Alys Young, November 2025

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are critical tools to analyse large ecological datasets and ultimately support biodiversity conservation. As these technologies continue to develop, key questions emerge: how can ongoing advances in AI and ML be effectively harnessed; how can they be directed toward conservation’s most pressing challenges; and how can this be achieved swiftly and in a coordinated manner.

The Environmental Informatics Hub at the Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University hosted a one day workshop designed to foster collaboration between researchers working in the fields of AI and ecology. The workshop, organised by our old friend Prof Iadine Chades brought together experts from diverse organisations under a shared objective: to align emerging computational capabilities with real-world conservation needs. Emily Nicholson and Alys Young from the Conservation Science reserach group attended the workshop, sharing their expertise in ecosystem risk assessments, engagement with Indigenous Custodians, and conservation decision making.

Through focused discussions on analytical bottlenecks, data limitations, and “pinch points” for conservation, the workshop sought to directly identify topics with the opportunity for AI assistance. These discussions highlighted both the scale of the task ahead and the opportunity for AI to inform how ecological data are analysed, integrated, and applied to conservation decision-making.

Looking ahead, collaboration between ecologists, data scientists, and technologists will be to our progress on conservation tasks. The Environmental Informatics Hub will no doubt play a central role in shaping this landscape. Follow the Hub to stay informed as this work continues to develop into the future.