Permission to conduct research at the DDRS is a privilege for faculty and students of MSU and researchers from other institutions and organizations.  Researchers are representatives of their Institutions, their Departments, and their direct supervisors.

Requests for permission to conduct research at DDRS

Understanding the natural operations and changes of the Chihuahuan Desert is an important role of ecological studies.  Field stations such as DDRS are designed to facilitate the application of basic scientific tools and methods to develop a coherent picture of the desert ecosystem. However, the presence of humans in this delicate environment amounts to the introduction of an alien species.  Therefore, design of all experimental projects should impose minimal disturbance on the native habitat.  All participants in projects must be conscious of potential damage to the environment and employ practices that result in the least possible impact.   Any potential project that proposes irreversible alteration of the environment must be approved by the director and, if approved, developed in close consultation with the director or a designated representative of MSU.

Permission to visit the site to evaluate its suitability for a research project may be obtained by submitting a brief e-mail or printed request to the director stating the purpose of the research.

Prior to conducting a research project at the site, a research plan of 1-2 pages must be submitted to the director and should include the following information:

  1. Research Plan
    1. Sponsoring institution, primary investigator and primary field workers
    2. Research objectives
      1. Purpose of Research
      2. Justification for the use of DDRS
    3. Materials/Methods
      1. Description and justification of sampling and analytical techniques
      2. Description of proposed removal of natural resources (plant specimens, etc.)
    4. Intended use of results
  2. Proposed number, frequency and duration of visits
  3. Source and amount of funding
  4. Will the results be used in the preparation of a research proposal to a federal or state agency?  Which agency and provide details.  Will the proposal entail additional research at DDRS?

In addition, the PI must also agree in writing:

  • to submit the titles of all books, articles (print or web-publications), abstracts, presentations, proposals based on this research to the Director of DDRS. All papers must acknowledge DDRS and copies of books and reprints should be sent to DDRS. 
  • to the Policy for Museum-Herbarium Specimens and Molecular Extractions (Appendix 4). 
  • to submit all DNA sequences to GenBank and acknowledge DDRS.  
  • to provide all data and metadata to DDRS. 
  • to notify MSU of any patents or inventions or derivations from materials collected at DDRS and must agree to share royalties according to MSU directives or by agreement. 
  • that any proposals submitted to federal, state, and non-governmental organizations shall include acknowledgement of DDRS and that DDRS will serve as a co-PI if the work or part of the work will be conducted at DDRS. Cost-sharing and indirect cost sharing must be negotiated.  
Requests for permission to teach a course at DDRS

Permission to visit the site to evaluate its suitability for a formal course may be obtained by submitting a brief e-mail or printed request to the director stating the purpose of the course.

A formal proposal of 1-2 pages must be submitted to the director and should include the following information:

  1. Course Title
  2. Course Syllabus (include number of days and meetings times). The course should emphasize research practices and ethics of field work.
  3. Course Instructor (include resume)
  4. Letter of authorization and support from home institution’s chair and dean
  5. Estimated number of students – DDRS can only accommodate 16 at one time
  6. Indication of all specimen collections by students
  7. The Instructor must agree in writing to notify the DDRS of any student papers or presentations and provide copies to DDRS.  The Station must be acknowledged.
Use of DDRS computer and other electronic resources

Access to station computers, information databases and networks is for research and background information. Computers are for official business and not for personal use. The installation of additional software on station computers without permission is prohibited. Individuals should bring laptops with necessary software preinstalled. Main campus rules apply and it is illegal to violate copyrights of software by copying software on other machines.  Reliable Wi-Fi internet access is available throughout the main building.

The DDRS encourages the backing up and archiving of research data. Ideally, data should be backed up frequently and at least one copy stored for offsite use.

Visiting researchers who will be at the site for more than a week may be charged a fee of $20.00 for access to e-mail and/or the internet.