At EcoQuants, we see the world as a complex place. Management of our natural resources and sustainable human uses require a data driven approach.

Philosophy

The EcoQuants logo is fashioned around the ensō, a symbol in Zen calligraphy representing the striving towards unity (a circle) and embrace of imperfection (incomplete circle). At EcoQuants we similarly seek to model complex systems in a holistic manner, and still work with inevitable uncertainty. A quant is a quantitative analyst who applies mathematical and statistical techniques to modeling systems, typically in the financial world. We’re similarly applying these techniques to ecological problems, hence EcoQuants. (And do you see the “Q” in the enso logo?)

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Status

EcoQuants is a Limited Liability Company (LLC) as of February 2017. We’re excited for the many possibilities ahead in applying sophisticated technology to data driven decision making!

People

Ben Best, PhD

Environmental Data Scientist & Founder

I am an environmental data scientist with a background in marine spatial ecology. Prior to founding EcoQuants, I lectured at UC Santa Barbara’s Bren School of Environmental Science & Management (see Training) and was the senior analyst for the Ocean Health Index, a research project housed at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis. In 2016, I completed a PhD at Duke University’s Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab. There I worked on Marine Geospatial Ecology Tools, OBIS-SEAMAP marine animal observation geoportal, Census of Marine Life Map & Viz and predictive distribution modeling of cetaceans. For more, see my CV and benbestphd.com.