Group synthesis projects have the potential to develop high impact science and build strong supportive colleague networks—but they demand a set of skills that are rarely taught. In 2026, LTER launches a rescoped version of the synthesis skills course (SSECR) that we debuted in 2024.
The 2026 course will be:
- Three months of instructional time (September-December 2026)
- Open to participants from across the ecological research community
- 100% online
- Application deadline: March 31, 2026
Participants gain the technical and interpersonal skills needed to assemble, scope, manage, and communicate a team science synthesis project. Small groups put the lessons into immediate practice as project teams plan during the semester and continue developing over future months. Instructors include LTER Network Office facilitators and data scientists as well as experienced leaders of successful synthesis science projects from across the ecological science community.
