Each year, scores of new students, staff members, and investigators join the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network. They dive right in to working on their site-based research, but sometimes don’t discover — until much later — the array of resources, colleagues, and expertise that the Network offers.
This brief (90-minute) network orientation session serves to introduce new LTER participants to the breadth of ecosystems and types of research that the Network encompasses. We’ll also point out ways to stay informed about network activities; how to find LTER colleagues with similar interests; and where to look for network-level resources on data management, science communication, and maintaining a diverse and mutually supportive community.
We’ll talk briefly about how the Network is structured and the role of network-wide committees in supporting scientific research, information management, education, and outreach. We’ll also make time to meet a few of the hundreds of scientists and support personnel who make up this dynamic scientific enterprise.