Donnelly Alison, Desai Ankur R, Heckman Katherine A, Nave Lucas E, Cramer Michael J, Faust Marie, Weishampel Peter, Slemmons Caleb, Andresen Christian G, Ayres Edward, Cotey Stacy R, Docherty Kathryn M, Hatzis Joshua, Hofmeister Kathryn, LaMontagne Jalene M, Lenters John D, Lottig Noah R, Marcarelli Amy M, Miesel Jessica, Riddle Jason, Salmon-Tumas Meghan, SanClements Mike D, Sapkota Subash, Schwartz Mark D, Sharma Puja, Shrestha Ojaswee, Vincent Geoffrey, Waupochick Angela, Zheng Ting, Ye Zhiwei
Department of Geography, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, WI, USA.
Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
Int J Biometeorol. 2024 Jul;68(7):1475-1481. doi: 10.1007/s00484-024-02673-x. Epub 2024 Apr 24.
The decision to establish a network of researchers centers on identifying shared research goals. Ecologically specific regions, such as the USA's National Ecological Observatory Network's (NEON's) eco-climatic domains, are ideal locations by which to assemble researchers with a diverse range of expertise but focused on the same set of ecological challenges. The recently established Great Lakes User Group (GLUG) is NEON's first domain specific ensemble of researchers, whose goal is to address scientific and technical issues specific to the Great Lakes Domain 5 (D05) by using NEON data to enable advancement of ecosystem science. Here, we report on GLUG's kick off workshop, which comprised lightning talks, keynote presentations, breakout brainstorming sessions and field site visits. Together, these activities created an environment to foster and strengthen GLUG and NEON user engagement. The tangible outcomes of the workshop exceeded initial expectations and include plans for (i) two journal articles (in addition to this one), (ii) two potential funding proposals, (iii) an assignable assets request and (iv) development of classroom activities using NEON datasets. The success of this 2.5-day event was due to a combination of factors, including establishment of clear objectives, adopting engaging activities and providing opportunities for active participation and inclusive collaboration with diverse participants. Given the success of this approach we encourage others, wanting to organize similar groups of researchers, to adopt the workshop framework presented here which will strengthen existing collaborations and foster new ones, together with raising greater awareness and promotion of use of NEON datasets. Establishing domain specific user groups will help bridge the scale gap between site level data collection and addressing regional and larger ecological challenges.
建立研究人员网络的决定主要基于确定共同的研究目标。生态特定区域，如美国国家生态观测网络（NEON）的生态气候域，是汇聚具有不同专业知识但专注于同一组生态挑战的研究人员的理想场所。最近成立的五大湖用户组（GLUG）是NEON首个特定领域的研究人员集合，其目标是通过使用NEON数据来推进生态系统科学，解决五大湖域5（D05）特有的科学和技术问题。在此，我们报告GLUG的启动研讨会，该研讨会包括闪电演讲、主题演讲、分组头脑风暴会议和实地考察。这些活动共同营造了一个促进和加强GLUG以及NEON用户参与度的环境。研讨会的实际成果超出了最初的预期，包括计划（i）撰写两篇期刊文章（除本文外），（ii）提交两份潜在的资金提案，（iii）提出一项可分配资产请求，以及（iv）利用NEON数据集开发课堂活动。这次为期2.5天活动的成功归因于多种因素的结合，包括明确目标的设定、采用引人入胜的活动以及为不同参与者提供积极参与和包容性合作的机会。鉴于这种方法的成功，我们鼓励其他想要组织类似研究人员群体的人采用此处介绍的研讨会框架，这将加强现有合作并促进新的合作，同时提高对NEON数据集的认识和推广使用。建立特定领域的用户组将有助于弥合站点级数据收集与应对区域及更大生态挑战之间的规模差距。
