Phys-Fest 4
October 15-20, 2023
Our host:
Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge
Phys-Fest 4 will take place at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, a dryland site in central New Mexico that spans shrub-step, desert, and short-grass prairie ecosystems.
Local hosts will be Dr. Will Pockman and Dr. Scott Collins.
Accommodations will be at the UNM Sevilleta Field Station, originally established to support the Sevilleta Long-Term Ecological Research program (SEV-LTER). The station has 10 houses, each with a full kitchen, 2 bathrooms, and either 3 or 5 bedrooms. Each bedroom has two twin beds. Bedding (pillows, sheets, blankets) and towels will be provided by the station. More information about field site accomodations can be found here.
Travel logistics:
Travel to Phys-fest 4 is via the Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ), which is a 45-50 minute drive from the Sevilleta field station. Phys-fest coordinators will pick up participants from the airport in groups to shuttle them to the field station.
Students and post-docs will receive a $300 travel voucher to offset travel expenses, and accommodation expenses will be covered. Most meals and drinks will be provided for all participants at the field station. We strive for there to be very minimal (or no) cost associated with attending this workshop for participants.
Research Sub-Groups
Student participants will be divided into four groups for the Phys-Fest. Each day, student groups will have a focal research topic (described below) to learn theory, technique, and application. With each new day comes a new research topic for each group!
1
Gas exchange and fluorescence
Leaf gas exchange is a fundamental measurement for plant ecophysiologists.
While less commonly performed, leaf fluorescence measurements provide complementary information on physiological health and the activity of photosystems. This group will showcase the why, how, when and where of leaf photosynthesis measurements.
Group leaders: Doug Lynch, Elizabeth Gordon, & Seton Bachle, Li-COR Biosciences, Inc.
2
Water potential
After turning sunlight into sugar, the second coolest thing about plants is their ability to passively move water long distances using tension pressures. This group will teach you the basics of water potential measurements including pressure-volume curves and osmotic potential to calculate the turgor loss point (among other variables). We will also show you how to make stem psychrometry measurements, which allow for continuous measurements of water potential.
Group leaders: Jessica Guo (U Arizona) and Kim Novick (U Indiana)
3
Thermal and hyperspectral imagery
Most animals are homeotherms, and have the ability to move around to adjust their environment. [Sigh], Boring. Plants take it, and they like it! We can measure changes in leaf temperature and leaf reflectance to understand stress, growth, activity, and leaf traits as a function of climate, location, phenology, and phylogeny. And the best part is how much data you can collect. Hello instant dissertation!
Group leaders: Bill Hammond (Univ. Florida) and Dan Griffith (Wesleyan University)
4
Environmental Sensors
It's hard to assess plant responses to the environment if you don't ever characterize changes in the environment. With that noted, programing data loggers, knowing which sensors are needed, how to install them, how frequently to collect data, and then how to process all this information is overwhelming. Fear not padawans, this group will showcase sensor installation, programming, and data compilation and interpretation. Prepare yourself to drown in data.
Group leaders: Chris Chambers (Meter, Inc.)
Itinerary
Morning / Afternoon: Shuttles arrive from the airport; get checked in to your housing.
(no formal lunch provided, but snacks will be available if needed)
Dinner
Evening: Welcome event with Phys-Fest coordinators and other participants
SUNDAY (10/15)
Breakfast
Morning: Fieldwork / lab work activities with research groups
Lunch
Afternoon: Fieldwork / lab work activities with research groups
Dinner
Evening: Data Science Skills workshop with Dr. Jessica Guo (bring a laptop!)
MONDAY (10/16)
Breakfast
Morning: Fieldwork / lab work activities with research groups
Lunch
Afternoon: Fieldwork / lab work activities with research groups
Dinner
Evening: Crash course on new topics! Choose between (1) non-structural carbohydrates,
(2) stable isotope ecology, or (3) novel ways
to measure plant water potential
TUESDAY (10/17)
Breakfast
Morning: Fieldwork / lab work activities with research groups
Lunch
Afternoon: Fieldwork / lab work activities with research groups
Dinner
Evening: Career panel! We'll hear from folks in industry, academic, government, and non-profit positions
WEDNESDAY (10/18)
Breakfast
Morning: Fieldwork / lab work activities with research groups
Lunch
Afternoon: Fieldwork / lab work activities with research groups
Dinner
Evening: Bonfire, Phys-Fest wrap-up, discussion of next frontiers in ecophys, and send-off!
THURSDAY (10/19)
Breakfast
Morning: Pack up equipment; shuttles leave for the airport