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A NEON Site Tour: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (CANCELLED)

The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) provides open, continental-scale data that characterize and quantify complex, rapidly changing ecological processes. The Observatory’s comprehensive design supports greater understanding of ecological change and enables forecasting of future ecological conditions. Participants will be escorted to the recently constructed NEON site at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. Upon arrival, a tour of the tower site will be led by the local NEON domain staff that maintain the tower and soil array, perform a host of protocols at both the terrestrial and aquatic sites, and ensure the data quality of the observatory is preserved. NEON scientists and staff will walk participants through the terrestrial protocols that are being implemented with an emphasis on the complexities of applying rigorously standardized protocols on a continental scale. After conclusion of the site tour, lunch and short presentations on aquatic and terrestrial science strategies will be held at the newly built research facility. Following the presentations, discussions on integrating NEON data into research initiatives and requesting NEON resources are encouraged.