GLEON (www.gleon.org) 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. More than 380 members from 40 countries form networks of people, lakes, and data. GLEON encourages participation across multiple disciplines of environmental science and information technology, by openly and informally sharing ideas, expertise, and data, and by moving ideas to products via working groups. Education, especially the training of early career scientists, and outreach are central to GLEON's activities.