Speaker: Leslie New- HMSC Student Invited Speaker, Assistant Professor of Statistics, Ursinus College

Topic: Statistics: The Dark Side of Ecology

Ecology is the study of the relationships between organisms and their physical environment. When most people think of the field, they think of animals, bacteria, oceans, forests and a whole slew of other aspects of the world around us. Very rarely do people think of statistics, of math, of computing. Yet these have become a pillar of ecology, if one often hidden in the shadows and whispered about with dread. However, the merging of these two seemingly disparate areas of study into statistical ecology creates a vibrant space allowing us to explore complex questions (e.g., how individual responses to disturbance may affect populations), address management issues (e.g., the interactions between wind facilities and wildlife), and even improve our knowledge of basic ecological questions (e.g., animals’ movement patterns). This talk will address these very points and seek to demonstrate that rather than a rare skill, coveted yet feared, bringing statistics into the light can only strengthen our ability to explore the world around us and conserve and protect the species, environments, and systems that we value.