Background: Possibly the most pressing aspect of decreased biodiversity for the remaining life on earth is the potential alteration, impairment, or failure of ecosystem functioning. Ecosystem functioning refers to the total biogeochemical processes occurring within an ecosystem and is essentially, the cycling of nutrients, matter and energy. It has been hypothesized that the amount of relevant biotic traits in a community, or its functional diversity, is the most appropriate “tool” to be used when investigating ecosystem functioning, as this is the biological aspect that directly relates to the functioning of an ecosystem. One of the most commonly cited definitions of functional diversity is that of Tilman (2001) “…the values and range in the values, for the species present in an ecosystem, of those organismal traits that influence one or more aspects of the functioning of an ecosystem.” Therefore, the greater the number of species in a particular functional group, the greater the functional redundancy of the group (assuming the species within the group differ to some extent), be it an effect or response group. Functional diversity can also be used as a tool to estimate the ecological interactions occurring in an ecosystem, and the potential changes in these interactions due to changes in assemblage species composition.

Research Aims:

1) Functional traits- statistical significant functional groups of Western Australian fishes can be creates both a priori and post- hoc, based on relevant functional traits. This section includes in- depth methods and predicted outcomes

2) Changes in functional diversity within and among regions-  Functional diversity and functional groups of western Australian marine fishes will differ among regions with respect to environmental conditions and anthropogenic impacts. Also has in-depth methods and predicted outcomes.

3) Temporal variability in functional diversity- temporal variability in fish species biomass will not be observed at the functional group level; instead the relative biomass contributions of species to a functional group will fluctuate. Methods and Predicted outcomes.

4) The influence of fishing upon functional diversity- marine fish functional diversity and the relative biomass contribution of marine fishes to functional groups at the Abrolhos Islands will be altered with respect to fishing intensity.

5) Comparison of geographically isolated marine fish assemblages utilizing functional diversity- functional diversity and functional groups of marine fishes will not differ among geographically separated comparable ecosystems.

6) Predicting the effects of climate change upon fish assemblage through functional diversity- The poleward distribution change of species will be able to be predicted through the use of changes in functional response groups, and the potential regional change in ecosystem functioning approximated through the resulting changes in functional effect groups. Methods and Predicted Outcome and then references.

A Candidature Plan was formed and so was an outline of the budget. A description of fieldwork was presented and the supervisors as well.

Reference: Research Proposal for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Western Australia, 2009. Title: Environmental and Anthropogenic Influences upon Western Australian Marine Fish Functional Diversity and Functional Groups.

Dated 2007, Rush University Medical Center proposed a proposal to the Retirement Research Foundation which intended to provide physicians resource to improve their assessment of capacity of older persons. The research aimed to train physicians through an on-line curriculum. The proposal explained that an online curriculum would allow to a quick and easy access. The on-line curriculum also aims to train medical students as well, though the proposal gave the impression that physicians are the main emphasized target. With a total cost of $382,149 for the project, the requested amount came to $302,240 and the proposed length of the project was determined to be 2 years long.

The proposal holds high significance because, at least for the time that the paper was proposed, no training research existed for physicians and medical students for access to in-depth knowledge of legal, medical, psychological, and social work regarding patient capacity. The project would encompass work expertise accumulated from 130 years of experience regarding people with disabilities. The first step in the procedure of the project is to accomplish an “Environmental scan” which, as stated in the name, would scan for existing resources on capacity assessment.

The online resource would include the draft curriculum, video clips, electronic handbook, and laminated reference card. After piloting the draft curriculum, telephone focus groups will be conducted to analyze the feedback given by physicians. The feedback would serve as useful information on aspects of the training that was valued and also possible problems with the training.

The proposal explained the two objectives of the project. The first goal was stated, “Develop training for physicians on the clinical and legal aspects of capacity to improve their ability to assess patient capacity.” The second goal was stated, “Inform the national health care community that capacity training exists and easily accessible. Encourage physicians to access curriculum.” The project not only aims to enhance the assessment ability of the physicians that would take part in the training, the project also aims to expand the awareness that such training exist and that it is available on-line. The encouragement to use this training would hopefully combat the increasing issue to assess patient capacity.

