Additional Resources
See below for a (non-exhaustive) list of additional resources that may prove helpful complements to SSECR course content.
Analysis & Modeling
- Spake, R. et al. Understanding ‘It Depends’ in Ecology: A Guide to Hypothesizing, Visualising and Interpreting Statistical Interactions. 2023. Biological Reviews
- Spake, R. et al. Improving Quantitative Synthesis to Achieve Generality in Ecology. 2022. Nature Ecology and Evolution
- Kurz, A. S. Bayesian Meta-Analysis in brms-II. 2022.
- Viechtbauer, W. Meta-Analysis with R. 2022.
- Tredennick, A.T. et al. A Practical Guide to Selecting Models for Exploration, Inference, and Prediction in Ecology. 2021. Ecology
- Harrier, M. et al. Doing Meta-Analysis with R: A Hands-On Guide. 2021.
- Viechtbauer, W. The
metaforPackage: A Meta-Analysis Package for R. 2021. - Kurz, A. S. Bayesian Meta-Analysis in brms. 2020.
- Vuorre, M. Bayesian Meta-Analysis with R, Stan, and brms. 2016.
- Zuur, A.F. et al. Mixed Effects Models and Extensions in Ecology with R. 2009.
Communicating Findings
- Kelso Harper, LTER Visual Media Series. 2024.
- Science Graphics with Jen Christiansen, LTER Visual Media Series. 2024.
- Jasiek Krzysztofiak, LTER Visual Media Series. 2024.
- Corominas, J. Adapted Creativities: How to customize your messages to win over different audiences. 2024. Adsmurai
- NCEAS Learning Hub & Delta Stewardship Council. Open Science Synthesis: Communicating Your Science. 2023.
- Krishnan, A. Why do we use jargon when talking about science?. 2023. MongaBay
- Prast, I. Writing for Different Audiences: Adapting Your Tone and Style. 2023. Medium
- Delta Science Program. Session 7: Communicating Your Research: The Message Box. 2021.
- Five tips for scientists speaking to reporters. 2021. AAAS SciLine
- Webster, T. The Simplest Storytelling Structure. 2020. Medium
- Foot, G. How to get an audience to care about your science. 2020. ‘Talking Science’ Course #4. YouTube
- Foot, G. How to explain a science idea clearly. 2020. ‘Talking Science’ Course #6. YouTube
- Wenker, R. Storytelling and Science: What’s ABT got to do with it?. 2018. University of Maryland, Center for Environmental Science
- Olson, R. Great Challenges Day at TEDMED 2013. 2013
- A Guide to Scientific Storytelling. Cartoonbase.
- American Geophysical Union (AGU). A Scientist’s Guide to Working with the Media.
Data Discovery & Management
- British Ecological Society (BES). Better Science Guides: Data Management Guide. 2024.
- LTER Scientific Computing Team. Data Acquisition Guide for TRY and AppEEARS. 2024.
- National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) Learning Hub. coreR: Data Management Essentials. 2023.
- NCEAS Learning Hub. UCSB Faculty Seminar Series: Data Management Essentials and the FAIR & CARE Principles. 2023.
- NCEAS Learning Hub. UCSB Faculty Seminar Series: Writing Data Management Plans. 2023.
- Environmental Data Initiative (EDI) Data Portal
- DataONE Data Catalog
- Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) Data Explorer
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) Data Portal
- iDigBio Digitized Specimen Portal
- LTAR Data Dashboards and Visualizations
- LTAR Group Data within the Ag Data Commons, the digital repository of the National Agricultural Library
- Data Is Plural and its data list for exploring the cool datasets in various domains
Data Harmonization & Wrangling
- The Carpentries. Data Analysis and Visualization in R for Ecologists: Working with Data. 2024.
- LTER Scientific Computing Team. Coding in the Tidyverse. 2023.
- National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) Learning Hub coreR: Cleaning & Wrangling Data. 2023.
