Most ecologists are drawn to the field from a love for nature, and are first introduced to theoretical modeling as an approach to tackling ecological questions during their undergraduate studies. Reframing how educators present the value and approach of theory in ecology thus has the potential to reshape how the ecologists of tomorrow confront the gap between model expectations and on-the-ground realities. This talk aims to start a conversation about how we can change classroom practices for teaching theoretical models to develop students who are better equipped to deal with real-world messiness while searching for general insights.
