Collaborative synthesis science is a critical approach to addressing complex issues in global change biology. Drawing together great minds across disciplines or sectors can lead to transformative ideas, while drawing together all of the evidence on a research question can allow us to generalize findings and test hypotheses. This leads to cross-sector dialogue and advancing a more predictive ecology. I am deeply involved in creating opportunities for training, dialogue, and novel research outputs through collaborative working groups and synthesis science.
Building opportunities for data synthesis in Canada
Generating knowledge from data is a key skill for future generations and is adds values to existing research programs.
I am co-lead the NSERC CREATE training program The Living Data Project, which provides skillset training and immersive experiences in collaborative and synthesis data science to graduate students in ecology and evolution across Canada. As part of this program, I teach Synthesis Statistics as part of a 4-part modular training program that also includes Collaboration, Data Management, and Reproducibility. I am also on the management board of the Canadian Institute of Ecology and Evolution, where I am learning about the direction of synthesis science in ecology and evolution in Canada
I am co-lead the NSERC CREATE training program The Living Data Project, which provides skillset training and immersive experiences in collaborative and synthesis data science to graduate students in ecology and evolution across Canada. As part of this program, I teach Synthesis Statistics as part of a 4-part modular training program that also includes Collaboration, Data Management, and Reproducibility. I am also on the management board of the Canadian Institute of Ecology and Evolution, where I am learning about the direction of synthesis science in ecology and evolution in Canada
Since 2020 I have coordinated and co-instructed a virtual cross-Canada training workshop, Testing hypotheses through data synthesis: preparing for success, as part of a 3-part workshop series by the Living Data Project to guide training for future data synthesis in Canada.
Working groups as training ground. In April 2022 Dr. Joey Bernhardt and I co-lead a working group called Canadian Datasets for Teaching in Ecology and Evolution supported by the Living Data Project. In our working group, 12 stellar graduate students from across Canada helped to develop tutorials in R on concepts in Ecology and Evolution using "rescued" data. Students learned heaps of skills. They also created tutorials which are under development here.
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Answering big questions with collaborative data synthesis - some current and past working groups
Collaborative working groups is a big part of how I do science; I have been in 25 working groups and have organized 6 in my career (CV). Scroll over the images below for example topics and outputs.