NTL hosts science party
Science and the Northwoods was the theme of a very successful regional "block party" sponsored by the North Temperate Lakes LTER September 16-17, 2004. Over 130 attendees representing more than 25 universities; NGOs; local, state, tribal and federal agencies; K-12 educational institutions; and media outlets met to share ideas about a wide variety of environmental research in the Northern Highland Lake District.
The meeting provided an opportunity for this extremely diverse set of researchers, educators, and interested members of the public to meet, find out about each other's environmental programs, and make connections. Its primary purpose was to build networks among the wide variety of scientists interested in the northern lakes region. The resultant linkages, much like the roots put down by the white pine outside the main conference center, turned out to be numerous and multifaceted. The topics ranged widely, from paleoecological investigations of forests and lakes, through the impact of invasive species on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, to development scenarios, demographics, and land use changes that were likely to shape the regional landscape for years to come.
The meeting gave the participants, most of whom were surprised to learn about research programs that they had not encountered before, a sense of the breadth of ongoing environmental research in the region.
The format of the meeting contributed greatly to its success. Talks were greatly restricted in length-five minutes of presentation followed by two minutes of questions-and participants were urged to show pictures and conceptual diagrams of their research or management initiatives instead of data or statistics. Although many feared initially that the format would be overwhelming, the five-minute "infomercials" proved to be very popular and the rapid turnover ensured that the audience was not fatigued. This format also ensured that the meeting could be held in plenary throughout its two-day agenda and allowed ample breaks for conversation among participants, who now had a common experience to build upon and stimulate discussion. Participants left the meeting excited about the diversity of research in the region and the interdisciplinary opportunities for future collaborations.