Few graduate training programs aspire to produce scientists with skills commensurate with this challenge. In addition, few universities are equipped to facilitate such innovation. ASU has both the institutional commitment and, via CAP LTER, the established infrastructure to initiate such a program immediately. This goal is of value not only in urban ecology, but in whatever realm our graduates ultimately find themselves. Increasingly, scientific problems are complex and their solution demands broad skills.
Interdisciplinary teams are de rigeur today.
This is true in biological fields ranging from molecular biology to ecology. Dissertations are individual efforts, qualifying exams are taken alone, independence is the key value. Intellectual property issues, precedence in publication, and order of authorship issues exacerbate this situation. Collaboration skills are only incidentally gained if at all and, all too often, research values run counter to effective team research. We believe that we should provide an opportunity for graduate training to become more collaborative and cooperative.