPSCoR funding when they began their careers at the University of Idaho. NSF EPSCoR activities provided an umbrella for these and other faculty to interact professionally and initiate collaboration that eventually led to Idaho’s first IGERT project.

The Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) project of the University of Idaho and the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE), in Costa Rica is aimed at providing doctoral students the skills necessary to work in interdisciplinary teams that address research questions relevant to the social, economic, ecological, and physical factors that influence change in ecological and social systems, and to manage the ecological and social challenges arising from such change.

Six interdisciplinary teams of students and faculty are conducting research on coupled social-ecological systems in Idaho and Costa Rica. Three of the project’s interdisciplinary teams of students and faculty are carrying out their research in Idaho. One of the teams is conducting research to obtain a better understanding of the effects of climate change within the U.S. northern Rockies. A second team is assessing the dynamic processes of socialecological systems in rangeland ecosystems with a focus on the sagebrush-steppe of Idaho. A third team is pursuing research in the Palouse prairie to integrate economic valuation and ecological assessment of grasslands that would help inform stakeholder conservation efforts.

“The funding I received via the NSF EPSCoR program in 1997 helped launched my research on insect vectors of plant viruses at the University of Idaho. This has led to fundamental discoveries in the field.

Additionally, NSF-EPSCoR brought together several of the faculty that went on to develop two successful NSF-IGERT project proposals which brought $6.2 million for graduate education and research at the University of Idaho. Without NSF-EPSCoR we wouldn’t have an IGERT project”...Dr. Nilsa Bosque-Perez.

The IGERT project is developing the next new generation of professionals that can tackle highly complex problems.

It is also generating critical scientific information that will assist Idaho communities better handle the challenges associated with social, physical, and ecological changes, including climate-related changes.

The IGERT project builds upon the expertise of numerous educators and researchers in diverse disciplines at the University of Idaho and CATIE. Over 30 faculty from both institutions are involved in the project, including faculty from four Colleges at UI (CALS, CNR, Science, and CLASS).

The IGERT program offers a unique graduate experience for doctoral students that includes faculty mentors and course work at two institutions, interdisciplinary student teams that address similar research questions in temperate and tropical ecosystems, jointly-authored publications, and professional development activities including international research experience, annual meetings, interaction with stakeholders, and interdisciplinary training workshops. It also offers students the cross-

Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) Project Students During the 2012 Annual Meeting

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Idaho EPSCoR 875 Perimenter Drive MS 3029 Moscow, ID 83844-3029

208-885-7102 www.idahoepscor.org

KUDOS BENJAMIN CROSBY Lands Fulbright Scholar Award to Work in Concepcion, Chile Dr. Benjamin Crosby, Associate Professor in the Department of Geosciences at Idaho State University, will be teaching the first geomorphology course at the Universidad de Concepcion. He will be conducting research with diverse faculty members in engineering, geosciences and geography.

Two people in particular inspired Crosby to pursue a Fulbright Scholar award.

One was Chikashi Sato, an ISU environmental engineering professor, who was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to teach and conduct research in Nepal for seven months in 2012. The other was Peter Goodwin, University of Idaho civil engineering professor at the UI’s Center for Ecohydraulics Research (CER) in Boise.

“Goodwin has for years encouraged me to participate in research in Chile, but I wasn’t able to do so until this sabbatical,” Crosby said. “He was a Fulbright Scholar in Chile in 2003. Ten years later I’m following his footsteps.”

The Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES), under a cooperative agreement with the United States Department of State, administers the Fulbright Scholar Program for faculty and professionals. Each year, the core Fulbright Scholar Program sends some 800 U.S. faculty and professionals to 155 countries to lecture, research, or participate in seminars. At the same time, approximately 800 foreign faculty come to the U.S. each year. For more on the Fulbright Scholar program, visit http://www.cies. org.

UPCOMING EVENTS Idaho NSF EPSCoR Annual Meeting Shore Lodge, McCall Idaho Monday, October 7, 2013-Wednesday, October 9, 2013 23rd National NSF EPSCoR Conference Nashville, Tennessee Sunday, November 3, 2013-Thursday, November 7, 2013 www.nsfepscor2013.org

Crosby is chronicling his experiences as a Fulbright Scholar in a blog crosbyfulbright.blogspot.com.

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