Following high interest in last year’s mini-school lectures in October, which enabled the development of practical skills in biodiversity monitoring and ecological analysis, Sandra MacFadyen and Maarten Trekels (Stellenbosch University) are organising a new edition of free online training series this June.

The four-part lecture series, "Monitoring Biodiversity using Data Cubes: Techniques and Applications for Open Science," introduces practical methods for utilising data cubes to support biodiversity monitoring and ecological analysis, thereby fostering collaboration and openness within the scientific community.

The sessions, hosted by the National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences  (NITheCS), Complexity in Biological Systems research programme, are designed for researchers, students, and environmental professionals interested in applying open and collaborative approaches to biodiversity data.

Each lecture runs on a Wednesday from 14:00–15:00 CET/SAST:

• 4 June – Introduction to Data Cubes: Fundamentals and Applications
  
  

• 11 June – Building Data Cubes with GBIF: A Hands-On Guide for Biodiversity Monitoring
  
  

• 18 June – Analysing Data Cubes: Techniques and Tools for Ecological Modelling
  
  

• 25 June – Open Science: Sharing and Disseminating Results from Data Cubes
  
  

The series also explores how these ecological modelling and sustainable use of ecosystem techniques contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including quality education, climate action, and partnerships for sustainability. 

Register here to secure your place and develop your skills in biodiversity data and open science.