Agriculture Lends New Breadth to Scientific Discovery in Northeastern Colorado

The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) and Colorado State University will host an event on Wednesday, April 27, to celebrate cutting-edge scientific research and collaboration that is, for the most part, taking place in a cornfield.

The farm, located outside of Sterling, is hosting NEON’s newest prototype site and a monitoring station managed by CSU. Data collected there is contributing to scientists’ understanding of agriculture management strategies to cope with drought and the interaction between agriculture and existing ecosystems.

NEON, which is headquartered in Boulder, will be the first observatory network of its kind designed to detect and enable forecasting of ecological change at continental scales over multiple decades. NEON’s prototype site in Sterling is the first of 62 sites that will be placed around the U.S. to collect ecological data.

CSU recently celebrated the opening of its Northeast Regional Engagement Center in Sterling, which provides meeting space for community groups and serves as a connection to partner resources.

The event will take place from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. April 27 at CSU’s Northeast Regional Engagement Center, 304 Main St., Sterling, Colo. The event will feature a research showcase and opportunities for public discussion about CSU and NEON projects in the area. Local research experts, scientists, elected officials, community members and NEON staff will be on hand. A field trip to NEON’s prototype site just outside of Sterling will follow.

11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Sterling Regional Engagement Center: Comments from 11-11:30 a.m. from NEON and CSU staff to be followed by research showcase and opportunities for questions-and-answers. Refreshments available.

1–2:30 p.m.
Field trip to NEON’s prototype site just outside of Sterling — Cars and vans to leave the Engagement Center at 1 p.m. and return around 2:30 p.m.

*********

The National Ecological Observatory Network is a National Science Foundation project designed to collect data across the United States on the impacts of climate change, land use change and invasive species on natural resources and biodiversity. NEON will be the first observatory network of its kind designed to detect and enable forecasting of ecological change at continental scales over multiple decades. The data NEON collects will be freely available over the web for science, education and decision-support purposes. For more information, go to www.neoninc.org.

Colorado State University, a four-year public research university located in Fort Collins, is a member institution of NEON, Inc. The Northeast Regional Engagement Center is a partnership between the Colorado State University Office of Engagement, Northeastern Junior College, and Morgan Community College. The center provides meeting space for community groups and serves as a connection to partner resources. For more information, go to www.colostate.edu.

-30-