This sample grant proposal was created by Kurzweil Education Systems as a guide for non-profits looking to obtain funding. It is a very thorough document that encloses a Cover Letter and Cover Page in addition to the Grant Proposal itself. One of the most pleasing things about the proposal (besides its thoroughness) is that it is divided up into sections, which I plan to utilize for my project.

(Page 1) The cover letter serves to introduce the organization, the amount requested and what the organization intends to do with the money. It serves as an introduction to engage the reader, as well as giving the basic information so that the reader knows immediately what and who the money would be going to.

(Page 2) The cover page then says the name of the organization, thorough contact information of the requestor, and date submitted. It gives the proposal a professional look and helps to spread out some of the information that would have otherwise been included in the cover letter or grant proposal.

(Pages 3-5) The proposal is then split up into sections:

Project Abstract: Provides a brief description of the organization and the specific project that the money would be going to.

Statement of need: Explains exactly why and what the money is needed for.

Program Description: Provides a more in-depth description of the program that requires money,

Description of Assistive technology: Describes the technology the grant would be helping pay for and why it is necessary for the program.

Goals & Objectives: Explains the “big picture” goals that the project aims to accomplish and why they are important

Timeline: Gives a month-by-month estimate from when the organization is notified of the (hopeful) grant until the project is completed.

Thorough Budget: An exact chart breakdown of what funds will be allocated where.

Evaluation: An explanation of how effectiveness of the project/ accomplishment of goals will be tested

Appendix: Any relevant supporting literature, supporting statements from those a part of the program, etc.

LINK TO DOCUMENT: https://www.kurzweiledu.com/files/proof_resources_grant1.pdf

Jennifer Rudgers (project leader), Kenneth Whitney and Calvin Trostle of the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department of Rice University are requesting $200,000 for a 2-year research project on the ecological and evolutionary impacts of pollinator sharing between cultivated and wild sunflowers. Through a combination of observational and experimental field studies, they hope to examine the interactions between cultivated and wild sunflowers. More specifically, the research aims to study the interaction of pollinators (more often than not bees) with wild and crop sunflowers:
–Does close proximity of wild sunflowers alter behavior, composition or abundance of pollinators visiting crop sunflowers?
–Does close proximity of wild sunflowers alter sunflower crop yield?
–Does close proximity of cultivated sunflowers alter behavior, composition or abundance of pollinators visiting wild sunflowers?
–Does close proximity of cultivated sunflowers alter natural selection of floral traits of wild sunflowers?
Research will be conducted at four different locations in Texas:
–The city of Corpus Christi in collaboration with a local farmer, Charles Ring
–The city of Temple in collaboration with two local farmers
–The city of Lubbock in collaboration with local farmers
–Texas A&M facilities
These principal investigators have recruited 7 students (1 graduate and 6 undergraduate) to help with the project as well as provide a learning opportunity. These students will be given the opportunity to present their findings in the Rice Undergraduate Research Symposium and at national meetings.

International Institute of Social Studies, “Education and Development in Low Income Countries: How to Improve the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Education Policies.” Accessed April 5, 2014. http://www.iss.nl/fileadmin/ASSETS/iss/Student_profiles/PhD/PhD_foto_s_pdf_s/Education_Policies_in_Ecuador.pdf.

The 1980s and 1990s were a time of social reforms in Ecuador. However, in the 80s, educational achievement worsened. Test scores fell and repetition and dropout rates rose. In the1990s the government began focusing more on education and implemented several programs in schools toward the end of the decade. Due to a changing economy, education is very important in Ecuador.

This article’s research topic is educational performance and its tie to economic development. The researchers ask “whether access to education is a sufficient condition for improvement of social well-being and economic growth, or whether further importance should be given to more educational quality.” The researchers ask three additional questions: (1) “What are the most cost-effective policies to improve school enrolment [sic]?” (2) “What type of education policies are most cost-effective to improve educational quality, both in terms of school efficiency (internal and external), and school effectiveness?” (3) “What is the political feasibility of most cost-effective educational policies?”

This study will use household capabilities and supply-side factors to answer the research question. The study will also look at student test scores. Finally, the study will look at the attitudes and opinions of important actors in the education system. The authors will create econometric models to analyze the data. In addition, they will analyze test scores by looking at test scores of a control group and a group participating in the programs that are meant to be improving the school system. While analyzing test scores, the authors will use standardized tests and control for innate abilities, family background, sample selection, etc. Lastly, the authors will take a qualitative analysis approach to analyze the attitudes and opinions of important educational actors. To analyze school enrolment [sic], the authors will use the most recent living standards measurement survey. A follow-up survey will also be used.

