As a native of Santa Barbara, I grew up exploring the tidepools, splashing in the waves, and kayaking the waters that are now part of the Santa Barbara Coastal-LTER. Now, thanks to the ARETs program, I am better equipped to share my knowledge about this special area with my students.
LIFE UNEARTHED with Ariel Waldman is a visually striking science-driven docu-series that reveals Earth’s ecosystems through radical shifts in scale—from microscopic wildlife to the planet’s most iconic species, and even the potential for life beyond Earth. Hosted by explorer Ariel Waldman, the series spans environments near and far, from the sweeping American Prairies to the alien… Read more »
The 2026 Natural Areas Conference: Where Science Meets Stewardship is scheduled for October 5 – 8, 2026, in Asheville, NC. NAC26 is a great opportunity for LTER Network research scientists to share their work with practitioners—and to discuss use-inspired collaborations. NAA’s conference is by practitioners for practitioners, offering access to quality science, new knowledge, and experience-based practices that bridge… Read more »
The data produced at LTER sites inform many important challenges. Among-site comparisons help to understand how general ecological mechanisms change with local context. Modeling and forecasting efforts employ long term observations and experiments to generate testable predictions. Scaling exercises get at continental or even global interactions with human and economic consequences. LTER synthesis working groups… Read more »
Although biocrusts are small and thin, there is so much to learn about these powerful microbial communities and the roles they play in desert ecosystems.
—by Rebecca Hawk If you step inside a classroom, there’s a good chance you will meet a group of funny and interesting kids and an adult who loves spending their days with them. This adult probably joined the education field with a heart full of hope or a fond memory of their schooling days. Sometimes… Read more »
In 2026, LTER launches a rescoped version of the synthesis skills course (SSECR) that we debuted in 2024 that is 100% online and open for all to apply. Deadline: March 31.
To facilitate site comparison and support the development of cross-site projects, the LNO is making up to eight travel fellowships available in 2026. Application deadline: March 16
My summers at Toolik Field Station reaffirmed a simple truth: teaching and research are intertwined. Authentic field experiences can transform educators and students alike, inspiring curiosity, critical thinking, and a lifelong passion for discovery.
As a teacher, students often think we ‘know’ everything or should be able to explain every possible question they pose. It was refreshing to remember how science begins with ‘not knowing’. This renewed appreciation for the process of inquiry, that science is a way of asking about the world around us, was a humbling encounter.
