Focus Areas
We apply analytics to the deluge of Earth systems data to make new discoveries and help society adapt to the changing world.
We explore the underlying drivers of disturbance, natural hazards that ensue, and extreme events that have consequences to landscapes, ecosystems, and society.
We apply the tools of risk analysis and decision science to help society make better decisions under climate uncertainty.
We use methods to integrate Earth data across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales to gain new insights into how our environment is changing.
We train the next generation of data-capable Earth scientists using novel, open and cutting edge online and in person teaching approaches.
We use novel datasets to apply cutting-edge analytics methods for exploring Earth data.
We examine how landscape structure and function emerges from the complex interactions among the atmosphere, ecosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, and lithosphere.
Unifying Themes
Global Environmental Change
Human-induced changes in land cover and climate are leading to a myriad of environmental responses including: loss of biodiversity and ecosystem resilience, altered water supply and quality, shifting disturbance regimes, erosion and aggradation, and changing frequencies of ‘extreme’ events. These environmental responses have direct impacts on human health, infrastructure, and governance. Our group specifically focuses on how historic and future trends in environmental forcing propagates through ecosystems and landscapes.
Open, Reproducible Science
Earth Lab is committed to open, reproducible science. We recognize that there is a spectrum of open science practices from publishing your code/data/publications in free online repositories and journals to creating a fully reproducible workflow. While a fully reproducible workflow is the gold standard, we encourage Earth Lab members and collaborators to make any effort to make their science open and reproducible.
Interdisciplinary Team Science
Earth Lab researchers and themes span the natural and social sciences including Ecology, Geology, Geography, Atmospheric Science, Human Health, and Behavioral Science and Risk Analysis, among others. Earth Lab hosts incubators, Science Summits, and other workshops to convene diverse teams to work on today's most pressing environmental challenges.
Diversity and Inclusion
Earth Lab values diverse perspectives and aims to be a model for efforts to increase diversity and inclusion in STEM. Earth Lab provides tools and training opportunities to capitalize on open environmental data for all.
