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News Briefs

Nancy Grimm Elected ESA Chair

Dr. Nancy B. Grimm of the Central Arizona Phoenix LTER project and Arizona State University was recently elected president of the Ecological Society of America (ESA). She will succeed Jerry Melillo, another LTER scientist affiliated with Harvard Forest, whose term expires in 2005. ESA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization of more than 8000 international scientists founded in 1915 to promote ecological science by improving communication among ecologists, raise the public’s level of awareness of the importance of ecological science, increase the resources available for the conduct of ecological science; and ensure the appropriate use of ecological science in environmental decision making by enhancing communication between the ecological community and policymakers.

In addition to being co-director of the CAP LTER project and a Professor of Biology at ASU, Nancy is a senior associate of SAHRA, the Science and Technology Center — Sustainability of Semi-Arid Hydrology and Riparian Areas, and a collaborating investigator in the Lotic Intersite Nitrogen Experiment (LINX). Her research interests include biogeochemistry, stream ecosystem structure and function, and urban ecosystem structure and function. Congratulations, Nancy and CAP!

Bob Waide
Executive Director, LNO

LNO and SEV LTER’s new home at the University of New Mexico

LNO and SEV Acquire New Offices

The LTER Network Office (LNO) and Sevilleta moved to new facilities at the University of New Mexico main campus in July. The new offices are located on the third floor of the CERIA Building (no. #83 on the campus map), with LNO occupying Suite 320 and Sevilleta a range of suites on the same floor. Mailing addresses for both LNO and Sevilleta remain the same, but phone numbers and other contact details for staff are available on the LTER website (http://lternet.edu/) or on the respective websites of LNO (http://lno.lternet.edu/) and SEV (http://sevilleta.unm.edu/).

Baltimore Celebrates Ecosystem Day

October 20, 2004 was Baltimore Ecosystem Day. The mayor of Baltimore, Martin O’Malley, issued a proclamation to that effect and urged Baltimore citizens to join in celebrating the day, noting that the people of Baltimore valued their natural ecosystem and its importance to the physical, social, and economic health of their neighborhoods.

Mayor O’Malley noted that neighborhood residents and community groups throughout the city had contributed their knowledge, skills, and labor to improve their neighborhoods through tree planting projects, community gardens and parks, and beautification and education projects with the support from the Parks & People Community Grants program.

The proclamation singled out the Baltimore Ecosystem Study (BES) and the U.S. Forest Service for praise, observing that they had “conducted groundbreaking research on the urban ecosystem in Baltimore City, making significant contributions to our understanding of Baltimore’s urban ecosystem to improve how we manage, conserve and restore our natural environment, and supporting restoration of our ecosystem through the Revitalizing Baltimore program.”
The mayor’s proclamation further noted that BES had received renewed funding for an additional six years to conduct research and education projects that will continue to improve our understanding of Baltimore’s urban ecosystem. “We recognize our Community Stewards and the scientists and educators of the Baltimore Ecosystem Study and the U.S. Forest Service for their outstanding contributions in working to improve the quality of life for the Baltimore community,” the proclamation stated.

NSF Funds LTER’s 2-Year Strategic Plan Development

The National Science Foundation has agreed to fund an intensive 2-year Network-wide planning effort by LTER. The planning activity is expected to create the framework necessary for the LTER Network to achieve its mission, goals, and objectives. For more information, download the pdf document “New Planning Grant” on the main LTER website http://lternet.edu/ (also see LTER Network Plans for the Future).

Call for Proposals
$18–$20 million available for long term research

The California Bay-Delta Authority Science Program is seeking to invest in projects that develop new knowledge about how water use and management activities interact with and affect key aquatic species and environmental processes across spatial and temporal scales. The geographic areas of interest are the San Francisco Bay Estuary and the Bay-Delta System. To access detailed information about this opportunity, please visit: https://solicitation.calwater.ca.gov or call the Proposal Solicitation Package (PSP) Helpline at 877/408-9310.

New Outlet For LTER Research Results

The National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) is working with several organizations and societies to create an electronic journal related to Sustainability: Science, Practice, & Policy. The mission of the journal is to address a wide range of issues related to sustainability by incorporating all social, economic, political, and biological/environmental interactions within the framework of one’s specific research. We are trying to bring social scientists and natural scientists to the table (or ‘journal,’ if you will), and push the discussion beyond that discipline. Authors will use discussions of science, practices, and/or policy to examine ways that can lead to solutions to sustainability problems.

Those who are interested in serving on an Editorial Board and in submitting an essay or editorial should visit our website ejournal.nbii.org.