There are individuals who are making extraordinary contributions to the development and success of the LTER Network. Caroline Bledsoe is clearly one of those. After initial introductions through NSF panels and site reviews, Caroline became impressed with the potential of a truly interactive network. When NSF established a LTER position on their Washington staff, Caroline was recruited and filled the chair in February of 1988.
Defining this LTER staff position in NSF was Caroline's first job. Some early tasks were very rudimentary. There was no directory of LTER participants! Caroline almost single-handedly created our first personnel directory.
Subsequently, Caroline was a key player in the establishment of the informal “Gang of X” within NSF, a group which included john Brooks, Bob Robbins, Jerry Mellillo, Tom Callahan and others.
This group met regularly to discuss short- and long-term needs and directions in LTER, working to develop a strong base of support within NSF and the ecological community. Caroline also interacted with the rapidly expanding Network Office in Seattle.
Work with other federal agencies on the LTER concept and “network of networks” expanded rapidly in 1990, including interactions with the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Defense, and NASA. Caroline was an important initiator and participant in these activities.
Caroline was an organizing member of the first “Connectivity Team” which incorporated both NSF and LTER Network personnel. She under- took the task (viewed as hopelessly complex and expensive) of developing the all-site bibliography.
She was a central player in development of All- Scientist Meeting agendas, particularly championing the incorporation of graduate students.
Currently Caroline is active on a variety of network projects, most particularly the "X-Roots project.” This project examines controls on root production across sites and experiments in design of information systems for scientists.
Caroline has been, throughout, a tireless contributor to the concept of the LTER network whether as an administrator creating the required structures, as a grunt carrying out some pedestrian but necessary task, or as a scientist conducting research. But always providing an example of the selfless behavior essential to the development and operation of a true network.