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Environmental Informatics Hub

With extinction accelerating and ecosystems collapsing, the world’s biodiversity is in crisis. We exist to change this through innovative thinking, impactful collaborations and responsible technological solutions.

We bring together the full biodiversity puzzle, linking data, sensing, modelling, software and policy to ensure conservation outcomes are holistic, sustainable and beneficial to all.

In partnership with climate scientists, the energy sector and agriculture, we turn evidence into action where it matters most.

Iadine Chades

Professor Iadine Chadès

Professor Chadès is a professor in AI and a leading researcher in decision-making under uncertainty, developing algorithms and models that help decide what, where and when to focus action.

Her work has delivered new ways of managing endangered and invasive species, and disease, and designing adaptive management and monitoring with interpretable models and solutions.

An experienced interdisciplinary leader, Professor Chadès places biodiversity at the heart of her work, partnering across climate and weather, energy and agriculture where AI research is developed to support policies and positively impact people and nature.

Meet our Director

Our key functions

Combining the cutting-edge in computer science with an integrated interdisciplinary approach, we’re working hand-in-hand with organisations, communities and governments globally to help achieve the world’s biodiversity targets by 2030 – and beyond.

  • Environmental assessment and monitoring

    Developing data science and machine learning models to assess the state of different environments and monitor their health over time.

  • Change prediction and forecasting

    Using AI-driven analytics to predict and forecast how environmental changes will impact species and agriculture – among other important relationships.

  • Informed decision-making, policy and governance

    Sharing our leading expertise and research insights to inform policies and government activities.

  • Ethical IT solutions

    Creating responsible solutions that navigate critical ethical issues in areas such as AI for protecting endangered species.

  • Co-design and empowerment

    Working with biodiversity actors worldwide and at all levels, co-designing solutions and partnering to secure funding, enhance their knowledge and boost their capabilities.

  • Education and training

    Embedding IT for sustainability and responsible technologies into courses, thought leadership and mentoring to build the best researcher and student teams.

A ‘no-siloes’ approach to sustainability

When we approach conservation and sustainability, we consider every angle – from clean energy to food security.What’s more, we believe lasting impact goes beyond addressing the root cause of biodiversity issues, but also the longer-term ripple effect of our solutions.

Energy

Energy

Biodiversity suffers at every stage of unsustainable energy systems, manifesting as habitat destruction, pollution, climate change and other damaging impacts. Technology can accelerate the shift to cleaner alternatives, minimise industrial footprints and drive greater transparency and accountability in carbon offsetting. This presents the opportunity to support the transition to renewable energy minimising the direct impact to biodiversity.

Food security

Food security

Agriculture places major pressure on biodiversity, contributing to habitat conversion, monocultures and overuse of harmful substances. Innovations like precision agriculture, remote sensing, pollinator tracking and AI-driven analytics can help farmers grow food more efficiently while restoring our ecosystems. We work with farmers, agencies and industry to improve the agro-environmental trade-offs through smarter land-use planning.

Ecosystems and species conservation

Ecosystems and species conservation

AI, satellite imaging and real-time sensors have transformed our ability to detect threats like invasive species, habitat loss and climate stress. Forecasting how ecosystems and species respond to environmental changes and pinpointing where conservation is most needed also allows for more strategic and timely action to protect life on Earth.

Disease management

Disease management

Infectious diseases pose growing threats to biodiversity and humanity. But with more intelligent systems for tracking outbreaks, reporting and information sharing, we can better safeguard ecosystems, animals and people from epidemics and pandemics.

Learn more about us

Get in touch

Want to partner in our mission? Passionate about biodiversity conservation?
Contact us now at eih-fit@monash.edu.