PhD Student Queens University Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Session Description: The natural world is changing rapidly, and a firm understanding of ecology and evolutionary biology (EEB) are perhaps more important today than at any time in human history. Fortunately, the ecologist’s toolkit is rapidly expanding with new observations enabled by rapid developments in gene sequencing and environmental sensing technologies for data collection, along with rapid communication and cloud computing for data sharing, and advanced computing for the analysis of large and complex datasets. A major barrier to implementing these methods is a general lack of quantitative skills training in the biological sciences. In particular, the learning curve inherent in basic probability, statistics, and coding can be daunting to undergraduate biology majors who have limited exposure to these areas. The goal of this workshop is to bring together early- and mid-career faculty who have expertise in training or applying quantitative skills. We will share teaching and training resources, discuss strategies for inclusion, identify training gaps and needs, and develop a strategic plan for ongoing collaboration. While targeted at CSEE members and faculty at Canadian universities, this workshop will be open and relevant to anyone with an interest in teaching quantitative skills to biology students. We also welcome perspectives from students, ECRs, and employers who have thoughts on training needs and strategies.
