TITLE:    Interfacing Education and Ecological Research at Long Term 
Ecological Research (LTER) sites and Biological Field Stations (BFS).
AUTHORS:  S.Ortega, P.Sprott, M.Krasny, J.Moore, H.Swaine, M.Elser,
B.Kloeppel, K.Baker, R.Bohanan, B.Lyons
DATE:     12-16 February 2001
PLACE:    The Ecological Society of America, 
		   Aquatic Sciences 2001, Albuquerque, New Mexico
THEME:    Making Connections in the 21st Century
URL:      http://www.aslo.org/albuquerque2001/

PANEL
Requested: Discussion Session, middle of the week, 
  afternoon preferred, evening OK
Duration: 2 hours
Facilitators: Sonia Ortega and Patty Sprott (LTER Network Office)
Panelists: 
  Marianne Krasny- Cornell University
  John Moore U. Northern Colorado
  Hilary Swain - Archbold Biological Station
  Monica Elser - Arizona State University
  Brian Kloeppel - U. Georgia
  Karen Baker - UC Santa Barbara
  Robert Bohanan - U. Wisconsin
  Berry Lyons - Ohio State U.
  Stephanie Bestelmeyer - Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park	

 The Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network has started a 
broad-scale long-term effort to combine scientific research and 
science education. The Mission of LTER Education is to use the 
uniqueness of the LTER Network to promote learning about long-
term ecological processes and the earth's ecosystems.  Similarly, 
Biological Field Stations (BFS) provide unique opportunities for 
research and ecological education for K-12, under graduates, 
graduate students and beyond. 

The goal of the session is to provide ESA members with an overview 
of the many education opportunities available at LTER sites and BFS. 
These will include schoolyard projects for K-12 students and teachers, 
problem-based learning, inquiry-based education for graduate students, 
and professional development opportunities for post-docs and faculty.  
The follow up discussion intends to focus on how scientists and 
educators can work together towards common goals and how graduate 
students and faculty can use inquiry-based learning in the teaching 
of ecological principles.