Symbiosis: How graduate students and land managers can come together and both get what they want January 3rd, 2011
Symbiosis: 1. the living together in more or less intimate association or close union of two dissimilar organisms 2. a cooperative relationship
Carole Bell of the Santa Rosa Plateau spraying research plots with herbicide
There are two great constants in the life of scientists. Whether we’re working in industry, at a university, or an ecological reserve, we are all in need of more time and more money. Land managers are often in greatest need because of the size and scope of the projects they must undertake. For students, this need can present the opportunity for research or volunteering, if you know how to take advantage of it. There are a number of ways to associate yourself with a land manager, but the important thing to remember is that the relationship should be constructive for everyone involved or, at the very least, benign to the land manager.
As graduate students, we are in a unique position to offer land managers not only our time, but also occasionally our grant money. When beginning research, graduate students are often full of ideas but don’t always have a place to use them. By getting in touch with land managers, research projects can be tailored to suit the needs of both the manager and the graduate student. If a student has money attached to them, this can expedite the process and make it easier for the manager to approve and help set up a project. Research can also be done in the context of your Cal-IPC SC membership. This offers an opportunity for students with varied backgrounds to pool ideas and create a project together. These types of studies are best designed with the land manager, if they are willing, in order to satisfy their needs to the fullest. These smaller-scale projects can also lead to a group publication and who couldn’t use that?
A good example of this type of collaboration is a grassland restoration project that involves members of the Cal-IPC SC Riverside Branch and the land manager at the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve. We wanted to do some research as a group and knew of a prescribed burn program at the Santa Rosa Plateau. We approached the land manager, worked together to come up with a research plan, and set up an herbicide and seeding project to test post-prescribed fire restoration techniques in a highly invaded grassland. The land manager was able to use some of her own funding for herbicide and we provided time, scientific knowledge, and supplies for the rest of the project. The goal was to create a management technique designed specifically for that reserve and the invasive species that pose the biggest threat there. The first year went smoothly and we are planning to follow up with another year of surveys to determine the efficacy of our treatments after one year.
Another way that these types of partnerships can be established is by having a graduate student fulfill a specific need of the manager. Land managers often have funds for research or applied work, such as invasive removal, but lack the time or person-power to use it. Graduate students can fulfill this need and may be able to expand projects for inclusion in a thesis or dissertation. Finding field sites can be challenging due to complicated ownership or hesitant personnel. By aligning student goals with the needs of a land manager, partnerships become beneficial for both parties. One goal of the Cal-IPC SC is to develop an online method for land managers and graduate students to communicate about research needs and opportunities via the Cal-IPC SC website.
Finally, the easiest way to build a relationship with a manager or preserve is by volunteering. This is an easy, fun way to get your foot in the door with someone and it will make you feel good about yourself! Many preserves have coordinated volunteer opportunities but even if your preferred locale does not, most managers are happy to have some help from an eager volunteer. This type of association can lead to research opportunities, such as those mentioned above, mentorship opportunities, or simply a contact in the working world.
So, you have a project in mind or an itch to volunteer…what do you do next? First, you need identify where you would like to work and what kind of work you’re interested in. Next, figure out whom you need to talk to. The Internet is great for this. Most preserves have at least a small website with a phone number or email address for a contact person. Or, you can visit the preserve you’re interested in and ask around. You might be surprised how willing most people are to help a student in need! Finally, be organized. When approaching an organization or manager with an idea, be sure to have a plan. This means that you should have an idea of the type of work you’re interested in, the scope of your project, and how much time, money, or effort it will cost both you and the land manager. It’s also important to address the needs of the preserve and try to work that into your goals, if the manager is interested in that. Be flexible. Research is a give-and-take process, so make sure you bring more to the table than a list of demands. Emphasize that this can be a beneficial undertaking for both you and the preserve. Although collaborations can make research more complicated, they can also provide interesting and exciting opportunities, especially for someone with an interest in applied work. So go out, find your perfect partnership, and you just might achieve symbiosis!
Heather Schneider 