The value of student theses in ecology

Each year, students in ecology produce theses filled with unique data and new findings. Yet, even though universities are meant to lead the way in open science, more than 90% of institutions across Central Europe have no consistent system for sharing student theses publicly. Since only a small number of student theses ever make it into scientific journals, most remain unnoticed and unused. In this talk, I will explore the potential of student research in ecology and the barriers that prevent its visibility and reuse. Drawing on a regional survey of universities and interviews with academic staff, I will discuss some of the problems arising from the inaccessibility of student theses, common misconceptions about their scientific value, and how this lack of access ultimately limits our way of doing science. In the end, I will provide examples of good practice and propose practical recommendations for universities, supervisors, and students to make ecological knowledge more accessible, transparent, and impactful.