SCIENCE sciencemag.org 9 JULY 2021 • VOL 373 ISSUE 6551 135EDITORIAL
S
itting at the interface of human societies and the
natural environment are sentinels tracking envi-
ronmental change. Across the globe, field stations
and marine laboratories (FSMLs) amass crucial
information about climate, biodiversity, environ-
mental health, and emerging diseases, anchoring
multidecadal data sets needed to solve environ-
mental challenges of the Anthropocene. These observa-
tories are now in danger of being shut down—part of the
collateral damage of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On every continent, facilities have been shuttered and
field courses canceled because of restricted travel. This
has reduced the flow of financial support to these stations,
debilitating their capacity to collect essential information
and train the next generation of scientists. Two-thirds of
university support for the Tiputini Biodiversity Station
in eastern Ecuador—situated in Earth’s most biologically
diverse region, at the confluence of the
Amazon Basin and Andes—came from
international universities, nearly all of
which was permanently terminated dur-
ing the pandemic. The renowned Asa
Wright Centre in Trinidad and Tobago
closed in April. Further, FSML bud-
gets are menaced by pandemic-related
deficits suffered by their parent insti-
tutions—which are generally universi-
ties (a reflection of their importance to
education and training) but also in-
clude museums, government agencies,
and nongovernmental organizations—
potentially compromising every facet of their operations.
As Earth’s population swells to 8 billion, understand-
ing and predicting human impacts on the planet become
ever more urgent. Both long-term and real-time data are
needed to quantify the repercussions of deforestation, ag-
ricultural intensification, desertification, climate change,
ocean acidification, and other stresses if we are to miti-
gate their effects, plan adaptive responses, and develop
national and international policies. Nature’s struggles are
humanity’s struggles: As biodiversity is lost and ecosys-
tems erode, so will the quality of our air, waters, and soils.
This degradation will also affect the essential ecosystem
services that nature consistently provides. Crop pollina-
tion services alone are estimated as a $500 billion annual
benefit for society. And emerging pathogens will continue
to be a threat across all borders. Environmental data to
guide sound, science-based solutions, and broader public
understanding and engagement, are necessary to over-
come these mounting environmental challenges.
FSMLs are essential for educating and training thenext generation of scientists. Immersive in situ experi-
ences are foundational to those seeking careers in biol-
ogy and ecology, geology and soil science, oceanography,
hydrology and limnology, meteorology, conservation,
and resource management. Evidence shows that field
courses close demographic gaps in science participa-
tion and persistence and improve diversity across disci-
plines. Virtual materials and live-stream research-based
field experiences simply cannot supplant place-based
learning, curiosity-driven exploration, the life-changing
value of discovery, and the realization that Earth is
still a little-known planet. Furthermore, FSMLs play a
broader role in education. Field course alumni become
educators and school administrators, or pursue careers
in medicine, law, social services, and business, among
other professions. Scientists and nonscientists alike
take away a deeper understanding and appreciation for
nature and a propensity to embrace an
ethic of planetary stewardship.
In January 2021, an international call
to protect funding for field stations, ma-
rine labs, and field courses, imperiled by
the pandemic, was circulated to profes-
sional society mailing lists. The signa-
ture petition has since been endorsed
by 21 past presidents of the Ecological
Society of America; active and past lead-
ership of multiple international scien-
tific and educational organizations; and
more than 2200 scientists, station direc-
tors, educators, and concerned citizens
worldwide. And last month, the US Congress passed the
National Science Foundation (NSF) for the Future Act
(House bill H.R. 2225) with bipartisan support, which
includes provisions for national labs, field stations, and
marine labs. Despite NSF’s pivotal role in supporting
FSMLs for decades, its funding is generally limited to
new initiatives and infrastructure. NSF dollars are rarely
sufficient to support staff, maintenance, courses, and
other day-to-day station needs. The issue will hopefully
receive bipartisan support from the Senate as well.
The pandemic has cut revenue streams to FSMLs for
a second year. At a time when environmental issues
demand even greater attention, the world cannot risk
undermining their contributions to scientific literacy,
environmental research, and student training—all of
which are essential to protect Earth’s bountiful natural
heritage and life-sustaining ecosystems. Universities,
governments, and other organizations must find ways
to save these global sentinels—all life depends on them.
–Gene E. Likens and David L. WagnerSave Earth’s global observatories
Gene E. Likens
is a distinguished
research professor
in the Department
of Ecology and
Evolutionary Biology
at the University
of Connecticut,
Storrs, CT, USA, and
founding director
and president
emeritus at the
Cary Institute of
Ecosystem Studies,
Millbrook, NY,
USA. likensg@
caryinstitute.orgDavid L. Wagner
is a professor
in the Department
of Ecology and
Evolutionary Biology
at the University
of Connecticut,
Storrs, CT, USA.
david.wagner@
uconn.edu10.1126/science.abk“Nature’s
struggles are
humanity’s
struggles...”
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