This research proposal did an excellent job of providing a literature review and discussing the shortcomings of that review. Then, the authors demonstrated how they planned to address these shortcomings with their research and improve upon research that is already published. Additionally, the authors did a wonderful job explaining the importance of their research, and why they felt passionate about it. This particular proposal did include a hypothesis, but it was very broad and did not address some of the detailed questions the researchers were proposing to ask. The description of the methodology could have been a little more clear and explained in more detail. The concluding section, which explained the specific contributions the authors hoped to make with this research, was a great way to conclude the proposal.

Energy Efficiency in Homes: An Introduction and Study Proposal

It is no secret that homes across the country are wasting large amounts of energy. In the winter, heat slips out of poorly sealed windows, under cracks in the door, and through un-insulated attics. In the summertime, the sun beams into the house, causing air conditioning to be turned up. Hall lights and televisions are left on for hours, and these inefficiencies begin to add up.

The proposed study is a “a potential case study that would enable policy makers, energy providers, and advocates in Chapel Hill and Carrboro measure the impact of energy efficiency.”

Topic: Impact of energy efficiency

Site: 4 neighborhoods in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, North Carolina

Method: Survey and follow-up interviews – gauge residents’ attitudes toward energy use as well as their knowledge of energy efficient improvements and available assistance programs

Analysis: Survey responses would be tabulated and analyzed with statistical software

Expectations:

1. Renters would be less concerned about rising energy costs and less likely to have taken any measures to reduce these costs than homeowners.
2. Some positive correlation between an occupant’s low income and efforts to reduce heating bills, as those with less money would be more concerned with keeping their costs as low as possible.
3. Expect slightly more people who heat their homes with oil or natural gas to pursue improved energy efficiency.
4. The percentage of people who took measures to improve the energy efficiency of their homes would be significantly less than those who claim that their energy costs create a financial hardship.

http://gradschool.unc.edu/funding/gradschool/weiss/energyefficiency.pdf

PREPARED BY MEMBERS OF THE
2005-2006 WEISS URBAN LIVABILITY FELLOWSHIP AT UNC-CHAPEL HILL http://www.unc.edu/depts/grad/Weiss/weiss.html

LEIRAN BITON, RAPHAEL GINSBERG, BRANNON INGRAM, HEATHER JANKOWSKI, ABBY PARCELL, AND BRIAN TURNER

This research proposal, “Improving Wind Turbine Efficiency Through Whales-inspired Blade Design”, was done by a student at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California. The proposed research in this proposal is an investigation of improvement to traditional horizontal-axis wind turbines by simulating the bumps on humpback whales’ fins into blades of the turbine. The idea is that this will create blades that are more aerodynamic through creating turbulence in the airflow behind the grooves. The focus of the project is designing, creating a prototype and then testing a horizontal-axis wind turbine with these blades inspired by the whales. In addition this research could show the differences between this new prototype and a traditional horizontal-axis wind turbine in the turbulent flow field as well as in the energy efficiency. The hopeful outcome is that the new prototype incorporating whale-inspired blades will prove to be more energy efficient. According to Alex Krause, the author along with faculty advisers, this new prototype is a good solution to the increasing need for alternative and sustainable sources of energy. Currently converting wind energy into electricity is not as efficient as it could be and still needs some engineering design innovation.

The research topic of this proposal is the investigation of the turbulent flow field and aerodynamics of current wind turbines as well as of these new blades in order to improve efficiency of wind turbine energy conversion. Part of this research project would, as stated above, be designing a prototype and then testing it as well as refining the prototype for application in wind turbines. The research question of this proposal is; would whale-inspired blades versus the traditional blades used in horizontal-axis wind turbines be more efficient at energy conversion?

The type of data needed for this research is observational data, observing prototypes and what works and what doesn’t. The data gathering method consists of basic trial and error. The author plans to model the prototype out of wood to start and use models from simulating software in order to see how the new blade will work.