- NCEAS Learning Hub coreR: Writing Functions & Packages. 2023.- Todd-Brown, K.E.O. et al. Reviews and Syntheses: The Promise of Big Diverse Soil Data, Moving Current Practices Towards Future Potential. 2022. Biogeosciences
- Elgarby, O. The Ultimate Guide to Data Cleaning. 2019. Medium
- Delta Science Program Data Munging / QA / QC / Cleaning. 2019.
- Fox, J. Ten Commandments for Good Data Management. 2016. Dynamic Ecology
- Borer, E. et al. Some Simple Guidelines for Effective Data Management. 2009. Ecological Society of America Bulletin
Data Visualization & Exploration
- The Carpentries. Data Analysis and Visualization in R for Ecologists: Data Visualization with
ggplot2. 2024. - The Carpentries. Data Analysis and Visualization in Python for Ecologists: Making Plots with
plotnine. 2024. - Chang, W. et al.,
ggplot2: Elegant Graphics for Data Analysis. 3rd edition. 2023. - LTER Scientific Computing Team. Coding in the Tidyverse: ‘Visualize’ Module. 2023.
- National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS). Colorblind Safe Color Schemes. 2022.
- Wilke, C.O. Fundamentals of Data Visualization. 2020.
- The R Graph Gallery
Inclusive Facilitation
- Khuri et al., Inclusive Practice Glossary for Facilitators. 2024.
- Cravens, A.E., et al., Science facilitation: navigating the intersection of intellectual and interpersonal expertise in scientific collaboration. 2022.
- Woodley, L. et al., A guide to using virtual events to facilitate community building: Making a PACT for more engaging virtual meetings and events. 2021.
- Tarallo, B. & Monlux, M. Surviving the Horror of Online Meetings: How to Facilitate Good Virtual Meetings & Manage Meeting Monsters. 2021.
- Lipmanowicz & McCandless. The Surprising Power of Liberating Structures: Simple Rules to Unleash a Culture of Innovation. Liberating Structures Press. 2014.
- Kaner, S. Facilitator’s Guide to Participatory Decision-Making (Revised). 2014.
- Kantor, D. Reading the room: Group dynamics for coaches and leaders. John Wiley & Sons. 2012.
- Gray, D. et al., Gamestorming: A Playbook for Innovators, Rulebreakers, and Changemakers. O’Reilly Media. 2010.
- Bohm, D. On Dialogue. Routledge Classics. 2004.
- IAF Endorsed™ Facilitation Training Programmes
- Facilitation Training Programs recommended by the Facilitator School
- Liberating Structures: Including and Unleashing Everyone
- Gamestorming
- SciTS and Team Science Resources compiled by INSciTS, the International Network for the Science of Team Science
- Dealing with Disruptive Behaviors in Meetings
Interactivity & Shiny Apps
- Posit. Welcome to Shiny. 2024.
- Lyon, N.J., et al. Shiny Apps for Sharing Science. 2022.
Multivariate Data
- Abdi, H. & Williams, L.J., Principal Coponent Analysis. WIREs Computational Statistics. 2010.
- Ramette, A., Multivariate Analyses in Microbial Ecology. FEMS Microbial Ecology. 2007.
- Jackson, D.A., Stopping Rules in Principal Components Analysis: A Comparison of Heuristical and Statistical Approaches. Ecology. 1993.
- Clarke, K.R., Non-Parametric Multivariate Analyses of Changes in Community Structure. Australian Journal of Ecology. 1993.
- Kenkel, N.C. & Oroloci, L., Applying Metric and Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling to Ecological Studies: Some New Results. Ecology. 1986.
Next Steps
- Deutsch L., et al., Leading Inter- and Transdisciplinary Research: Lessons from Applying Theories of Change to a Strategic Research Program. 2021. Environmental Science & Policy
- Schimel, J. Writing Science: How to Write Papers That Get Cited and Proposals That Get Funded. 2011.
- Research proposal examples from every science field.
- NSF funding search
- DoE funding search
- Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU)
- International Synthesis Consortium is an umbrella group for synthesis centers across disciplines
- Science for Nature and People Partnership
- Pivot-RP, a Clarivate product that curates funding opportunities across public and private sources. Pivot is a paid product, but most research universities have access
- Philanthropy News Digest publishes a feed of requests for proposals from private foundations. It can be filtered by topic, location, and other keywords. Awards are small, relative to federal funding agencies and topics tend to be applied
- Community Foundations fund project with clear benefits to a local community
Project Management
- GitHub. Issues and Projects. 2026.
