OpportunityTitle: Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (Colorado Plateau or Rocky  Mountain CESU)
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: This financial assistance opportunity is being issued under a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program.  CESU&#146;s are partnerships that provide research, technical assistance, and education.  Eligible recipients must be a participating partner of the Colorado Plateau or Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program.
Description: Objectives: Park Break is a cooperative venture between two federal agencies and two nonprofits working to increase the number of minority graduate students. Park Break brings graduate students to a park to provide technical assistance to that park and in turn learn about park issues and concerns. There are three main objectives for Park Break 1. Provide a research framework for parks based on global scientific themes that are of top importance for managing parks into the next century. These themes include global climate change, water availability, natural hazards, affects of urbanization, engaging the public in park issues, and conservation policy. 2. Provide research expertise to individual park based on a theme where graduate students are expected to provide high quality and scientific review of the literature as it pertains to the park, dialogue with park staff and USGS scientists to understand the application of the science on the ground in the park, and provide the park management with a detailed summary including references and recommendations. These summaries will be submitted to peer reviewed journals to ensure the best scientific integrity. 3. Create a framework for graduate students who will soon be entering the professional work force, to put their academic training in perspective with professional issues for protected area management. 4. Encourage minority graduate students to participate in Park Break and expose them to potential careers in USGS or NPS as scientists.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: Contracting Officer
GrantorContactText: FAITH GRAVES &lt;br/&gt;CONTRACT SPECIALIST &lt;br/&gt;Phone 703-648-7356