This research is very relevant because it is a student working with faculty as well as a graduate student and proposing his research he will do in the near future. This research is also significant because it’s not only looking into alternative sources of energy which are needed more and more each day, but also because the research is figuring out how to make this alternative energy source even more efficient and even more useful.

Krause, Alex. “Improving Wind Turbine Efficiency Through Whales-inspired Blade Design”. Harvey Mudd College. N.p., 2 March. 2009. Web. 3 April. 2014 <https://www.hmc.edu/biology/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2013/12/krauserobinsonproposal-0.pdf>

Who researched:
Diana Reiss and Lori Marino
When researched:
Received for review on October 3, 2000
Accepted February 20, 2001
Published online before print on May 1, 2001
Where researched:
New York Aquarium in Brooklyn, New York
Research methods:
Two subjects were used: a 13-year-old captive-born male bottlenose dolphin and a 17-year-old captive-born male bottlenose dolphin
During an experiment the dolphin being tested was videotaped 30 minutes prior to feeding (served as a control session) and 30 minutes after feeding (for a total of 63 tapings). During feeding, the dolphin being tested was marked, sham-marked or not marked at all. If marked, the researcher used a temporary nontoxic black ink marker to create a circle, triangle or X-shaped mark. The dolphin being tested was then either exposed to a mirror, a covered mirror (reflective side was turned away from the pool) or no mirror.
Four observers (two experienced dolphin researchers and two highly trained assistants) reviewed the videotapes and marked the duration, location and time of occurrence of specific behaviors. Behaviors caught on the videotape (after feeding) were put into four different categories: self-directed, non-directed, ambiguous or social.
–self-directed–behaviors in which the animal positioned himself at the reflective surface and oriented himself so that the marked area was visible to the animal in the mirror.
–exploratory–self-directed behaviors that included repetitious head circling, close viewing of the eye, and close viewing of the genital region directed at the reflective surface.
–social behaviors–behaviors typically observed when these dolphins confront a familiar or unfamiliar dolphin (jaw-clapping, charging, or affiliative responses).
33 sessions were conducted for the 13-year-old dolphin:
8 pre-feeding control sessions, 8 post-feeding control sessions, 1 post-feeding control session with an additional mirror present, 3 early sham-mark sessions, 6 mark sessions, 4 mark session with an additional mirror, and 3 late sham-mark sessions.
40 sessions were conducted for the 17-year-old dolphin:
20 non-marked pre-feeding control sessions, 11 post-feeding marked sessions with the mirror present, 5 marked conditions with a covered mirror or no mirror, and 4 unmarked conditions with the mirror.
Not all of these sessions were reviewed/used.
What they learned:
Both dolphins provided definitive evidence that they used the mirror to investigate parts of their bodies that were marked. Therefore, this is the first study to show evidence of a non-primate species being capable of mirror self-recognition. This study has provided several possible insights into the bottlenose dolphin: an evolutionary convergence with great apes and humans, an ability to use a mirror to mediate or guide their behavior, and that this species is capable of abstract levels of self-awareness.

Lack of Sleep Kills Brain Cells, New Study Shows.  By Melanie Haiken. http://www.forbes.com/sites/melaniehaiken/2014/03/20/lack-of-sleep-kills-brain-cells-new-study-suggests/

“Researchers from the center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology at the University of Pennsylvania found that prolonging wakefulness damages a particular type of brain cell called locus ceruleus (LC) neurons.” The LC neurons maintain alertness, and keeping us awake.  Studies prove that this brain-damage is irreversible, and the brain cells can not be recovered.  Mice were sleep deprived for several days, and experienced “25% loss of LCs in a particular section of the brain stem.”

The articles research topic is health and how important sleep is to the brain.  The research question is asking: What health effects does sleep deprivation have on the brain?  The type of data needed for this study can be found on public or private records.  The data retrieval method will be medical observations, and scanning the brain.

To analyze how the brain is affected the scientists need data on the brain before and after the sleep deprivation tests.  The scientists will need a controlled group that maintains a normal sleep schedule and a group that becomes sleep deprived; this allows the scientists to compare the difference between normal sleep and lack of sleep.   Then the data is analyzed by running a correlation test between brain damage results and sleep deprivation.  I believe this research is conducted thoroughly and produces extraordinary results.  I think everyone should take note of the importance of sleep, and should maintain healthy sleep schedules.