March 31, 2025

Thanks to generous funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Ecological Forecasting Initiative (EFI) will be able to continue work to ensure equitable pathways to earth and environmental data science graduate programs through collaborations with Tribal Colleges & Universities, Minority Serving Institutions, research universities, and professional organizations. This new funding will help EFI expand collaborations started with previous seed funding.  

This initiative will develop and pilot three new environmental data science modules to enable a culturally relevant introduction to data, computing, and ecological forecasting; translate seven developed modules from the classroom to permanently archive online repositories for wider access; provide a new environmental data science microcredentialing opportunity for individuals who serve as tribal liasions; and develop and deliver at least six in-person environmental data science workshops, among other goals.

Grant collaborators

Cal Poly Humboldt: Nievita Bueno Watts, Rachel Torres

Salish Kootenai College: Georgia Smies

University of Colorado, Denver: Timberley Roane

University of Minnesota: Melissa Kenney, Diana Dalbotten, Dan Keefe, Sean Dorr

University of New Mexico, Gallup: Antoinette Abeyta, Chad Smith

University of Notre Dame: Jason McLachlan, Jody Peters