U.S. National Committee for DIVERSITAS

The National Science Foundation has funded two DIVERSITAS-related Research Coordination Networks in Biological Sciences (RCNs):

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Training Network (BESTNet)
University of Arizona
Coordinator: Professor Charles Perrings
The core members of this NSF-funded network are part of DIVERSITAS, and BESTNet is designed to bring the benefits of the research stimulated by the global initiative to research students in U.S. universities, through a set of networked research and research training activities. First, annual training activities will be associated with research/research training workshops at which U.S. and international researchers will address topics currently under discussion in global change programs (e.g., modeling techniques for integrating biophysical and socioeconomic aspects of biodiversity change). Second, doctoral students will be funded to spend time in the labs of participating scientists in the U.S. and abroad. All workshops will therefore have both a research communication and a research training function. U.S. and international researchers will address topics currently under discussion in the global change programs, and will use this to explore the methodological challenges inherent in interdisciplinary research on biodiversity.

Traitnet
Columbia University
Coordinator: Professor Shahid Naeem
TraitNet is dedicated to the advancement and integration of trait-based evolutionary and ecological research. Traits are variously defined, but essentially concern species' properties that affect individual fitness and govern species' impacts and responses to their environment. Trait-based research spans an enormous array of ecological and evolutionary disciplines. While each discipline has sought to define traits, apply trait data to test theory, establish protocols for the quantification of traits, and build multi-user databases, little coordination or interaction has occurred across disciplines. TraitNet addresses this extraordinary opportunity to facilitate integration and synthesis across this array of disciplines.
TraitNet is structured by five goals:

DIVERSITAS Open Science Conference: Integrating Biodiversity Science for Human Well-Being (2005)
DIVERSITAS held its first Open Science Conference November 9-12, 2005 in Oaxaca, Mexico. The conference was jointly organized by the U.S. and the Mexican National Committees of DIVERSITAS and featured symposia on a variety of biodiversity topics as well as field trips to nearby ecological sites. View the scientific program to learn more about this successful event.

The conference was divided into two parts:

The first day (9 November 2005) was dedicated to a meeting of the DIVERSITAS national committees. These national committees allow DIVERSITAS to enlarge its scientific and policy network and to integrate with national biodiversity programs. Committees help DIVERSITAS to implement its science plan and to adapt it to local and regional concerns. The overall goal of this first day was to strengthen the link between DIVERSITAS and its committees and to establish additional committees. This day provided the committees and national focal points with the opportunity to meet for the first time, to present their structure and activities to each other, and to discuss various aspects of the DIVERSITAS program.

The three remaining days (10-12 November 2005) were dedicated to the DIVERSITAS science program, with a mix of plenary and parallel sessions. The U.S. National Committee received generous funding from NSF to sponsor five symposia at the conference: Pollination services; Biodiversity in agricultural landscapes: saving natural capital without losing interest; Freshwaters: sustaining biodiversity and system integrity; Phylogeny and biodiversity science; and Remote sensing: methods and applications to assess, monitor and manage biodiversity loss.

Committee Activities

Committee Meetings