Research funders are increasingly looking for proposals which not only add to the body of knowledge in a particular area, but which also provide a broader impact to the local community. To meet these requirements, project leaders are now fusing their scientific research goals with outreach and environmental education programs at the field stations where they plan to conduct the proposed research. This is a fantastic opportunity for the researcher as well as the field station. The researcher gains the ability to share new knowledge and the field station has an opportunity to expand programming and reach a broader audience.

For example, Dr. Steven Oberbauer of Florida International University included the following connections to the La Selva Biological Station in his recently funded NSF grant entitled "Dry season control of tropical wet forest tree growth at very high water levels"

1.    Direct support for the environmental education program, including partial salary for the coordinator.

2.    Construction of a display on the role of tropical forests in the water cycle for one of the kiosks on the Don Santos Science Trail.  This trail, once it is fully developed, will be the centerpiece of natural history visitation for approximately 8,000 people from around the world annually.

3.    Availability of key instrumentation components on the new canopy walkway.  La Selva guides will be instructed on the measurements being made, their purpose, and their scientific value.  Thousands of students and natural history visitors will be able to see these instruments directly in operation or have access to the data they generate on a special website.

4.    Training and salary support of one postdoctoral fellow, several undergraduates, and three Costa Rican employees during the course of the project.

If you are a project leader considering including one of the OTS field stations in the "Broader Impact" section of your next proposal, please contact the station director at your field site to help identify areas of common interest and need. Working together with the station director will provide the best possibility for success.