Earthwatch research support in National Parks
Date: Fri, 5 Mar 1999 12:38:14 -0400
To: Keith_Langdon@nps.gov (Keith Langdon)
From: pick@pick.uga.edu (John Pickering)
Subject: Re: Earthwatch research support in National Parks
Cc: dl@pick.uga.edu, pswhite@unc.edu
Folks - see the second message below. We've been meaning to contact
Eartwatch, as they were used in the Smokies back in the early 80's on
botany projects by Peter. Looks like now would be a excellant time to
do so....I can see us offering these to a TWG (or TWG's) or utilize
them in the structured sampling...looks like they must be FIELD
ORIENTED though as opposed to LAB oriented (?)
Keith
>Subject: Re: Earthwatch research support in National Parks
>Author: Carroll Schell at NP-GRSM
>Date: 3/4/99 8:41 AM
>
>
>
>
>Thank you for your interest in the Park and your interest in opportunities for
>your program in the Smokies. I've passed your message on to a couple of folks
>that might be interested in pursuing the Earthwatch program further. However,
>please understand that our absolute biggest operational problem is not having
>sufficient staff to coordinate programs for interested individuals on a short
>term basis. For that reason, we have cooperated extensively with the Student
>Conservation Association in order to obtain the services of individuals for 12
>weeks or longer. I'm sure in your dealings with others, you've
>encountered the
>same argument. It isn't that we're not interested. We simply don't have the
>staff to coordinate short-term programs for indivuals. I wish we could.
>And, I
>could also be pleasantly surprised if you are contacted further. I indeed hope
>that is the case.
>
>Hope to see you at George Wright.
>
>Carroll
>______________________________ Reply Separator
>_________________________________
>Subject: Earthwatch research support in National Parks
>Author: "David Lowe" <dlowe@earthwatch.org> at NP--INTERNET
>Date: 3/3/99 6:48 PM
>
>
>Dear GWS '97 Registrant:
>
>We may have met at the 1997 George Wright Society meeting in Albuquerque. I
>saved the participation list, which I received from GWS and I cleared this
>correspondence with Dave Harmon at GWS. I thought you might like to know that
>EARTHWATCH INSTITUTE and THE CENTER FOR FIELD RESEARCH are offering grants for
>field-based research using public non-specialist volunteers. This could be a
>great opportunity for funding, free labor, and educating the public about your
>research and its importance. I hope we will have a chance to discuss your
>interest at the GWS meeting in North Carolina later this month. Otherwise,
>please do not hesitate to contact me.
>
>EARTHWATCH INSTITUTE has been supporting field research in social, biological,
>and physical sciences in 118 countries around the world over the past 26 years
>by matching scientists with volunteer field assistants. It is a unique
>program in which non-specialized volunteers pay for the opportunity to
>participate in exciting field research during their vacations or free time.
>THE CENTER FOR FIELD RESEARCH evaluates the scientific quality of research
>proposals and provides program development for EARTHWATCH INSTITUTE.
>EARTHWATCH INSTITUTE has had several cooperative agreements and MOUs with the
>National Park Service over the years to facilitate project support and
>continues to be an important source of research support in and around National
>Parks and other protected areas in the US and abroad.
>
>We can only support the field-based components of research projects and only
>if volunteers can be recruited to pay to join the expedition for 10 to 20
>days, typically two weeks. The volunteers can be employed in any task that is
>safe to perform and that can be taught to a non-specialist in the first day or
>two of an expedition. Examples of volunteer assignments on carnivore projects
>include: setting and checking traplines, assisting in metamorphic
>measurements and monitoring of anesthized animals, radio-telemetry,
>photographing spoor, collecting scat, censusing prey, observing animal
>behavior, and similar tasks. Archeology and social science projects, such as
>a study of public attitudes towards park issues are also possible using
>Earthwatch volunteers. Emphasis is on data collection, but some data
>processing can be included in assignments. Much of this work has occurred in
>national parks and protected areas, including on-going monitoring efforts to
>support park management.
>
>At least twenty volunteers must be used per year to make a project financially
>viable. These volunteers should be distributed over several expedition teams,
>for example, three teams of eight volunteers, or six teams of four volunteers,
>depending upon research needs. Teams may be scheduled at any time during the
>year. July and August are the busiest months, but we seek projects with
>January and February dates as well. We are currently reviewing proposals for
>projects with field components beginning as early as February 2000 and beyond.
> Generally, 13 months lead time is needed before the first fielded team.
>
>In addition to free labor, Earthwatch provides research grants of $500 to
>$1,000 per volunteer recruited, depending upon the type of work, location,
>duration, and quality of accomodations in the field. For example, a project
>using 25 volunteers during a year would receive a grant of $12,500 to $25,000.
> The larger the quantity of volunteers recruited and used, the higher the
>grant.
>
>
>
>Funds must provide food and accomodations for the volunteers, plus any local
>transportation once they have joined the expedition. Beyond this, remaining
>grant funds may be used to purchase equipment, hire staff, pay for their
>transport and freight to the field site, and cover related expenses. Grants
>do not cover principal investigator salaries and large capital expenditures
>such as purchase of buildings and vehicles. Accomodations for volunteers may
>range from camping to research station dormatories to staff houses or hotels.
>
>EARTHWATCH INSTITUTE supports long-term research. Ten percent of the research
>supported by EARTHWATCH INSTITUTE has continued for ten years or more; 25
>percent for five years or more.
