MILES

RESEARCH

MILES scientists study the relationship between humans and their natural environment, in particular the use of ecosystem services provided by nature. More specifically, we focus on the margins of mid-sized cities to characterize how the use of ecosystem services changes as these communities grow in space and time. Our goal is to identify the drivers of change, create models to predict future use of ecosystem services, and then inform decision-makers, such as city and county governments or federal land agencies, of their future options.

We adopt a unique approach to studying Ecosystem Services. First, we form collaborative research teams of biophysical and social scientists to equally characterize the natural ecosystem and human-environmental interactions. Second, we initiate our research by asking stakeholders what ecosystem service changes, real or potential, are most important to them. Their answers guide our research plan and provide an audience for our results, yielding an immediate impact for our research findings.

MILES scientists at Idaho State University have projects all across Idaho, but much of our research concerns water-related ecosystem services near Pocatello along the lower Portneuf River. We analyze services such as water supply (irrigation, drinking water), water quality, flood control, and water-based aesthetic and recreational services (fishing, boating, hiking, biking) with particular interest in the different ways that rural and urban citizens prefer to manage each type of service.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

MILES is training a diverse workforce for Idaho's industry, businesses, and government agencies. We select well-qualified students, provide interdisciplinary training and mentorship, and teach them to be valuable team members. Nearly all education is outside the classroom where students learn to be responsible, independent, problem-solvers. Recognizing the value of gender- and ethnic-diversity to our future, MILES students include a large number of women and under-represented minorities.

Graduate students receive full funding and complete MS theses or PhD dissertations on a MILES-related topic. Supervised by an interdisciplinary team of professors, these students will enter the workforce with a unique skill set and understanding of coupled human and natural systems. Idaho State University will train ~20 graduate students through the MILES program, and those who have already graduated are now employed or pursuing futher education in MILES-related science.

Undergraduate students participate in the MILES Undergraduate Research Internship (MURI) program. Each student spends ~300 hours during the school year or summer as a team member on a MILES research project, supervised by a faculty member or graduate student. The impact is substantial - after the internship a majority of undergraduates say they now want to earn a PhD degree. Idaho State University will train 100 undergraduate students through the MURI program. Further information on the MURI program can be found HERE .

K12 teachers can participate in the week-long Adventure Learning program. Hosted each summer at each of the three universities, Adventure Learning provides knowledge and instructional materials so that teachers can introduce modern concepts of Ecosystem Services to multiple cohorts of pre-college students. Idaho State University will train ~50 teachers directly and another ~100 teachers through its digi-learning platform.