Data science training modules transform environmental education
A new study has confirmed the success of “Macrosystems EDDIE” teaching modules developed by Virginia Tech researchers to bridge a gap in data science training for environmental science undergraduates. Since 2017, these modules have been adopted by over 50 institutions worldwide, enhancing the quantitative and ecological forecasting skills of more than 35,000 students.
Published in BioScience, this research highlights the significant impact these modules have on both students and instructors.
“Macrosystems EDDIE introduces students to core forecasting concepts through an intuitive interface,” said lead author Mary Lofton, postdoctoral associate with the Center for Ecosystem Forecasting and lead author of the report. The modules, which cover data visualization, modeling, and analysis, allow flexibility in their use and can be completed with minimal coding knowledge. Designed to integrate seamlessly into existing curricula, the modules also include hands-on components that simulate real-world ecological forecasting challenges.
David Richardson, a biology professor at SUNY New Paltz, emphasized their educational value: “The students expressed the value of learning these concepts as they apply to their fields of interest (e.g., environmental science) or in understanding forecasting from a variety of uses like weather apps..”
Created under the direction of Cayelan Carey, professor in biological sciences and co-director of the Center for Ecosystem Forecasting, and supported by NSF funding, Macrosystems EDDIE modules aim to strengthen the workforce in ecological sciences.
Journal Reference:
Mary E Lofton, Tadhg N Moore, Whitney M Woelmer, R Quinn Thomas, Cayelan C Carey, ‘A modular curriculum to teach undergraduates ecological forecasting improves student and instructor confidence in their data science skills’, BioScience biae089 (2024). DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biae089
Article Source:
Press Release/Material by Virginia Tech
New study sheds light on Earth’s ‘slushy’ transition Post-Ice Age
A Virginia Tech-led study offers unprecedented evidence of Earth’s rapid transition from a frozen planet to a “slushy” state during the last global Ice Age. Known as the “plumeworld ocean” era, this period saw carbon dioxide levels reach a tipping point, triggering a global thaw.
The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, examines lithium isotope patterns in ancient carbonate rocks to substantiate this phenomenon.
“Our results have important implications for understanding how Earth’s climate and ocean chemistry changed after the extreme conditions of the last global ice age,” said lead author Tian Gan, a former Virginia Tech postdoctoral researcher.
The findings suggest that after extensive ice coverage, high CO₂ levels accumulated, eventually warming the planet and creating a freshwater layer over dense, salty ocean water. This sequence hints at a more complex climate response than previously understood.
Researcher Shuhai Xiao, who recently was inducted into the National Academy of Sciences., highlighted the study’s significance saying that the findings bring the limit of environmental change into better focus, but also offers insights into the resilience of life under extreme conditions – hot, cold, and slushy.”
The study’s geochemical evidence contributes to understanding the processes that reset Earth’s climate after extreme conditions.
Journal Reference:
T. Gan, M. Tian, X. Wang, S. Wang, X. Liu, G. Jiang, B. C. Gill, M. Nolan, A.J. Kaufman, T. Luo, S. Xiao, ‘Lithium isotope evidence for a plumeworld ocean in the aftermath of the Marinoan snowball Earth’, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 121 (46) e2407419121 (2024). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2407419121
Article Source:
Press Release/Material by Virginia Tech
Brazil’s MATOPIBA region faces resource sustainability challenges
A recent study addresses the sustainability of the water-agriculture-energy nexus in Brazil’s MATOPIBA region, examining the long-term viability of this resource-dependent area using a systems dynamics model.
This research, published in Ambio, warns that resource use strategies in MATOPIBA, encompassing Maranhão, Tocantins, Piauí, and Bahia, must consider interdependencies to ensure sustainable development and resilience against climate challenges.
MATOPIBA’s high agricultural productivity drives the demand for water and energy resources, often straining local systems.
The study, led by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, provides a model to explore scenarios that could help stakeholders create more integrated management approaches, addressing the complex interactions between these resources and minimizing unsustainable exploitation.
Journal Reference:
Martins, M.A., Collste, D., Bezerra, F.G.S. et al. ‘Long-term sustainability of the water-agriculture-energy nexus in Brazil’s MATOPIBA region: A case study using system dynamics’, Ambio (2024). DOI: 10.1007/s13280-024-02058-9
Article Source:
Press Release/Material by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
Featured image credit: Gerd Altmann | Pixabay
