NSF supports YERC Science Advisors for Field Station Planning Conference
Throughout 2006 and 2007, YERC has operated under a National Science Foundation grant that seeks
to scope future development possibilities for the Cooke City Field Station. As part of the grant, YERC brought together members of its Scientific Advisory Council (SAC) in June 2006 and June 2007 to help
brainstorm how the Field Station might someday serve
as the premier biological field station in Greater Yellowstone.
Planning Follows OBFS Guidelines
The planning process is following Organization of Biological Field Stations (of which YERC is a member) guidelines, meaning
that we will develop a Program Plan, Facilities Plan, and Master Plan for the new field station. Each step in the process provides educational opportunities--YERC
Field Techs have had input to
facilities scoping; Montana State University (MSU) architectural and engineering students will provide
input to structural,
HVAC, construction, and landscape designs; and business students will help determine
the economic impact of an improved Field Station on Cooke City.
YERC is Committed to being a Good Neighbor
YERC believes that community involvement and engagement of the
eventual proposed changes
will be key to long term Field Station success. We want to be good neighbors and
thus seek to have an open planning process. Part of the 2006 SAC weekend included a
YERC-hosted community breakfast where the entire populace of Cooke City was invited! This
breakfast--catered by a local business--gave the community a chance to learn
about possible development activities and more about their YERC
neighbors, plus gave YERC and the SAC a chance to learn
about community concerns over possible development. YERC has continued to gather input from the local community members throughout 2006 and 2007 as we progress with our planning.
Planning Grant Documents of Interest
- Art McKee's talk on Bringing a Field Station to Life
(.ppt; 0.1 mB)
- Stephen Attell's talk on Zero Net Carbon Field Stations
(.ppt; ~2.9 mB )
- Bill Zanoni's talk on Sustainable Field Station Building Practices
(.ppt; ~9 mB)
- Bob Crabtree's talk on An Overview of YERC
(.pdf; ~5.3 mB)
- Must/want analysis for the makeup of a permanent field station, completed by
members of the SAC and field techs living at the current YERC field
Station
(.xls; ~0.03 mB)
- YERC five year mission (2007) (.doc, 0.51mB);
- MSU's Center for Community Design 2007 planning and design report (On CD, by request)
- YERC NSF Planning Grant report (by request)
- MSU's Center for Community Design 2008 revised floor plans for the new facilty (.pdf: ~0.38mB)
