You all know that the LTER Network Communications Office is based at NCEAS, but maybe you don’t really know what the LTER Network is. And when you wandered onto the old web site, you thought you’d stumbled into a dusty archive. The LTER NCO has launched the Network’s new website, but it is definitely still a work-in-progress. We would love to draw on the insight and ideas of NCEAS scientists: the exact audience we care most about (that is, scientists not currently associated with the LTER).

The roundtable will be interactive, with a very brief presentations about the audiences, constraints goals, and process of developing the website, followed by a look at the backend and a discussion of what works well and what could be improved. We will discuss some of the challenges encountered as well as short- and long-term solutions. It’s your chance to help solve a challenging sci-comm puzzle and learn a bit more about one of NCEAS’ major programs. To facilitate the fun, please bring a computer and meet in the Paseo Room.

Marty is the Deputy Director for the Long Term Ecological Research Network Communications Office (LTER NCO), based at NCEAS. The NSF-funded LTER Network includes 25 sites and engages thousands of researchers and students to study ecological processes operating on long time scales and large spatial scales. Marty joined the newly-created NCO in 2016 to enhance awareness and understanding of LTER research within the LTER community and across diverse constituencies and stakeholders.