MILES (Managing Idaho's Landscapes for Ecosystem Services) aims to advance the state of Idaho's capacity to solve complex social‐ecological processes associated with urban growth of mid‐sized cities. Rapidly growing, mid‐sized urban population centers are altering proximal ecosystem services on which these communities depend, a trend of global significance. In the western United States, the expansion of the urban interface often involves disruption of agricultural production, water resources, and amenity‐based services that are driving growth in the first place; these changes are coupled with shifts in societal demand and values. Idaho, through MILES, will contribute to the resolution of this grand challenge by engaging in innovative research, engagement and education.
Interdisciplinary research plays an important role in addressing the complex issues surrounding social-ecological systems (SES). The MILES Team Map depicts the intersections and overlaps of team member involvement in various project components.
MILES Project Components
Cyberinfrastructure: The major goals of Cyberinfrastructure are to develop novel and efficient methods to assimilate data to be used in modeling and visualization; support data management and communication with stakeholders; and develop capacity in visualization.
Diversity: MILES will identify and recruit underrepresented minorities students in Idaho high schools and universities, train mentors for them, support the advancement of students through new partnerships between Idaho high schools and institutions of higher education.
Evaluation & Assessment: The progress of MILES towards its goals will be evaluated using a comprehensive assessment plan with both quantitative and qualitative methods.
External Engagement: MILES will demonstrate the relevance of SES science through the use of experiential learning activities, social media, programming networks in local communities, and video segments.
Integration: MILES components are integrated on several levels: science and stakeholders, science disciplines, and research and education. ONEIdaho, which links UI, BSU and ISU is also embedded throughout the project.
Integrative Modeling of SES: The integrative modeling platform will be used to produce future scenarios reflecting potential change of the biophysical and social landscape related to social-ecological system (SES) services and their vulnerability.
Management: The Idaho EPSCoR leadership team will oversee organization and implementation of the project. They will work with component leads to provide scientific and Education, Outreach and Diversity leadership.
SES Characterization & Vulnerability: This activity will characterize historical and current patterns of landscape change; map decision‐making processes within Social-Ecological Systems (SES); identify vulnerabilities as well as drivers of change that affect ecosystem services.
Stakeholder Engagement: This activity will build research‐stakeholder communication to align MILES research with stakeholder needs and transfer MILES knowledge to stakeholders.
Sustainability: Growth will be supported by progressively transferring EPSCoR funded faculty and manager positions to state support; building the competitive research enterprise around MILES; and leveraging private sector support through stakeholder partnerships.
Visualization & Virtualization: This activity will develop and implement visualization tools and virtualization environments to develop new capacity, and promote communication and engagement between researchers and stakeholders groups.
Workforce Development: MILES aims to raise the profile of STEM knowledge and career development opportunities existing within the state to strengthen the enrollment and retention of students in higher education STEM fields.
