...as SGS dedicates new facility, honors scientists, and bids other scientists farewell
With music, dance, and barbecue, the new Shortgrass Steppe (SGS) Research and Interpretive Center (RIC) was dedicated on August 23rd at the new facility across the street from the SGS LTER headquarters northeast of Fort Collins, CO. The weather cooperated to provide a beautiful setting for the gathering of about 100 SGS researchers, students, and friends.
The dedication event was bittersweet because it was also a recognition of the many contributions to the SGS LTER, the new RIC, and Colorado State University (CSU) of Indy Burke and Bill Lauenroth as they left CSU to begin their new positions at the University of Wyoming. The RIC's establishment was due in large part to Burke's persistent efforts over at least a decade to convince CSU and the USDA ARS (who jointly manage SGS) and NSF of the benefit of such a facility on the grasslands.
Burke, who joined SGS LTER in the early 1990s, is the new director of the Haub School and Ruckelshaus Institute of Environment and Natural Resources (http://www.uwyo.edu/news/showrelease.asp?id=25102). Lauenroth, who has been with SGS since its inception at CSU, has joined the Department of Botany (http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/botany/default.asp). Both scientists have served as lead Principal Investigators at SGS, and plan to participate in the project from the University of Wyoming.
Burke and Lauenroth were presented with "Going with the Flow", a watercolor painting of Pingree Park by local artist Sue Schongar Whitten.
Meanwhile, SGS LTER staff and senior researchers again presented our activities at CSU's Ag Day on September 6. In addition to the educational and research displays, we added an "Ask a Scientist" section where questions about the shortgrass steppe could be answered. It was a great success despite a cool and blustery day.
In a related event four LTER researchers were recognized at the USDA Agricultural Research Service's Colorado/Wyoming Resource Day, held in Fort Collins, CO on November 18. Jack Morgan, Research Leader of the ARS Rangeland Resources Research Unit, presented Bill Lauenroth, Indy Burke, Daniel Milchunas and Mark Lindquist with plaques honoring the outstanding service of the four through their visionary leadership, teamwork, scientific contributions, and outreach activities involving the Shortgrasss Steppe LTER Project, which has been engaged with ARS' range research program at Central Plains Experimental Range since the early 1980's.
Recently Published
Ecology of the Shortgrass Steppe: A Long-Term Perspective, ed. W.K. Lauenroth & I.C. Burke, 536 pp. (see http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/LifeSciences/Ecology/?view=usa&ci=9780195135824)