Network News

Concerned about the future of soils for our planet, U.S. scientists and their international partners recently launched a Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative (GSBI) http://www.globalsoilbiodiversity.org/, which will be based at Colorado State University. The initiative, which is open to all parties interested in sustaining soils, including scientists, policymakers, and the public, was formed in response to growing international concern over the status of the world’s soils. It is also recognition that soil health, exemplified by the life it sustains, is key to sustaining food production, ecosystem maintenance, control of global atmosphere, and climate warming.

Kari O’Connell, Project Coordinator for the Oregon Natural Resources Education Program, is the recipient of the 2011 Mary Rellergert Forestry Education Award. The award, named in honor of Mary Rellergert who was a tireless advocate for forestry education, recognizes significant contributions to the advancement of public information, education, and understanding of forestry. O’Connell serves as coordinator for the Andrews Forest Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) K-12 education program and her work engaging teachers in field-based research experiences serves as a major component of the Andrews’ “Schoolyard LTER” program.

The LTER Network will once again be very well represented at the Ecological Society of America’s (ESA) 96^th Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas from August 7-12, 2011. Complementing the large contingent of LTER scientists and students will be the LTER booth (#521 and #621), which this year will feature banner displays from the Florida Coastal Everglades, McMurdo Dry Valleys, and Palmer Station LTER sites.

At the May Science Council meeting, the LTER Communication Committee circulated a short survey to site Principal Investigators to better understand communication activities at the site level.

A long term study by Cedar Creek LTER researchers has found that plants' capacity to absorb extra carbon from the atmosphere due to elevated carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels may be less than

The LTER Network Office is set to broadcast the 2011 LTER mini-symposium live on the web.

This August, six scientists from the Moorea Coral Reef (MCR) and Santa Barbara Coastal (SBC) LTER sites were hosted for two weeks by their colleagues in the People's Republic of China to discuss po

Gail Osherenko (SBC) recently completed production of a short video for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) Marine World Heritage Program.

The LTER Climate Committee met at the Mountain Research Station August 21-23, 1988 for a workshop on Climate Variabilities and Ecosystem Response.

F. Stuart "Terry" Chapin, III, the principal investigator of the Bonanza Creek Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) site, has been named President of the Ecological Society of America (ESA).