Defenders’ Laura Nunes Named to Prestigious ESIIL Working Group

Defenders of Wildlife scientist Laura Nunes has been selected to join the Environmental Data Science Innovation & Inclusion Lab’s third cohort of working groups. ESIIL, a National Science Foundation-funded center led by the University of Colorado Boulder, convenes independently organized research teams each year to apply innovative insights and solutions to critical ecological challenges. This year’s cohort includes 10 working groups that will work to advance ESIIL’s mission of bringing integrative approaches to environmental data science.  

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“It’s a great honor to be accepted into ESIIL’s esteemed working group initiative,” said Dr. Laura Nunes, senior GIS analyst at Defenders of Wildlife’s Center for Conservation Innovation. “I look forward to contributing data-driven solutions to support an expansion of the energy grid in ways that promote environmental resilience, social equity and species protection.”

Nunes co-leads CMSMapper: Optimal climate mitigation planning for nature and people which will focus on the U.S. energy grid expansion. This project addresses two crises: rising carbon emissions and the accelerating biodiversity loss caused by ecosystem degradation.  

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