ESA Professional Development Calendar

The 2022-2023 Forests + Climate Learning Exchange Series (LES), co-hosted by the Forest Carbon and Climate Program (FCCP) and the Society of American Foresters (SAF), invites academics, practitioners, policymakers, and other experts to present innovative and important research, projects, and strategies relating to forest carbon. The series aims to develop and expand forest stakeholder knowledge and perspectives on forest carbon science, management, and strategy.

The events take place the first Wednesday of each month at 3 pm Eastern. Recordings will be posted below following the event.

Dates: Begins March 1, 2023

A good understanding of sampling and experimental design techniques is vital when planning a research study in ecology and wildlife management. Good design leads to effective use of research money, time and effort, whereas poor design can lead to a study of little use, and hence a waste of these resources. Sampling techniques are useful when planning an observational study, such as a survey, whereas experimental design techniques are of use when planning an experiment. In the sampling modules, we will cover random vs systematic sampling, stratification, hierarchical sampling, use of covariates, trend analysis, and introduce specialized techniques such as capture-mark-recapture and distance sampling. In the experimental design modules, you will learn about randomization, replication and pseudo-replication, controls, blocking, use of covariates, factorial treatments, before-after control-impact (BACI) designs, and trend analysis. In both sections of the course we will show you how to perform power/precision analysis in order to assess what sample sizes might be required for the study to provide useful information.
You have two options when enrolling in this course:
(1) Instructor support. Reach out to your instructor over a 1-month period to get help as you work through prerecorded lectures, problem sets, and your own personal work. You then have access to the course for an additional 2 months. Instructor support includes emailing your instructor, accessing live discussion threads, and scheduling one-on-one appointments (Zoom or phone) about course material, your research, datasets from work, etc. You MUST select this option if you want to take the course for academic credit at your home institution or you would like to work with an instructor on a dataset from school or work.

Early bird course fee (ends February 1): $500 professional / $400 student

Regular course fee (after February 1): $550 professional / $450 student

(2) No instructor support. Sign up anytime over a 3-month period and learn at your own pace as you work through prerecorded lectures and problem sets. Be aware that at any time during the first month, you may upgrade to receive Instructor support.

Early bird course fee (ends February 1): $375 professional / $275 student

Regular course fee (after February 1): $400 professional / $300 student

Full instructor support

Early bird course fee (ends February 5): $500 professional / $400 student

Regular course fee (after February 5): $550 professional / $450 student

Instructor support

Course fee: $550 professional / $450 student

No instructor support

Spring early bird course fee (ends Feb 5): $400 professional / $350 student

NO instructor support. Sign up anytime over a 3-month period and learn at your own pace as you work through prerecorded lectures and problem sets. Be aware that at any time during the first month, you may upgrade to receive Instructor support.

Dec 5 – Feb 24: $400 professional / $300 student
March 6 – May 26 (Early bird ends Feb 5, 2023): $350 professional / $250 student
June 5 – Aug 25 (Early bird ends May 1, 2023): $350 professional / $250 student
Sept 5 – Nov 22 (Early bird ends August 6, 2023): $350 professional / $250 student