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1. Bridging the gap for Research Analytics: Fostering Collaboration between Research Administration, Institutional Research, Enterprise IT, and Research Computing in Higher Education

   https://doi.org/10.13023/904F-YJ48  

   Stauffer, Ashley; Krys, Paulina (May 2024, University of Kentucky Libraries)

   Institutions of Higher Education are complex matrixed organizations that require collaboration across silos. Research Administration, Institutional Research, Enterprise IT, and Research Computing are important areas to leverage when building a research analytics program. Across these units, our work can look very different, and we likely have different mental models for how we think about and approach work. This can make cross-functional communication and collaboration difficult. This presentation will provide a mental model for working in higher education research analytics, discuss critical players, and how to get work moving forward. Finally, we will provide a list of key ingredients to consider when building your institution’s research analytics program and strategies for effective buy-in and collaboration. 

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2. Scaling and Diversifying Undergraduate Research with the Early Research Scholars Program

   https://doi.org/10.1145/3545947.3569621  

   Alvarado, Christine; Mirza, Diba; Revelo, Renata A.; Thota, Neena (March 2022, ACM)

   Engaging undergraduates in research has been shown to improve retention, increase students' sense of computer science identity, and increase their chances of continuing to graduate school. Yet research experiences at most universities are ad hoc, and many undergraduates-particularly those from groups underrepresented in computing-do not have the opportunity to participate. The Early Research Scholars Program (ERSP) is a structured, academic-year group-based undergraduate research program designed to help universities vastly increase participation in research for early computing undergraduates. ERSP launched at UC San Diego in 2014 where it now annually engages over 50 second-year undergraduates, 59% of whom are women, and 22% of whom are from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. The program's portable design has enabled its expansion to 7 other colleges and universities. This workshop will train participants in launching ERSP (or any part of it) at their university to increase and diversify the undergraduates participating in research. Workshop leaders are the ERSP directors at four universities. They will address how to launch and run the program in different contexts. They will provide an interactive, hands-on experience of running the program covering the following topics: developing and teaching a research methods class, student application and selection to ensure a diverse and supportive cohort, and creating a dual-mentoring structure to engage and retain early undergraduates without overburdening faculty. Workshop participants will be invited to join the ERSP virtual community to get support launching their own version of ERSP. 

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3. Freshwater research in Latin America: Current research topics, challenges, and opportunities

   https://doi.org/10.15517/RBT.V68IS2.44328  

   Ramírez, Alonso; Gutiérrez-Fonseca, Pablo E. (October 2020, Revista de Biología Tropical)

   null (Ed.)

   Introduction: Freshwater research in Latin America has been increasing in recent years, with a large participation of scientists based on local institutions. However, researchers in the region are facing diverse challenges, and we lack a regional overview of the status of freshwater research. Objective: To address this, we surveyed researchers in the region to assess the current activity and challenges faced by the scientific community. We were interested in understanding (1) the type of research currently taking place in the region, (2) the major research gaps, as viewed by local researchers, and (3) the main limitations or obstacles slowing the development of freshwater science in the region. Methods: We prepared a questionnaire with 26 questions regarding the background of participants, their ongoing research priorities, the products generated from their research, and the major limitations they are facing as researchers. Results: We obtained 105 answers from researchers in 19 Latin American countries. Some of the important trends identified included: (1) a focus on stream ecosystems under agricultural and natural forest; (2) emphasis on biodiversity assessment and species inventories; (3) limited ecological research, mostly centered on litter decomposition and food web studies; and (4) communicating research in the form of peer-reviewed papers and reports in gray literature. Major limitations to the scientific activity included: (1) language, with a majority of respondents considering their handling of English a handicap; (2) limited access to research equipment; (3) lack of tools, such as taxonomic keys; and (4) limited research funding. Research needs and priorities resulted in three major areas in need of attention: (1) developing taxonomy and systematics; (2) improving our current understanding of ecology and natural history; and (3) understanding species distributions and biodiversity patterns. Conclusions: Latin America has an active community of scientists. There is a need to diversify research topics, without abandoning traditional research areas (e.g., taxonomy, species distribution). We advocate for more collaboration among scientists with similar research goals, regardless of their affiliation. Improving communication and collaboration among universities and countries within Latin America will certainly facilitate overcoming obstacles and will help shaping a brighter future for freshwater research, and sciences in general, in the region. 

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4. Synergies Among Environmental Science Research and Monitoring Networks: A Research Agenda

   https://doi.org/10.1029/2020EF001631  

   Jones, J. A.; Groffman, P. M.; Blair, J.; Davis, F. W.; Dugan, H.; Euskirchen, E. E.; Frey, S. D.; Harms, T. K.; Hinckley, E.; Kosmala, M.; et al (March 2021, Earth's Future)

   Abstract Many research and monitoring networks in recent decades have provided publicly available data documenting environmental and ecological change, but little is known about the status of efforts to synthesize this information across networks. We convened a working group to assess ongoing and potential cross‐network synthesis research and outline opportunities and challenges for the future, focusing on the US‐based research network (the US Long‐Term Ecological Research network, LTER) and monitoring network (the National Ecological Observatory Network, NEON). LTER‐NEON cross‐network research synergies arise from the potentials for LTER measurements, experiments, models, and observational studies to provide context and mechanisms for interpreting NEON data, and for NEON measurements to provide standardization and broad scale coverage that complement LTER studies. Initial cross‐network syntheses at co‐located sites in the LTER and NEON networks are addressing six broad topics: how long‐term vegetation change influences C fluxes; how detailed remotely sensed data reveal vegetation structure and function; aquatic‐terrestrial connections of nutrient cycling; ecosystem response to soil biogeochemistry and microbial processes; population and species responses to environmental change; and disturbance, stability and resilience. This initial study offers exciting potentials for expanded cross‐network syntheses involving multiple long‐term ecosystem processes at regional or continental scales. These potential syntheses could provide a pathway for the broader scientific community, beyond LTER and NEON, to engage in cross‐network science. These examples also apply to many other research and monitoring networks in the US and globally, and can guide scientists and research administrators in promoting broad‐scale research that supports resource management and environmental policy. 

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5. Meaningful engagement in transitions research: Care and value in research partnerships

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2025.104120  

   Milanzi, Nyasha; Schelly, Chelsea (August 2025, Environmental Science & Policy)