114 research outputs found

    Being relevant: Practical guidance for early career researchers interested in solving conservation problems

    Get PDF
    AbstractIn a human-altered world where biodiversity is in decline and conservation problems abound, there is a dire need to ensure that the next generation of conservation scientists have the knowledge, skills, and training to address these problems. So called “early career researchers” (ECRs) in conservation science have many challenges before them and it is clear that the status quo must change to bridge the knowledge–action divide. Here we identify thirteen practical strategies that ECRs can employ to become more relevant. In this context, “relevance” refers to the ability to contribute to solving conservation problems through engagement with practitioners, policy makers, and stakeholders. Conservation and career strategies outlined in this article include the following: thinking ‘big picture’ during conservation projects; embracing various forms of knowledge; maintaining positive relationships with locals familiar with the conservation issue; accepting failure as a viable (and potentially valuable) outcome; daring to be creative; embracing citizen science; incorporating interdisciplinarity; promoting and practicing pro-environmental behaviours; understanding financial aspects of conservation; forming collaboration from the onset of a project; accepting the limits of technology; ongoing and effective networking; and finally, maintaining a positive outlook by focusing on and sharing conservation success stories. These strategies move beyond the generic and highlight the importance of continuing to have an open mind throughout the entire conservation process, from establishing one’s self as an asset to embracing collaboration and interdisciplinary work, and striving to push for professional and personal connections that strengthen personal career objectives

    Quasi-Monte Carlo rules for numerical integration over the unit sphere S2\mathbb{S}^2

    Full text link
    We study numerical integration on the unit sphere S2R3\mathbb{S}^2 \subset \mathbb{R}^3 using equal weight quadrature rules, where the weights are such that constant functions are integrated exactly. The quadrature points are constructed by lifting a (0,m,2)(0,m,2)-net given in the unit square [0,1]2[0,1]^2 to the sphere S2\mathbb{S}^2 by means of an area preserving map. A similar approach has previously been suggested by Cui and Freeden [SIAM J. Sci. Comput. 18 (1997), no. 2]. We prove three results. The first one is that the construction is (almost) optimal with respect to discrepancies based on spherical rectangles. Further we prove that the point set is asymptotically uniformly distributed on S2\mathbb{S}^2. And finally, we prove an upper bound on the spherical cap L2L_2-discrepancy of order N1/2(logN)1/2N^{-1/2} (\log N)^{1/2} (where NN denotes the number of points). This slightly improves upon the bound on the spherical cap L2L_2-discrepancy of the construction by Lubotzky, Phillips and Sarnak [Comm. Pure Appl. Math. 39 (1986), 149--186]. Numerical results suggest that the (0,m,2)(0,m,2)-nets lifted to the sphere S2\mathbb{S}^2 have spherical cap L2L_2-discrepancy converging with the optimal order of N3/4N^{-3/4}

    The Cosmology of Asymmetric Brane Modified Gravity

    Full text link
    We consider the asymmetric branes model of modified gravity, which can produce late time acceleration of the universe and compare the cosmology of this model to the standard Λ\LambdaCDM model and to the DGP braneworld model. We show how the asymmetric cosmology at relevant physical scales can be regarded as a one-parameter extension of the DGP model, and investigate the effect of this additional parameter on the expansion history of the universe.Comment: 21 pages, 9 figures, journal versio

    Backward pion-nucleon scattering

    Get PDF
    A global analysis of the world data on differential cross sections and polarization asymmetries of backward pion-nucleon scattering for invariant collision energies above 3 GeV is performed in a Regge model. Including the NαN_\alpha, NγN_\gamma, Δδ\Delta_\delta and Δβ\Delta_\beta trajectories, we reproduce both angular distributions and polarization data for small values of the Mandelstam variable uu, in contrast to previous analyses. The model amplitude is used to obtain evidence for baryon resonances with mass below 3 GeV. Our analysis suggests a G39G_{39} resonance with a mass of 2.83 GeV as member of the Δβ\Delta_{\beta} trajectory from the corresponding Chew-Frautschi plot.Comment: 12 pages, 16 figure

    Point sets on the sphere S2\mathbb{S}^2 with small spherical cap discrepancy

    Full text link
    In this paper we study the geometric discrepancy of explicit constructions of uniformly distributed points on the two-dimensional unit sphere. We show that the spherical cap discrepancy of random point sets, of spherical digital nets and of spherical Fibonacci lattices converges with order N1/2N^{-1/2}. Such point sets are therefore useful for numerical integration and other computational simulations. The proof uses an area-preserving Lambert map. A detailed analysis of the level curves and sets of the pre-images of spherical caps under this map is given
    corecore