9413141 Murdoch This award to an outstanding group of ecologist and geographers will support a multi-disciplinary training program focused on spatial aspects of terrestrial, marine and freshwater ecosystems. The research programs of the 12 faculty members span small to global spatial scales in studies of natural, exploited and managed systems, ranging from individual populations to ecosystems. In the context of the training program, faculty will aim for a synthesis of two approaches: that of the analysis of underlying mechanisms responsible for the dynamics of ecological systems, and that of the analysis of patterns over a large range of spatial scales. The award will support the training of undergraduate and graduate students in both theoretical and experimental approaches combined with instruction in the use of current modeling techniques. Instruction will involve a combination of coursework, seminars, and workshops; students will also have the opportunity to participate in an industrial internship program that are integral to the activity. This award is also supported by the Geography and Regional Science Program. ***
