Gala Sustainability Learning

“We took advantage of the features of the Gala platform that enable authors to include multiple types of media and interactive tools in their modules, with the goal of creating an immersive experience for students.”

How can we make ecological research more dynamic, accessible, and engaging for learners— connecting it to the diversity of locations in which the work happens?

This new article in Methods in Ecology and Evolution explores open ecological methodology through an ‘incubator matrix’, offering insights for researchers seeking scalable, agile learning experiences. The innovation of OCELOTS to address this gap is related to its integrative use of Gala, which facilitates building communities of people dedicated to creating, reviewing, and implementing educational modules.

Whether you’re an ecologist, researcher, student, or simply interested in the tools shaping modern ecological science, this is a great read.

Congratulations to the team behind this work, including Ann Russell of Iowa State University, Lindsay McCulloch of UC Riverside, and Jithin Vijayan of Turun yliopisto - University of Turku! A full list of all eleven authors is available in the article.

Check out the new article for yourself!

Fostering a network for creating and implementing open education resources in ecology Formal undergraduate research experiences (UREs) have provided students with authentic research experiences in ecology for decades, but accessibility to these resources is inherently limited, as e...

Check out a few pictures from our presentation at the Ecological Society of America’s REEFS Annual Meeting 2026, hosted by Abigail Merolle and Patrick Killian!

Discover how learning can cultivate more resilient communities in this new article by the University of Notre Dame’s Rebecca Hardin and Edward Waisanen, collaborating with Nils Kohn and Wim Scheenen of the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour at Radboud University!

"Tending Tomorrow's Garden Forests" explores how collaborative learning modules encourage cross-pollination of ideas, helping researchers and educators grow stronger networks for tackling complex environmental challenges. Read the full piece and see how The Neurotech EU team drove innovations that have improved Gala’s interoperability for other user communities:

Tending Tomorrow's Garden Forests - Limn In today’s dynamic open educational ecosystems, learning resources can be accessed, adapted, translated, and even transformed—available for free to anyone with an internet connection. The term “open” describes free-to-access textbooks, articles, lectures, and other learning tools that can en...

Join Gala at the Ecological Society of America’s REEFS 2026 event for an Introduction to a New Data Learning Tools How-To Forum! Discover resources that make it easier to bring data learning into ecology classrooms through examples in data literacy, R, Python integration, and interactive mapping.

In addition, learn how Gala modules and the BioQUEST Curriculum Consortium’s QUBES discussion forum lower barriers to using data tools and make ecology more accessible!

Join Abigail Merolle and Patrick Killian on July 28, 12:35–1:05 PM to explore how you can contribute your own ideas and use these resources.

Read more here:

REEFS 2026 – Ecological Society of America HomeProgramsEcology EducationREEFSREEFS 2026 REEFS 2026 18th Resources for Ecology Education Fair & Share (REEFS) Tuesday, July 28 11:45 AM – 1:15 PM MT 2026 ESA Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT ADD REEFS TO YOUR ANNUAL MEETING SCHEDULE Learning Activities Tuesday, July 28 11:55am – 12:25pm MT...

We're excited to announce the launch of the Ocelots Network Data Tools Forum!

Created in response to conversations across the OCELOTS Research Coordination Network, this new forum provides a space for instructors and module authors to connect, share ideas, and discuss the challenges and opportunities of using data tools in teaching.

Each discussion is linked with a real OCELOTS module focused on using, adapting, or even creating a specific interactive data tool as an open educational resource. Whether you're looking for implementation guidance, classroom tips, or answers to questions about a module, this community is here to help!

Join the conversation and learn more: https://qubeshub.org/community/groups/ocelots/data-tools-how-to

Note: Only OCELOTS members can comment or reply to a post. Click here to join the OCELOTS community!
https://qubeshub.org/community/groups/ocelots/join

qubeshub.org

Check out this new article from the Organization for Tropical Studies on Orlando Jimenez Mendez’s presentation at the 2026 Conference of Latin American Geography in Puerto Vallarta!

The piece explores how interactive modules built around real tropical research are helping students engage directly with biodiversity, conservation, and environmental science through hands-on data exploration and multimedia learning. It’s a neat look at how OTS is acting as a pathway in conjunction with Gala Sustainability Learning and Ocelots Network to rethink tropical science education for broader audiences.

Read the article below:

Interactive Learning in Tropical Science: OTS and OCELOTS at CLAG 2026 Interactive Learning in Tropical Science: OTS and OCELOTS at CLAG 2026

Join us in congratulating Deepika Ganesh as she earns her PhD in Environmental Justice from the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability! Her defense took place last month— serving on her committee were Rebecca Hardin, Kyle Whyte, Neil Dasgupta, Aditi Arur, and Michelle Bellino.

Deepika’s dissertation focuses on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and its inherent connection to place.

Wishing Deepika all the best as she continues her journey in education and sustainability!