- LTER Scientific Computing Team. Collaborative Coding with GitHub: Issues. 2024.
- LTER Scientific Computing Team. Collaborative Coding with GitHub: Milestones. 2024.
- LTER Scientific Computing Team. Collaborative Coding with GitHub: Projects. 2024.
- NCEAS Learning Hub & Delta Stewardship Council. Open Science Synthesis: Logic Models and Synthesis Development. 2021.
- NCEAS Project Management Workshop for new synthesis working groups
- Commercial Project Management Options
- Asana. Task and project management. Free up to 10 members.
- Wrike. Tasks and project management. Capable for individuals. $10/person/month for teams.
- ClickUp. Capable free plan. Less intuitive to set up.
- Miro. Free for up to three projects. More focus on diagrams and brainstorming than ongoing project management.
- Easy Retro
Reproducibility
- British Ecological Society (BES). Better Science Guides: Reproducible Code. 2024.
- Englehardt, C. et al. FAIR Teaching Handbook. 2024.
- Csik, S. et al. UCSB Master of Environmental Data Science (MEDS) README Guidelines. 2024.
- The Carpentries. Data Analysis and Visualization in R for Ecologists: Before We Start. 2024.
- The Carpentries. Introduction to R for Geospatial Data: Project Management with RStudio. 2024.
- Briney, K. Research Data Management Workbook. 2024.
- Google. Style Guide. 2024.
- LTER Scientific Computing Team. Team Coding: 5 Essentials. 2024.
- Jennings, L. et al. Applying the ‘CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance’ to Ecology and Biodiversity Research. 2023. Nature Ecology & Evolution
- Wickham, H. & Bryan, J. R Packages (2nd ed.). 2023.
- National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) Learning Hub. coreR: FAIR and CARE Principles. 2023.
- National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) Learning Hub. coreR: Reproducibility & Provenance. 2023.
- Lowndes, J.S. et al. Documenting Things: Openly for Future Us. 2023. posit::conf(2023)
- Trisovic, A. et al. A Large-Scale Study on Research Code Quality and Execution. 2022. Scientific Data
- Wickham, H. Advanced R: Style Guide. (1st ed.). 2019.
- van Rossum, G. et al. PEP 8: Style Guide for Python Code. 2013. Python Enhancement Proposals
Reproducible Reports & Quarto
- LTER Scientific Computing Team. Notebooks versus Scripts. 2025.
- Csik, S. Creating Your Personal Website Using Quarto. 2024.
- National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) Learning Hub. coreR: Literate Analysis with Quarto. 2023.
- Mecum, B. Reproducible Papers with RMarkdown. 2019.
- The Markdown Guide: Basic Syntax.
- Posit. Welcome to Quarto
Spatial Data
- The Carpentries. Introduction to Geospatial Raster and Vector Data with R. 2024.
- The Carpentries. Introduction to R for Geospatial Data. 2024.
- King, R. Spatial Data Visualization. 2024.
- Flower, J. Introduction to Rasters with
terra. 2024. - Clark, S.J., et al. Spatial and Image Data Using GeoPandas. 2023.
- NASA. AppEEARS Portal
Supporting Divergent, Emergent, and Convergent Thinking
- Cravens, A.E., et al., Science facilitation: navigating the intersection of intellectual and interpersonal expertise in scientific collaboration. 2022.
- Kappel, C. Collaboration: From groan zone to growth zone. Integration and Implementation Insights.. 2019.
- Lipmanowicz & McCandless. The Surprising Power of Liberating Structures: Simple Rules to Unleash a Culture of Innovation. Liberating Structures Press. 2014.
- Kaner, S. Facilitator’s Guide to Participatory Decision-Making (Revised). 2014.
- Gray, D. et al., Gamestorming: A Playbook for Innovators, Rulebreakers, and Changemakers. O’Reilly Media. 2010.
