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SUMMARY:Uncertainty at Scale: How CS Hinders Climate Research - Patrick Fe
 rris\, University of Cambridge
DTSTART:20240126T130000Z
DTEND:20240126T140000Z
UID:TALK209989@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:114742
DESCRIPTION:Abstract:\n\n"Computer science is a powerful tool for enabling
  data-driven advances in global ecology and conservation. However the ampl
 ification cuts two ways\, as mechanisation can also com- pound problems in
 herent with just how uncertain any- thing to do with natural ecosystems ar
 e! Species habitat datasets are uncertain\, local observations are uncerta
 in\, the resulting inferences about species distributions are uncertain\, 
 side-effects from interventions are uncertain\; conservation action has ev
 olved to take this into account. Computer science when applied without con
 sideration of these factors can amplify the uncertainty by running ever-la
 rger datasets through increasingly complex data pipelines and algorithms\,
  all built upon wobbly foundations. What exact version of the dataset is b
 eing used? What exact version of the dataset did you use? What assumptions
  went into generating that dataset? What libraries\, system dependencies a
 nd environ- ment variables were used to calculate the results?\n\nIn this 
 talk\, we first segment sources of uncertainty across ecological data sour
 ces and computation over them\, and then reflect how these uncertainties i
 mpact ecological research and how we might cleanly bound the uncertainty f
 or future conservation research."\n\nBio:\n\nPatrick Ferris is a research 
 assistant in the Energy and Environment Group at the Department of Compute
 r Science\, University of Cambridge. He works alongside colleagues in Plan
 t Sciences\, Ecology and Zoology to better understand climate change\, for
 ests and biodiversity. \n\nHe is particularly interested in:\n\nHow techno
 logy can help tackle climate change (e.g. geocaml) and potential issues it
  creates.\nThe changing landscape of human rights as a consequence of tech
 nology and climate change.\nCommunicating science effectively to a wide au
 dience (e.g. NI Forests) and improving diversity and inclusion in tech (se
 e Outreachy).
LOCATION:FW11\, William Gates Building. Zoom link: https://cl-cam-ac-uk.zo
 om.us/j/4361570789?pwd=Nkl2T3ZLaTZwRm05bzRTOUUxY3Q4QT09&from=addon 
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