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National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis

a group working collaboratively at computers
NCEAS pioneered the working group model over the last 25 years, hosting almost 350 groups of interdisciplinary experts in downtown Santa Barbara.

Synthesis Science, Step by Step

Welcome to the NCEAS community! We can't wait for your working group to visit Santa Barbara and conduct exciting synthesis science. This page contains guidance and resources to help you get your newly funded working group from concept to action, from scheduling your first meeting, to setting up support, to communicating your products. 

Useful Resources

  • Room Availability

    The calendar is helpful for scheduling your working group visits! Be sure to check the availability of the Manzanita Room (sits up to 14) and/or Monarch Room (sits up to 20) before polling your team and emailing our events coordinator.

    View our Calendar
  • Code of Conduct

    All visitors to the NCEAS community, including working group participants, are expected to fully comply with the NCEAS code of conduct. Please be sure to share our full code of conduct with all members of your working group prior to the first meeting.

    Read our Guidelines
  • Reimbursement Policies

    Reimbursement forms are emailed to all participants and are available online. Hotels are billed directly to NCEAS, but participants can claim a maximum of $62/day for food expenses. Forms should be submitted by 15 days after the meeting.

    View Instructions and Forms
  • Proposal Planning

    A working group is so much more than a collection of individuals working on a problem. We compiled best practices for team science, from germinating an idea to facilitating meetings. This guidance document is a great place to start!

    Read our Guidance
  • Collaboration Guidance

    Compiled by facilitation expert Carrie Kappel, this document provides guidance for how to maximize the success of your NCEAS working group, from planning goals to ensuring equitable participation to after your final meeting.

    Read our Tips
  • Acknowledging Support

    It's important to acknowledge NCEAS in all publications and products of your working groups. This resource provides ready to go text for each working group type. Be sure to also tell us of any products you produce so we can track our outputs.

    Read our Guidance
  • Press Releases

    Publishing an impactful working group paper? To get the process started of a press release in the UCSB current, just fill our our google form. Responses will go to the UCSB and NCEAS communications team and they will follow up with details.

    Fill out Form
  • Data Policies

    NCEAS is committed to making ecological data widely available to the broader community. We ask working groups to abide by our data and information principles and management strategies, including having all data in repositories.

    Read our Policies
  • Programming Support

    In addition to the technical support during your visit at NCEAS, our scientific computing team is available to discuss and advise on data science and scientific programming tasks, like organizing, assembling, modeling, and preserving data.

    More on Programming
  • Technical Support

    We have computing infrastructure and offer technological assistance, including wireless/wired networking, email, shared file systems, a large library of scientific software, and well-equipped desktop systems throughout our facility.

    Visit Tech Support Site
  • Online Collaboration

    We provide an array of services (servers, email lists, private web areas etc) that promote Team Science and facilitate online collaboration among working group participants, even after they have returned to their respective institutions.

    See our Services
  • Communications Plans

    Our communications team is here to help you plan your working group products, but it's also helpful to start thinking and planning as early as possible. This guidance includes links to plan templates and thoughts on various tactics.

    Read our Guidance
  • Reporting Products

    We require working groups to report to us all of the publications and research products, such as datasets or software, they produce as a result of their NCEAS support. This applies to all NCEAS working groups including ones with partners.

    See Reporting Pathways

Our Spaces are Your Spaces

  • NCEAS Facilities

    NCEAS has two modern conference spaces for synthesis groups: the Monarch and Manzanita rooms. Visitors also have access to other spaces including a shared family room, printer/copier station, optional private meeting rooms, and a terrace that overlooks downtown Santa Barbara.

    See our facilities

Favorite Places to Eat

Program Specific Information

At NCEAS, we often house synthesis science under multi-year initiatives. Currently, we have the Morpho Initiative, Gulf Ecosystem Initiative, and Long Term Ecological Research synthesis projects active. Below, you can find more details on each of these initiatives including contact information, data science support, and image assets.