- Bohm, D. On Dialogue. Routledge Classics. 2004.
- IAF Endorsed™ Facilitation Training Programmes
- Facilitation Training Programs recommended by the Facilitator School
- Liberating Structures: Including and Unleashing Everyone
- Gamestorming
Team Science Practices
- Bates, A.E. et al., Overcome Imposter Syndrome: Contribute to Working Groups and Build Strong Networks. 2024. Biological Conservation
- Hong, L., & Page, S. E. Individual selection criteria for optimal team composition. 2024. Theory and Decision
- Lowman, H. et al., Collaborative consortia can boost postdoctoral workforce development. 2024. PNAS
- Liberatore, A. Developing a Successful Team: Concepts and Strategies to Navigate Change and Conflict Together. 2024.
- Lahr, H. How to effectively engage teams in interdisciplinary collaborations. 2024
- Peterson, D.M. et al., Team Science: A Syllabus for Success on Big Projects. 2023. Ecology and Evolution
- National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) Learning Hub & Delta Stewardship Council. Open Science Synthesis: Team Science for Synthesis. 2023.
- Graffius, S.M. Leverage the Phases of Team Development — Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning — to Help Your Teams be Happier and More Productive: 2023 Update. 2023
- Gaynor, K.M., et al., Ten Simple Rules to Cultivate Belonging in Collaborative Data Science Research Teams. 2022. PLoS Computational Biology
- Yang, Y. et al., Gender-diverse teams produce more novel and higher-impact scientific ideas. 2022. PNAS
- Delta Stewardship Council. Open Science Synthesis: Thinking Preferences. 2021.
- Deutsch, L. et al., Leading Inter- and Transdisciplinary Research: Lessons from Applying Theories of Change to a Strategic Research Program. 2021. Environmental Science & Policy
- Farrell, K.J. et al., Training Macrosystems Scientists Requires Both Interpersonal and Technical Skills. 2021. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment
- Lotrecchiano, G.R., et al., Individual and team competencies in translational teams. 2021. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science
- Folger, J.P., et al., Working Through Conflict: Strategies for Relationships, Groups, and Organizations (8th ed.). 2017. Routledge
- Lee, Y. et al., Creativity in scientific teams: Unpacking novelty and impact. 2015. Research Policy
- Abbasi, A., & Jaafari, A. Research impact and scholars’ geographical diversity. 2013. Journal of Informetrics
- Nederveen P.A., et al., Cultural Diversity and Team Performance: The Role of Team Member Goal Orientation. 2013. Academy of Management Journal
- Hampton, S.E. & Parker, J.N. Collaboration and Productivity in Scientific Synthesis. 2011. BioScience
- Woolley, A.W. et al., Evidence for a Collective Intelligence Factor in the Performance of Human Groups. 2010. Science
- Fiore S.M. et al., Interdisciplinarity as Teamwork: How the Science of Teams Can Inform Team Science. 2008. Small Group Research
- Stokols, D. et al., The Ecology of Team Science: Understanding Contextual Influences on Transdisciplinary Collaboration. 2008. American Journal of Preventive Medicine
- van Knippenberg, D. et al., Work Group Diversity and Group Performance: An Integrative Model and Research Agenda. 2004. Journal of Applied Psychology
- Milliken, F.J. & Martins, L.L. Searching for Common Threads: Understanding the Multiple Effects of Diversity in Organizational Groups. 1996. The Academy of Management Review
- Tuckman, B.W., & Jensen, M.A.C. Stages of Small-Group Development Revisited. 1977. Group and Organizational Studies
- Tuckman, B.W. Developmental Sequence in Small Groups. 1965. Psychological Bulletin
Version Control
- Bryan J. et al. Happy Git and GitHub for the useR. 2024.
- Pereira Braga, P.H. et al. Not Just for Programmers: How GitHub can Accelerate Collaborative and Reproducible Research in Ecology and Evolution. 2023. Methods in Ecology and Evolution
- National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) Learning Hub. coreR: Intro to Git and GitHub. 2023.
- GitHub. Git Cheat Sheet. 2023.