Ecosystem Informatics

The Ecosystem Informatics graduate curriculum at OSU consists of a minor in Ecosystem Informatics The Ecosystem Informatics minor is designed to integrate research and education within a seven-stage process of scientific inquiry that traces “the life cycle of a ecosystems data point” from initial question and sampling design to the application of discoveries to natural resources management; each stage involves collaboration among mathematicians, ecosystem scientists, and computer scientists. The primary training goal of the Ecosystem Informatics IGERT and EI graduate minor is to provide students with the skills and conceptual tools that will enable them to be outstanding interdisciplinary scientists and effective contributors to ecosystem informatics research teams. Each student combines rigorous training in one of the participating disciplines (computer science, mathematics, ecology, geosciences, etc.) with a broad range of cross-disciplinary research experiences. Education activities include classes, team-based projects, field experiences, and internships in national and international institutions that investigate and contribute to understanding of ecosystem management and policy issues.

As long as you have Graduate Student status you may receive the minor in Ecosystem Informatics.

Credit requirements for a Ph.D. in the Ecosystems Informatics IGERT. Classes below in Bold are the core, highly sequential classes with synopses below

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	IGERT	OSU
Total coursework, of which	≥36	≥36
Major requirements	≥18	≥18
*Minor (Ecosystem informatics), of which	18	≥15
Geo 538 Group field experience “boot camp” at Andrews Forest	2	Fall
Geo 542 Concepts in Ecosystem Informatics	3	Fall
Geo 543 Applications in Ecosystem Informatics	4	Winter
Geo 547 Collaborative Research in Ecosystem Informatics	4	Spring
FW 620 Ecological Policy or approved alternative class	2/3	Spring
Geo 507 Colloquium (sign up for 2/3 quarters) IGERT students are expected to participate in colloquia regardless if they are signed up	2/3
Total research and thesis, of which	≥36	≥36
Internship (**note most students are not enrolled while on internship)	24
Total Ph.D.	≥108	≥108

GEO 538 ECOSYSTEM INFORMATICS FIELD CAMP (a.k.a. 'Boot' Camp)-A five day intensive residential field trip in the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest in the Cascade Range will introduce first year graduate students in the Ecosystem Informatics program to the research life cycle and key Ecosystem Informatics concepts.

GEO 542 CONCEPTS IN ECOSYSTEM INFORMATICS- An introduction for first year graduate students in the Ecosystem Informatics program to basic concepts in mathematics, computer sciences, and ecosystem science; formation of multi-disciplinary student teams; and identification of research problems pursued for the one-year course series.

GEO 543 APPLICATIONS IN ECOSYSTEM INFORMATICS is designed for student teams to review theoretical (mathematical) conceptualizations for problems, select appropriate modeling paradigms for their chosen problem, and design models.

GEO 547 COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH IN ECOSYSTEM INFORMATICS require student teams to design, implement, and present results of Ecosystem Informatics models. Students will revise and iteratively modify their models, as well as defend their projects contributions to ecosystem science, management, and policy.