KECK INSTITUTE FOR SPACE STUDIES

       

Unlocking a New Era in Biodiversity Science: Linking Integrated Space Based and In-Situ Observations

October 1 - 5, 2018
California Institute of Technology - Pasadena, CA 91125

Workshop Overview:

Biodiversity loss is a major threat to ecosystem health and to Earth’s life support systems, with human activities causing rapid and widespread loss and shifts in distribution. These changes will have accelerating consequences for human well-being and the flows of carbon, water, nutrients, and energy through the Earth system. Progress in both fundamental biodiversity science and applied conservation efforts has been constrained by limited spatial and temporal availability of biodiversity data. These gaps are largest in areas where biodiversity is greatest and where it may be most threatened, highlighting the need for globally consistent and continuous approaches for assessing changes in biodiversity.

Progress in advancing biodiversity science globally and in developing consistent approaches for assessing biodiversity change demands integrating findings across temporal, spatial and biological scales and linking knowledge across many fields. Yet most biodiversity studies and initiatives to date have been limited in spatial or temporal scope and largely grounded in the biological sciences only. In contrast, efforts emphasizing use of remote sensing data sources make limited use of cross-sensor fusion and tend not to integrate with the large stores of wide-ranging, ground-based data collections housed at museums and other institutes. Currently, there is no global, harmonized observation system for delivering regular, timely data on biodiversity status and change. Hence the biodiversity science community would be fundamentally revolutionized by the development of a capability to continuously monitor biodiversity through integrated remote sensing and ground-based approaches, including the use of key traits (Essential Biodiversity Variables-EBVs) across the globe.

The focus of this study program is to advance progress towards the development of a global biodiversity observation system that couples space-based and ground-based approaches to quantifying biodiversity, to identify gaps in biodiversity traits and EBVs, and to explore how the fusion of diverse remote sensing measurements can contribute to monitoring biodiversity change. At this unique time point when NASA and international partners are on the verge of launching a series of new missions, the study program provides the opportunity to inform development and planning of Earth science missions that can contribute to the maturation of imaging spectroscopy, imaging radar, vegetation canopy LIDAR, and other developing remote sensing technologies to advance biodiversity science. The goal is to develop a roadmap to establish an integrated global biodiversity monitoring system that enlists advancing spaceborne remote sensing technological capabilities together with ever-increasing ground-based in situ data collections and field observations. This program will initiate a new era in biodiversity science, supporting characterization and monitoring globally of biological variation across spatial, temporal and biological scales.


Monday, October 1, 2018
Salvatori Seminar Room, South Mudd Building (3rd floor) - Caltech

Short Course:
Biodiversity Science and Remote Sensing Fundamentals
Introductory Lectures - Open to all interested students, researchers and faculty

Time
Event
Speaker
8:00 - 8:30 Coffee and Refreshments
8:30 - 8:40 Logistics / Introduction Michele Judd
Erika Podest
8:40 ‐ 9:20 Biodiversity Science
(223 MB .pdf)
Jeannine Cavender-Bares
9:20 ‐ 10:00 Remote Sensing Physics and Measurements
(6 MB .pdf)
Kyle McDonald
10:00 ‐ 10:30 Break
10:30 ‐ 11:10 Imaging Spectroscopy from Space
(146 MB .pdf)
Phil Townsend
11:10 ‐ 11:50 Species Distribution Modeling
(3.8 MB .pdf)
Robert Guralnick
11:50 ‐ 12:30 Biodiversity Policy and Assessing Progress Towards Policy Goals
(2.27 MB .pdf)
Gary Geller
12:30 ‐ 1:30 Short Course Ends: Informal Lunch is provided outside Salvatori Seminar Room

Invitation-Only Workshop Begins:
Keck Center - Think Tank, Room 155

1:30 - 1:45 Walk to Keck Center, pick up badge and welcome packet, find seat in the Think Tank
1:45 - 2:30 Workshop Logistics and Introduction to KISS Michele Judd
2:30 - 3:00 Participant Introductions Michele Judd
3:00 - 3:30 Study Vision and Goals for this Workshop Team Leads
3:30 - 4:00 Break
4:00 - 5:15 Finalize Study Vision and Workshop Goals via Plenary Discussion Team Leads
5:15 - 5:30 Solicitation of Lightning Talks Team Leads
5:30 - 6:00 Pack up and walk to the Athenaeum All
6:00 Dinner at the Athenaeum

Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Keck Center - Think Tank, Room 155

Time
Event
Speaker
8:00 ‐ 8:30 Institute Opens - FREE THINK TIME
8:30 ‐ 9:00 Coffee and Refreshments at Keck Center
9:00 - 9:15 Logistics and Team Lead Goals for the Day Michele Judd
Team Leads
9:15 - 9:35

A NASA Perspective on Biodiversity Science: Where Do We Go From Here?
(4.1 MB .pdf)

Woody Turner
9:35 - 9:55 NSF Perspective on Biodiversity Science
(4 MB .pdf)
Elizabeth Blood
9:55 - 10:15 Remote Sensing of the Biodiversity Gap
(15.95 MB.pdf)
David Schimel
10:15 - 10:30 Selection of Breakout Groups and Topics All
10:30 - 11:00 Break
11:00 ‐ 12:30 Breakout Groups Meet Groups
12:30 ‐ 2:00 Group Picture and Lunch at the Athenaeum
2:00 - 2:45 Report outs from breakout groups (15 mins each) Groups
2:45 ‐ 3:15

