Data science is the science of extracting meaning from potentially complex data. This is a fast-moving field, drawing principles and techniques from a number of different disciplinary areas including computer science, statistics and complexity science. Data science is having a profound impact on a number of areas including commerce, health and smart cities.
We argue that data science can have an equal if not greater impact in the area of environmental sciences. It can offer a rich tapestry of new techniques to support both a deeper understanding of the natural environment in all its complexities. We can also address the development of well-founded mitigation and adaptation strategies in the face of climate change.
In our view, data science should be woven into the very fabric of environmental sciences going forward, as we seek a new kind of science and subsequently intellectual breakthroughs that can transform society.
The challenges of environmental data science are quite distinct making this an exciting field of study:
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