Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network

Established in 2005, the Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON) is a grassroots research network that conducts innovative science by sharing and interpreting high resolution sensor data to understand, predict and communicate the role and response of lakes in a changing global environment.

GLEON: Going Global with Freshwater Science

Cary Institute’s Dr. Kathleen Weathers is co-Chair emerita of GLEON. In addition to leading the network for nearly a decade from its infancy to its adulthood, Weathers' collaborative research associated within GLEON ranges from the impacts of major events (e.g., Hurricane Irene) on lake function to how high frequency data serve as a common language to link community members, scientists, and students across the globe in research, education, and outreach.

GLEON is breaking new ground with its global approach to network science. Papers by Weathers et al. (2013) and Hanson, Weathers, and Kratz (2016) provide good overview of how the network has evolved during its first ten years.

"The Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON): The Evolution of grassroots network science"
 

Dr. Weathers also co-created and leads the GLEON Fellowship/Lake Expedition Programs which train cohorts of graduate students in synthesis and analysis of lake data as well as in the science of team science and leadership skills through creating products (e.g., Read et al. ; Dugan et al., Wander et al. 2024).