Ecoinformatics combines outdoors, technology
Texas A&M doctoral student Justinn Jones shows, via an emerging field, how data can reveal nature’s hidden patterns.
Justinn Jones (right) works with Dr. Sorin Pepescu, professor of remote sensing, who mentors students exploring how advanced technologies such as remote sensing, machine learning and geographic information systems can support conservation research.
Fueled by a passion for the outdoors and advanced technology, a Texas A&M University doctoral student is trailblazing an emerging field that seeks answers to nature’s tough questions.
Justinn Jones has a background in ecology — identifying trees, tracking wildlife and studying how habitats change — but he’s also drawn to using technology on the analytical side of science. So through the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Jones studies ecoinformatics, which combines environmental science and data to study wildlife movement, land-use changes and climate patterns.
By turning field observations into digital insight, Jones helps researchers predict how ecosystems respond to human activity and environmental change. Ecology studies life, and computer science manages information; ecoinformatics brings the two together, using data, coding and modeling tools to investigate how ecosystems function and how they might change over time.
Jones said the potential impact of ecoinformatics is what drew him to the field. Before beginning his doctoral program, he worked in private consulting and saw how data could bridge the gap between observation and action.
“I want students to see that you don’t have to choose between being outdoors and being behind a computer,” he said. “You can do both with ecoinformatics. We’re able to take massive amounts of information, like satellite images, weather patterns and animal movement data, and turn that into something meaningful. It’s the kind of work that can guide conservation and influence how we manage natural resources.”
Jones’ research focuses on how environmental data can improve conservation strategies across Texas and beyond. Using statistical models and computer simulations, he studies how changes in land use affect species distribution and ecosystem health. One project maps the overlap between wildlife habitats and agricultural development to find ways the two can coexist sustainably.
“It’s exciting because it’s applied,” he said. “You can see how your work connects to real people, real communities and real landscapes. If you like both science and problem-solving, there’s a place for you here.”
Ecoinformatics exemplifies Texas A&M’s leadership in developing innovative solutions for nature and the world, establishing the university as a powerful force for good.
