Hi all! I’m a second year PhD student, and I just got accepted to a short course at the Cary Institute (ecosystem ecology) that I’m currently debating.

I could make the logistics work and get funding from my department to go, but I’m wondering if it’s worth the time. I think it would be a good learning opportunity and beneficial to be in such an intensive ecology-focused environment for a few weeks (my PhD focuses on conservation social science and environmental psychology, so I don’t get a ton of heavy ecology content from my courses).

Have any other PhD students done this course or any similar programs? Was it worth it? I was excited to be accepted, but I get worried about anything paid like this. I don’t want to put myself at a disadvantage by doing a “pay your way” thing where I don’t really gain any new skills/knowledge/etc.

I have until this weekend to decide lol. What would y’all do if you were in my place? Any advice or suggestions are welcome and appreciated!

See also: The study as it was published in ISME Communications.

Even tho Europes ecology on land with fauna is rather lacking.

The Oceans/Seas are rather full of amazing aquatic food-chains and key-stone species.

Which need much more apperciation if we are going to keep Europe more eco-friendly(cause Dolphins-Orcas/Seals/Larger;Smaller Whales and many species of large fish are in very big risk).