This summer, the ForestGEO Annual Analytical Workshop went a little differently than usual. What is typically a single two-week workshop with ~60 participants became three mini-workshops in three separate locations. Read on to get an inside look inside this year’s Analytical Workshops.
Photo credits: Kuane Bordin
The 2024 Annual Analytical Workshop was planned for June 29-July 13 in Nanyuki, Kenya – home to our Mpala Forest Dynamics Plot. On June 26, ForestGEO was informed by Smithsonian leadership that all travel would be canceled due to political unrest in Nairobi. In the midst of the last-minute cancelation, the workshop mentors put their heads together.
Photo credits: David Bauman & Kuane Bordin
The Annual Analytical Workshop is an opportunity for students and early-career forest scientists to learn from seasoned colleagues. Each workshop participant has an ongoing research project using ForestGEO data, and the two-week itinerary is spent diligently working on their projects: from data cleaning to analysis to paper writing. Participants all make significant advancements on their projects and attend evening seminars to learn about other plots, projects, and methods from around the network. It is also a time when our global ForestGEO community gets to connect in-person.
Smithsonian Natural Museum of Natural History.
Photo credits: KC Cushman, Luca Morreale & Kristina Teixeira-Anderson
The workshop mentors – 13 experienced scientists in the ForestGEO network – started planning as soon as the news of cancelation came. It was ultimately decided that four regional “mini-workshops” would take place. The first in Gamboa, Panama – home of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) and the ForestGEO Barro Colorado Island plot. The next in Washington, DC – where ForestGEO is headquartered, and near the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center and the Smithsonian National Zoo Conservation Biology Institute plots. And lastly, in Bangkok, Thailand – at Kasetsart University near our Khao Chong plot. Each workshop had 11-12 participants and mentors, who were based near the new location. The mini workshops lasted 5-14 days. 70% of the original participants were able to attend the rescheduled sessions. The fourth mini-workshop is planned to take place in Cameroon in October for nine participants in Africa and three mentors.
Photo credits: Ekaphan (Bier) Kraichak
Despite the logistical challenges and alternative workshop format, participants were able to connect with the community and make great advancements on their projects. Feedback was positive, with many participants and mentors noting the advantages of a smaller group. Moving forward, ForestGEO will continue to conduct our annual workshop and are planning to reconvene in Kenya in 2025.
Thank you to our workshop mentors and participants for their flexibility and willingness to make the most of the mini-workshops! An extra special thanks to our partner institutions in Panama, DC, and Bangkok for their efforts to make this possible. We look forward to our fourth mini-workshop in Cameroon in the coming weeks.