>
>Hosting Earthwatch volunteers can be time consuming and requires attention to
>the volunteers' physical and intellectual needs. It is not for everyone. The
>rewards can be tremendous however. Few opportunities exist in which you can
>share your enthusiasm for your work with dedicated individuals and build
>lasting relationships while financing your research and multiplying your data
>collection workforce. It is an excellent way to build a constituency for the
>research to which you have dedicated your career. You will be surprised at
>the benefits these volunteers from a variety of backgrounds can offer. Nearly
>all are university graduates, a majority have advanced degrees (though in
>different subject areas). Examples abound of Earthwatch volunteers solving
>unexpected computer or engineering problems for researchers.
>
>If this sounds appealing to you, I would encourage you to contact me to
>clarify any questions you may have or to submit a preliminary proposal on the
>enclosed form. Please include a curriculum vitae for the project leaders.
>Researcher leaders should have a Ph.D. in their field of study or equivalent
>experience (for example, 10 years of related project management or field
>research experience and possessing a publication record). Research leaders
>without Ph.D. degrees can form a partnership with a senior researcher who
>would join the project as co-principal investigator and advisor. Project
>leaders must be functionally fluent in English and proposals must be submitted
>in English.
>
>During the upcoming George Wright Society conference in Asheville, I will be
>staying at the Great Smokies Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort. If you wish to be
>sure to catch me or to set up a meeting, please leave me a message there. I
>look forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks.
>
>With best wishes,
> David J. Lowe
>
>enclosures: preliminary proposal form
>
>* CFR is now on World Wide Web at http://www.earthwatch.org/cfr/cfr.html
>The above listed materials are all on the Web; you may send your completed
>preliminary proposal form via the Web if you prefer.
>--
>__________________________________________________
>David J. Lowe, Program Director for Life Sciences The
>Center for Field Research at EARTHWATCH INSTITUTE 680
>Mt. Auburn St., Box 9104, Watertown, MA 02272 USA
> E-mail: dlowe@earthwatch.org
>Tel. 617-926-8200 x127 Fax 617-926-8532
>World Wide Web: http://www.earthwatch.org/cfr/cfr.html
>__________________________________________________
>
>PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL APPLICATION FORM - You may clip, print, and fax this
>form, or email it to us
>---------------------------------------
>THE CENTER FOR FIELD RESEARCH
>AN AFFILIATE OF EARTHWATCH
>680 Mount Auburn Street Box 9104 Watertown, Massachusetts 02272 USA
>Phone: 617 926 8200 FAX: 617 926 8532 Telex: 510 600 6452 TCN ID:
>TCN1294
>Internet: cfr@earthwatch.org
>WWW: http://www.earthwatch.org/cfr/cfr.html
>
>PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL
>Please use this form or electronic equivalent. Attach additional sheets as
>necessary.
>
>
>PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S):
>
>
>POSITION(S)/INSTITUTIONAL AFFILIATION(S):
>
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>ADDRESS:
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>
>OFFICE PHONE: FAX:
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>HOME PHONE: E-MAIL:
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>PROJECT TITLE:
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>DISCIPLINE(S):
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>FIELD DATES: RESEARCH SITE:
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>RESEARCH OBJECTIVES:
>Describe project goals and include background and progress to date, both by
>others and by yourself.
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>METHODS AND TECHNIQUES:
>Briefly describe your research design.
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> SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH:
>Please indicate the professional and popular significance of the research, its
>educational applications, and policy implications.
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>NEED FOR VOLUNTEER FIELD ASSISTANTS:
>All investigations must include tasks for non-specialist field assistants
>recruited from Earthwatch's global membership. What tasks and
>responsibilities will be required of the Earthwatch volunteers in the field?
>A typical project consists of several 1-3 week teams. Please estimate the
>minimum and maximum number of volunteers per team, length and dates of teams.
>
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>STAFF COMPOSITION:
>Include name, age, highest degree or other credential, institutional
>affiliation, research specialties, and responsibilities in the field for PI(s)
>and professional staff.
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>BUDGET SUMMARY:
>Please indicate anticipated field expenses (food, accommodations,
>transportation in the field, equipment) in support of volunteer field
>assistants, host country students, and staff (Earthwatch volunteers cover
>their own costs of transportation to the field site). Earthwatch does not
>provide PI salaries or institutional overhead.
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>Signature: _____________________________________________ Date: _______________
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>Name (please print): __________________________________________
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>How did you first learn about CFR/Earthwatch?:
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>--
>__________________________________________________
>David J. Lowe, Program Director for Life Sciences The
>Center for Field Research at EARTHWATCH INSTITUTE 680
>Mt. Auburn St., Box 9104, Watertown, MA 02272 USA
> E-mail: dlowe@earthwatch.org
>Tel. 617-926-8200 x127 Fax 617-926-8532
>World Wide Web: http://www.earthwatch.org/cfr/cfr.html
>__________________________________________________
>
>--
>__________________________________________________
>David J. Lowe, Program Director for Life Sciences The
>Center for Field Research at EARTHWATCH INSTITUTE 680
>Mt. Auburn St., Box 9104, Watertown, MA 02272 USA
> E-mail: dlowe@earthwatch.org
>Tel. 617-926-8200 x127 Fax 617-926-8532
>World Wide Web: http://www.earthwatch.org/cfr/cfr.html
>__________________________________________________
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>Date: Wed, 03 Mar 1999 18:48:36 -0500
>From: "David Lowe" <dlowe@earthwatch.org>
>Reply-To: dlowe@earthwatch.org
>Organization: The Center for Field Research (Earthwatch)
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