Development of a National Parks and Protected Areas Cooperative Studies Program on the Oregon State University Cascades Campus

Project ID: P15AC01598

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Partner Institution: Oregon State University

Fiscal Year: 2015

Initial Funding: $7,990

Total Funding: $767,924

Project Type: Education

Project Disciplines: Interdisciplinary

National Park: Upper Columbia Network Inventory & Monitoring

Principal Investigator: Shinderman, Matt

Agreement Technical Representative: Dicus, Gordon

Abstract: The Upper Columbia Basin Network (UCBN) of the National Park Service (NPS) will collaborate with Oregon State University (OSU) Cascades Campus to develop a national parks and protected areas cooperative studies program. This program will be housed within OSU Cascades’ Center for the Advancement of Sustainable Communities and Dynamic Ecosystems (CASCaDE) in Bend, Oregon. The specific project objectives are to: 1) provide support for the collaborative park studies office work space within CASCaDE on the OSU Cascades Campus for interns and students and NPS staff to be co-located for effective collaboration; 2) jointly develop park studies curricula to enhance OSU Cascades natural resources course offerings; 3) use ongoing NPS and OSU investigations of the American pika’s vulnerability to climate change to develop a collaborative model for integrating research and monitoring with NPS units serving as laboratories for academic research; and 4) establish an annual 8-week summer internship program for high-performing high school students participating in the Saturday Academy Apprenticeship in Science and Engineering Program. This Task Agreement will be conducted in a phased approach; Phase 1 includes establishment of the collaborative park studies office and curricula development to enhance OSU Cascades natural resources course offerings. Expected products include: a summary of curricula development needs and opportunities; a collaborative plan and model for integrating research and monitoring with NPS units serving as laboratories, emphasizing American pika investigations; and a final report.