Workshop on a short guide to field data collection
Field data collection is central to ecological research but is often challenging, particularly for first-time researchers who may face avoidable logistical issues.
Date: 24 March 2026
Time: 13:00 - 14:00
Venue: Årsringen and online
Language: English
Last day of registration: 17 March 2026
Organiser: Department of Forest Ecology and Management
Co-organiser: SILVA
Location: Online, Umeå
The workshop is aimed primarily at early-stage PhD students. We welcome also experienced senior researchers and advisors, who can reflect in the workshop on how we teach effective field data collection. The goal of the workshop is to provide a practical, step-by-step walkthrough of the process of planning and conducting field data collection, with a focus on anticipating common challenges and minimizing avoidable problems.
The workshop is based on the paper: A short guide for effective field data collection which provides practical guidance to improve accuracy and efficiency through five key steps: identifying variables that should be recorded, designing the data structure, preparing a robust data collection protocol, conducting a pilot test, and carefully following the protocol in the field.
The workshop leaders are Caroline Greiser and Faith Jones. Caroline is a researcher at the Dept. of Physical Geography, SU while Faith is a researcher at the Dept. of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, SLU.
Program
2. Short presentation of the paper A short guide for effective field data collection.
3. Discussion in groups: How could you implement some of the advice in your upcoming fieldwork? What advice would you add to such paper from your own experience?
4. Wrap up and time for questions