Travis E. Huxman Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology The University of Arizona Tucson AZ 85721 huxman@email.arizona.edu
Coordination of the many and diverse activities that comprise the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) poses challenges and opportunities to the field of Ecology. It will require our discipline to identify individuals and facilities that can conduct science, outreach, and education at unprecedented scales. Given the multiple demands on a National Headquarters (Box 1), site selection will be crucial to effectively developing, coordinating, and projecting NEONs ambitious goals and objectives. Here, we provide a preliminary overview of the attributes of a facility that could effectively serve as the NEON national headquarters while simultaneously providing a novel, timely, and substantial leveraging opportunity. The University of Arizona is at an advanced stage of negotiation expected to culminate in a major donation that includes the Biosphere 2 facility (Lat: 32.5788, Long: -110.8510; 130 acres; Fig. 1) along with funds to enable significant renovation that will establish major research initiatives and education and outreach programs related to the development of an understanding of the resilience and sustainability of earth and ecological systems. Given the coordinating needs of a NEON headquarter site, the former Biosphere 2 facility would be an excellent location for the NEON National Headquarters. This document follows the NEON Core Site RFI format, and focuses on the facilities/infrastructure needs to support the questions/observations outlined in RFI Part 1 documents.
The University of Arizona has a long and successful record managing large scale science projects (including Steward Observatory, the National Optical Astronomy Observatory, Phoenix Mission to Mars) and environmental programs (including SAHRA [NSF Science and Technology Center Sustainability of SemiArid Hydrology and Riparian Areas] and the US National Phenology Network). The University also brings experience with major outreach efforts through its Cooperative Extension Program and a developing partnership with the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum. The University of Arizona enthusiastically supports the NEON initiative and the participation of the University in this initiative, and is interested in opening a dialogue concerning a national role for the Biosphere 2 facility in NEON.