Lightning Talks (2) or Special Talk Topic (20 min + Q&A)
1) Introduction to NatureServe Methods and Data - Pat Comer (4.96 MB .pdf)

2) Tropical forests: Research questions, representation in models, and the ForestGEOplots - Helene C. Muller-Landau (4.8 MB .pdf)

Pat Comer

Helene C. Muller-Landau

3:15 - 3:30 Selection of Breakout Groups and Topics All
3:30 ‐ 4:00 Break
4:00 - 5:30 Breakout Groups Meet Groups
5:30 - 7:30 POSTER SESSION and Informal food truck dinner at the Keck Center
(dinner starts at 6:30 pm)

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Keck Center - Think Tank, Room 155

Time
Event
Speaker
8:00 ‐ 8:30 Institute Opens - FREE THINK TIME
8:30 - 9:00 Coffee and Refreshments at Keck Center
9:00 - 9:15 Logistics and Team Lead Goals for the Day Michele Judd and Team Leads
9:15 - 9:45

Report Outs from Breakout Groups (10 mins each)

Groups
9:45 ‐ 10:30 Issues of Scale in Biodiversity Science
(34.2 MB .pdf)
John Gamon
10:30 - 11:00 Break
11:00 - 11:45 Lightning talks (3) TBD by participants
11:45 ‐ 12:30 Plenary Discussion, Selection of Breakout Groups and Topics All
12:30 ‐ 2:00 Lunch at the Athenaeum
2:00 - 3:30 Breakout Groups Meet All
3:30 ‐ 4:00 Break
4:00 - 4:45 Report outs from breakout groups (15 mins each) Groups
4:45 - 5:30 Plenary Discussion on Participant Wants and Needs
Selection of Next Day's Breakout Groups
All
5:30 Workshop Day #3 Ends All
6:00 OPTIONAL: No-Host Dinner in Pasadena (KISS pays for grad students and postdocs)

Thursday, October 4, 2018

Keck Center - Think Tank, Room 155

Time
Event
Speaker
8:00 - 8:30 Institute Opens - FREE THINK TIME
8:30 - 9:00 Coffee and Refreshments at Keck Center
9:00 - 9:15 Logistics and Team Lead Goals for the Day Michele Judd and Team Leads
9:15 - 10:00

Overview of Marine BON activities, EBVs and EOVs
(9.64 MB .pdf)

Frank Muller-Karger
10:00 - 10:30 Lightning talks (2) TBD by participants
10:30 - 11:00 Break
11:00 - 12:00 Breakout Groups Meet All
12:00 - 12:30 Report outs from breakout groups (10 mins each)  
12:30 - 3:30 KISS Snacks on bus / Lunch on your own
VISIT TO HUNTINGTON GARDENS
Lunch on your own
FREE TIME
3:30 - 4:00 Break
4:00 - 4:30 Plenary Discussion  
4:00 - 5:30 FREE THINK TIME (individual, or self organizing small groups) Groups
5:30 Workshop Day #4 Ends All
6:00 Dinner at the Athenaeum (with spouses and significant others)

Friday, October 5, 2018

Keck Center - Think Tank, Room 155

Time
Event
Speaker
8:00 - 8:30 Institute Opens - FREE THINK TIME
8:30 - 9:00 Coffee and Refreshments at Keck Center
9:00 - 9:15 Logistics and Team Lead Goals for the Day Michele Judd and Team Leads
9:15 - 10:00

Breakout Groups Report OutScience

All
10:00 - 10:30 Open Discussion of Breakout Group Recommendations and Group Feedback All
10:30 - 11:00 Break
11:00 - 12:30 Open Discussion of Breakout Group Recommendations and Group Feedback (continued) All
12:30 - 1:30 Lunch at the Institute
1:30 - 3:30 Possible Break Outs to determine next steps during study session before workshop #2? All
3:30 - 4:00 Break
4:00 - 4:45 Final Study Activities and Assignments - Group Discussion All
4:45 - 5:00 Workshop Closeout Michele Judd
5:00 Workshop Concludes

Workshop Participants:

  • Laura Bertola – City College of New York
  • Elizabeth Blood – National Science Foundation
  • Ana Carnaval – City University of New York
  • Jeannine Cavender-Bares – University of Minnesota
  • Patrick Comer – NatureServe
  • David Coomes – University of Cambridge
  • Néstor Fernández - German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research(iDiv)
  • Christian Frankenberg – Caltech
  • John Gamon – University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • Gary Geller – JPL
  • Robert Guralnick – Florida Museum of Natural History
  • Walter Jetz – Yale University
  • Troy Magney - JPL
  • Kyle McDonald – The City College of New York
  • Jose Eduardo Meireles – University of Minnesota
  • Charles Miller - JPL
  • Enrique Montes – University of South Florida
  • Frank Muller-Karger – University of South Florida
  • Helene Muller-Landau – Smithsonian Institution
  • Ruth Oliver - Columbia University/Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
  • Monica Papeş – University of Tennessee
  • Ryan Pavlick – JPL
  • Naiara Pinto – JPL
  • Erika Podest – JPL
  • David Schimel – JPL
  • Anna Schweiger - University of Minnesota, Saint Paul
  • Gary Spiers – JPL
  • Derek Tesser – CUNY
  • David Thompson – JPL
  • Phil Townsend – University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Woody Turner – NASA Headquarters
  • Maria Tzortziou – CUNY/CCNY