Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Graduate Training Program in Antarctic Biology  (Antarctic Biology Course)

Outline
Few students ever have the opportunity to study science on-site in Antarctica because of the obvious limitations resulting from the remoteness of this continent (unless such students are directly associated with a senior scientist who is funded to work in Antarctica). A proposal (PI: Dr. Donal T. Manahan) is currently pending with NSF to support a series of advanced-level, graduate training courses that will be organized and taught on site in Antarctica. These courses will be open to Ph.D. students and postdoctoral-level scientists from about the World interested in the study of biological adaptations of Antarctic marine organisms. Each of the proposed summer (austral) courses will be offered for 20 students over a 5-year period in Antarctica, in January 2006, 2008 and 2010. These courses will be held at McMurdo Station, the major base in Antarctica of the United States Antarctic Program. This NSF-supported research base has well equipped laboratories for the kinds of educational and student research activities that will be undertaken in the proposed courses. The proposed courses will introduce students to the hands-on "doing" of science under realistic Antarctic conditions. The major expectations from offering these training courses in Antarctica will be to introduce new researchers to the biological processes in that extreme environment and to train such students in modern research methods to understand the mechanisms that are unique to biology in Antarctica.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
A group of advanced students, postdoctoral fellows, and new potential investigators will be undertaking this course in polar science during the IPY time frame. This training program will be in Antarctica during IPY (January 2008).

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
There will be a very strong international collaboration, as a major goal of this training program in Antarctica is to include young scientists from different countries all of whom will be working together in Antarctica towards similar educational and research goals.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
McMurdo region, Antarctica

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: 01/2006      01/2008      01/2010

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
All required facilities will be provided by the NSF, through use of science support facilities, access to the field, and lab use in the McMurdo Station region.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
It is anticipated that there will be a highly significant legacy of infrastructure from this activity. In particular, the primary goal of this international training program in Antarctica will be to train a new generation of scientists to work in Antarctica, within an international framework.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Own national polar operator
National agency

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
A request (proposal)for full funding for this international training program is currently under review by NSF. A decision on funding from NSF is anticipated by March 2004.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
New

New proposal for education, training, and research activities in Antarctica in 2006, 2008, and 2010.

How will the project be organised and managed?
This program will be organized and managed by a team of faculty from several universities based in the US. Field-team leader will be Dr. Donal T. Manahan, University of Southern California, Los Angeles. Organizational assistance will be provided by the NSF, through the subcontractor responsible for supporting polar projects funded by NSF.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Many graduate students in these training courses will bring key issues of Antarctic science into their own university’s settings. The potential “amplification effects” from this program will be large for raising the awareness in numerous other settings of the importance of the polar regions to life on Earth.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
As this is an educational activity, research data management is less of an issue. However, extensive follow up of information collected during the course will be undertaken in workshops to be undertaken after each year’s course is offered in Antarctica.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
NSF funding. Proposal now under review (as of January 2004).

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Pro Donal Manahan
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA
90089-0371
USA

Tel: 213 740 5793
Mobile: no
Fax: 213 740 8123
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation