Data and Information: Quantitative Ecology

This program will bring together students in ecology, computer science, and mathematics around a real world case study - a 1000 year chronosequence (1kcs) of Pacific Northwest forests. During a recent five year period, canopy researchers at Evergreen and elsewhere have collected data at eight forested sites that range in age from 90 to 1000 years to learn how individual trees and forests develop over time. Students will study statistics and programming, and put that knowledge to work to analyze the 1kcs data sets. They will program visualizations of the data and run statistical analyses on the data. Students will also work in interdisciplinary teams on a project - data analysis, visualization, computational, or "synthesis" - of their own choosing.

The program will provide a thorough introduction to the practice, history and process of using data, in ways applicable to further study of ecology or other sciences, or of the computer and mathematical sciences. Students with upper division class standing can request review of their work to receive upper division credit.