Lack of quantitative training among early-career ecologists: a survey of the problem and potential solutions
Proficiency in mathematics and statistics is essential to modern ecological science, yet few studies have assessed the level of quantitative training received by ecologists. To do so, we conducted an online survey. The 937 respondents were mostly early-career scientists who studied biology as underg...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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PeerJ Inc.
2014-03-01
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| Series: | PeerJ |
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/285.pdf |
| _version_ | 1827607803186905088 |
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| author | Frédéric Barraquand Thomas H.G. Ezard Peter S. Jørgensen Naupaka Zimmerman Scott Chamberlain Roberto Salguero-Gómez Timothy J. Curran Timothée Poisot |
| author_facet | Frédéric Barraquand Thomas H.G. Ezard Peter S. Jørgensen Naupaka Zimmerman Scott Chamberlain Roberto Salguero-Gómez Timothy J. Curran Timothée Poisot |
| author_sort | Frédéric Barraquand |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Proficiency in mathematics and statistics is essential to modern ecological science, yet few studies have assessed the level of quantitative training received by ecologists. To do so, we conducted an online survey. The 937 respondents were mostly early-career scientists who studied biology as undergraduates. We found a clear self-perceived lack of quantitative training: 75% were not satisfied with their understanding of mathematical models; 75% felt that the level of mathematics was “too low” in their ecology classes; 90% wanted more mathematics classes for ecologists; and 95% more statistics classes. Respondents thought that 30% of classes in ecology-related degrees should be focused on quantitative disciplines, which is likely higher than for most existing programs. The main suggestion to improve quantitative training was to relate theoretical and statistical modeling to applied ecological problems. Improving quantitative training will require dedicated, quantitative classes for ecology-related degrees that contain good mathematical and statistical practice. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T07:00:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-26c81c96f01044ffa463598f92caf070 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T07:00:50Z |
| publishDate | 2014-03-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PeerJ |
| spelling | doaj.art-26c81c96f01044ffa463598f92caf0702023-12-03T09:51:25ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592014-03-012e28510.7717/peerj.285285Lack of quantitative training among early-career ecologists: a survey of the problem and potential solutionsFrédéric Barraquand0Thomas H.G. Ezard1Peter S. Jørgensen2Naupaka Zimmerman3Scott Chamberlain4Roberto Salguero-Gómez5Timothy J. Curran6Timothée Poisot7Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, NorwayCentre for Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United KingdomCenter for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, USABiology Department, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, CanadaMax Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Evolutionary Biodemography Laboratory, Rostock, GermanyDepartment of Ecology, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New ZealandDépartement de Biologie, Chimie et Géographie, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski (QC), CanadaProficiency in mathematics and statistics is essential to modern ecological science, yet few studies have assessed the level of quantitative training received by ecologists. To do so, we conducted an online survey. The 937 respondents were mostly early-career scientists who studied biology as undergraduates. We found a clear self-perceived lack of quantitative training: 75% were not satisfied with their understanding of mathematical models; 75% felt that the level of mathematics was “too low” in their ecology classes; 90% wanted more mathematics classes for ecologists; and 95% more statistics classes. Respondents thought that 30% of classes in ecology-related degrees should be focused on quantitative disciplines, which is likely higher than for most existing programs. The main suggestion to improve quantitative training was to relate theoretical and statistical modeling to applied ecological problems. Improving quantitative training will require dedicated, quantitative classes for ecology-related degrees that contain good mathematical and statistical practice.https://peerj.com/articles/285.pdfEducationStatisticsMathematicsEcology studentTeachingUniversity curriculum |
| spellingShingle | Frédéric Barraquand Thomas H.G. Ezard Peter S. Jørgensen Naupaka Zimmerman Scott Chamberlain Roberto Salguero-Gómez Timothy J. Curran Timothée Poisot Lack of quantitative training among early-career ecologists: a survey of the problem and potential solutions PeerJ Education Statistics Mathematics Ecology student Teaching University curriculum |
| title | Lack of quantitative training among early-career ecologists: a survey of the problem and potential solutions |
| title_full | Lack of quantitative training among early-career ecologists: a survey of the problem and potential solutions |
| title_fullStr | Lack of quantitative training among early-career ecologists: a survey of the problem and potential solutions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lack of quantitative training among early-career ecologists: a survey of the problem and potential solutions |
| title_short | Lack of quantitative training among early-career ecologists: a survey of the problem and potential solutions |
| title_sort | lack of quantitative training among early career ecologists a survey of the problem and potential solutions |
| topic | Education Statistics Mathematics Ecology student Teaching University curriculum |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/285.pdf |
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