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Training macrosystems scientists requires both interpersonal and technical skills

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dc.contributor.authorFarrell, Kaitlin J.en
dc.contributor.authorWeathers, Kathleen C.en
dc.contributor.authorSparks, Sarah H.en
dc.contributor.authorBrentrup, Jennifer A.en
dc.contributor.authorCarey, Cayelan C.en
dc.contributor.authorDietze, Michael C.en
dc.contributor.authorFoster, John R.en
dc.contributor.authorGrayson, Kristine L.en
dc.contributor.authorMatthes, Jaclyn H.en
dc.contributor.authorSanClements, Michael D.en
dc.contributor.departmentBiological Sciencesen
dc.date.accessioned2021-05-26T14:11:01Zen
dc.date.available2021-05-26T14:11:01Zen
dc.date.issued2021-02en
dc.description.abstractMacrosystems science strives to integrate patterns and processes that span regional to continental scales. The scope of such research often necessitates the involvement of large interdisciplinary and/or multi-institutional teams composed of scientists across a range of career stages, a diversity that requires researchers to hone both technical and interpersonal skills. We surveyed participants in macrosystems projects funded by the US National Science Foundation to assess the perceived importance of different skills needed in their research, as well as the types of training they received. Survey results revealed a mismatch between the skills participants perceive as important and the training they received, particularly for interpersonal and management skills. We highlight lessons learned from macrosystems training case studies, explore avenues for further improvement of undergraduate and graduate education, and discuss other training opportunities for macrosystems scientists. Given the trend toward interdisciplinary research beyond the macrosystems community, these insights are broadly applicable for scientists involved in diverse, collaborative projects.en
dc.description.notesPublication of this Special Issue was funded by the US National Science Foundation (NSF award number DEB 1928375). This study was catalyzed by the 2018 Macrosystems Biology Principal Investigators meeting in Alexandria, Virginia (NSF EF-1818519). We appreciate feedback on manuscript content from participants at the Principal Investigators meeting and from M Jones (NEON). Authors were supported in part by NSF Macrosystems Biology grants EF-1137327 (KCW), EF-1241891 (MCD), EF-1340516 (MDS), EF-1638406 (JHM), EF-1638575 (KCW, JAB), EF-1638577 (MCD, JRF), EF-1702506 (CCC, KJF), EF-1702701 (KLG), EF-1702996 (MCD), and EF-1818519 (KJF, KCW). Author contributions: KJF and KCW led survey development, data analysis, and manuscript development; SHS coordinated the survey, compiled data, and contributed to data analysis. All authors contributed to project conceptualization, survey question development, and writing/editing the manuscript.en
dc.description.sponsorshipUS National Science Foundation (NSF)National Science Foundation (NSF) [DEB 1928375]; NSFNational Science Foundation (NSF) [EF-1137327, EF-1241891, EF-1340516, EF-1638406, EF-1638575, EF-1638577, EF-1702506, EF-1702701, EF-1702996, EF-1818519]en
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1002/fee.2287en
dc.identifier.eissn1540-9309en
dc.identifier.issn1540-9295en
dc.identifier.issue1en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/103522en
dc.identifier.volume19en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.rightsCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 Internationalen
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/en
dc.titleTraining macrosystems scientists requires both interpersonal and technical skillsen
dc.title.serialFrontiers in Ecology and the Environmenten
dc.typeArticle - Refereeden
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
dc.type.dcmitypeStillImageen

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