November 5, 2024 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlightedthe following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread by Felicia Spencer, Virginia Tech A series of hands-on teaching modules created and shared by Virginia Tech researchers has filled a gap in data science training opportunities for environmental science undergraduate students and instructors, reaching more than 35,000 students at more than 50 colleges and universities globally in the last seven years. Researchers built the modules, called Macrosystems EDDIE, which stands for Environmental Data-Driven Inquiry and Exploration, in 2017.
This fall, a comprehensive study of the program's effectiveness was published in the journal BioScience , confirming what the researchers long suspected—the modules are working. "These modules are novel because of a dearth of materials available for undergraduates, specifically on ecological forecasting, which is a rapidly emerging sub-discipline within ecology," said Mary Lofton, postdoctoral associate with the Center for Ecosystem Forecasting and lead author of the report. "The goal is to introduce students to some of the core concepts of forecasting in this really user-friendly interface.
" Designed by researchers at the Center for Ecosystem Forecasting, the modules were created to be easily integrated into existing coursework. They aim .