The new Master of Science in Biodiversity Data Analytics program at Columbia University School of Professional Studies (SPS) will host its inaugural event on November 5, 2025. The discussion, titled Nature in Numbers: Why Biodiversity Analytics Matters Now, will highlight the growing importance of specialized analytics skills in the biodiversity and sustainability sphere.
Data is one of the most powerful resources available in the fight to preserve our natural environment. Skills in data analysis are increasingly critical across industries, and are urgently needed to address challenges to biodiversity across the globe. The new program, developed by Columbia SPS and the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, prepares graduates for this fight, so that they are ready to harness the power of the nature data revolution and AI.
The event will take place at Columbia’s Pulitzer Hall from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET, and is set to feature Viorel Popescu, director of the new Biodiversity Data Analytics program; Alex Logan, CEO and co-founder of Cecil; Jessica Thurston, vice president of ESG and sustainability at Paramount Global; and Lily Xu, Sun-Wu Assistant Professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research at Columbia University. Shahid Naeem, professor of ecology, evolution, and environmental biology at Columbia University, will serve as moderator.
Panelists will explore the role of biodiversity and nature data in sustainable decision-making, highlight emerging trends in data analytics and the nature job market, and underscore the need for interdisciplinary training to confront the biodiversity crisis.
Register to attend here.
About the Program
The Master of Science in Biodiversity Data Analytics program at Columbia University equips a new generation of leaders with the data literacy, analytical tools, and interdisciplinary expertise to design evidence-based solutions that benefit both people and nature.
Designed for both working professionals and early-career changemakers, this online program allows students to learn from anywhere while gaining the skills to collect, analyze, and translate biodiversity data into meaningful action. Coursework prepares students to take on nature data applications across industries, from ESG finance to urban planning to environmental consulting, and culminates in a hands-on capstone with industry partners that provides practical experience, valuable networks, and the tools to make an immediate impact.
Learn more about the program here.
