Our emphasis for this year’s institute is on building a cohort of trainees at the interface of microbial communities and global change across systems from terrestrial to marine. We are planning a set of training modules and activities that address professional development and scientific skills at scales from microbial cells to global ecosystem models. We will be working conceptually from Earth system to microbiome scales with educational content and activity-based exercises. This material will be coupled with skills workshops that will facilitate interaction, collaboration, and interdisciplinary teamwork. The last day will be a synthesis activity on the scientific needs for integrating microbiomes into global change predictions and concepts.

Enrollment, travel, accommodations, and meals are covered by the institute.