Join mentors from across the LTER network to discuss and find support around the challenges that inevitably arise during mentoring. Bring the challenges you are encountering; we’ll leverage our shared expertise toward creating solutions. Come to pick up effective practices from others or to share your own successful strategies. Leave with actionable ideas and a deeper community of support. The Summer 2024 cohort of our community-of-practice starts May 16, 2024.

In the field, mutual trust and communication are especially important. Photo by Dr. Charles Truettner, Northern Arizona University.

What

The LTER Entering Mentoring Community of Practice will consist of a series of 1 hour, bi-weekly virtual meetings beginning May 16th. Each session will be led by one of LTER’s trained facilitators and will focus on working through a ‘problem of practice’ – challenges that you and your colleagues are encountering – or case studies that capture common challenges in ecology and field science. You’ll have the chance to practice skills and learn strategies that you can apply in real time.

Who

The community of practice is open to all career stages. This might include graduate students advising REUs, postdocs with a field team, or faculty or staff mentoring others of any career stage. Those in doubt are encouraged to participate—the skills developed here apply to a wide range of mentorship scenarios, and the broader the range of expertise in our community the more relevant our discussions will be.

Why

Effective mentorship can set both mentees and mentors up for success, from small projects all the way through careers. High quality mentorship also increases retention and productivity of researchers from marginalized groups. Mentors will practice and hone skills for engaging in productive and culturally responsive research mentoring relationships.

Session Dates

The Community of Practice meets on alternate Thursdays, starting May 16 at 1pm PT/ 4pm ET
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