Biosphere 2 Center Receives Major Research Grant; Interdisciplinary Approach is the Key.TUCSON, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 30, 1999-- The David and Lucille Packard Foundation Packard Foundation: see David and Lucile Packard Foundation. has awarded Columbia University's Biosphere biosphere, irregularly shaped envelope of the earth's air, water, and land encompassing the heights and depths at which living things exist. The biosphere is a closed and self-regulating system (see ecology), sustained by grand-scale cycles of energy and of 2 Center nearly one million dollars to help understand the effects of atmospheric changes on earth ecosystems. Columbia University's Biosphere 2 Center was among a small group of elite institutions selected to receive this first-ever grant from the Packard Foundation's Interdisciplinary Science program. "This program was started because so many leading scientists recognize that an interdisciplinary approach is required to successfully attack and solve the key scientific problems of the next century," said Kenneth Ford, Director of Science Programs at the Packard Foundation. The grant runs for five years and will allow a team of scientists to study the effects of varying temperatures and CO2 levels on coral reefs coral reefs, limestone formations produced by living organisms, found in shallow, tropical marine waters. In most reefs, the predominant organisms are stony corals, colonial cnidarians that secrete an exoskeleton of calcium carbonate (limestone). and cottonwood trees. "Only in the Biosphere 2 facility, where temperature and CO2 can be carefully manipulated and the impact on coral and cottonwoods precisely measured, could an experiment like this be performed on such a large scale," said Dr. William Harris William Harris may refer to:
The Packard grant provides a strategic investment in developing the Biosphere facility into a premier, world-class, earth-learning laboratory. The research team is led by Dr. Wallace Broecker from Columbia University Columbia University, mainly in New York City; founded 1754 as King's College by grant of King George II; first college in New York City, fifth oldest in the United States; one of the eight Ivy League institutions. , recipient of the nation's highest recognition for scientific achievement, the President's Medal of Science and Technology, and the Blue Planet Award from Japan. The grant supports six distinct research projects that focus on impacts of different temperatures and CO2 levels on ecosystems. "What makes this grant so exciting," said Broecker, "is that it makes a clear statement about the value of using interdisciplinary research to address the most important problems facing our planet. "The team includes prominent researchers from earth and environmental sciences, plant biology, and marine biology marine biology, study of ocean plants and animals and their ecological relationships. Marine organisms may be classified (according to their mode of life) as nektonic, planktonic, or benthic. Nektonic animals are those that swim and migrate freely, e.g. ." Columbia University has completed a host of renovations to support measurable research. This is the largest single research grant received by Biosphere 2 Center since Columbia University assumed management responsibility and launched undergraduate education undergraduate education Medtalk In the US, a 4+ yr college or university education leading to a baccalaureate degree, the minimum education level required for medical school admission; undergraduate medical education refers to the 4 yrs of medical school. Cf CME. courses and research programs on the campus. |
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