BES Facebook pageComputational Ecology
Secretary: Matthew Smith
Aims
The aims of the group are quite broad and we hope it will appeal to a wide range of BES members. We are currently at the start of a computational revolution in ecology, thanks largely to the rapid increase in speed of computer processors. This has led to a proliferation of sophisticated techniques to include more biological detail in theoretical models and to deal with the large number of detailed datasets that are currently being collected. Consequently we now stand at the point where large datasets can be used to fit sophisticated models to allow a deeper understanding of the processes that shape and maintain ecosystems and therefore allow ecology to become a more predictive science. The group will hopefully make some steps forward in broadcasting what the key assumptions of ecological theories are and what is required to test them; but also what computational techniques are available in order to test the theory and describe the populations, communities and ecosystems under scrutiny.
- To facilitate networking around, and communication of, computational aspects of ecology; helping its members obtain advice, learn, apply good practice and collaborate.
A note on the Computational Ecology Specialist Interest Group
Computational ecology is the use of computation in ecological research and applications. Computational methods are now a core part of most aspects of ecology. Indeed, many ecologists now have particular interests in researching, improving and applying a wide range computational methods including:
- the use of hardware and software for data acquisition
- data processing
- storing and sharing data
- statistical analyses
- statistical modelling
- creating models
- analysing models
- simulating models
- comparing models with other models
- model-data fusion
- and so on.
Activities:
- Running the computational ecology mailing list and posting a monthly newsletter
- Identifying and, if necessary, organising training opportunities (workshops).
- Organising an annual event at the British Ecological Society Annual General Meeting, either to support general networking or on a specific theme.
- Organising the provision of advice on computational ecology, and supporting the application of good practice, through online resources
