We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who dedicated time and effort to develop and submit an application for ESIIL’s call for working groups. Your enthusiasm and commitment to advancing environmental data science were truly inspiring, and we were thoroughly impressed by the exceptional quality of all submissions.

After thoughtful review, we are thrilled to announce the selection of ESIIL’s second cohort of working groups! These five dynamic teams will be instrumental in advancing our mission to foster an integrative, interdisciplinary approach to environmental data science. By bringing together broad expertise, they will collaboratively address pressing environmental challenges and work towards innovative, data-driven solutions.

Congratulations to:

Developing Best Practices for Large Language Models in Environmental Science (EnviroLLM)

PI: Charlotte H. Chang (Pomona College), Co-PIs: Brian Robinson (McGill University), J.T. Erbaugh (The Nature Conservancy & Dartmouth College)

Integrating Urban Biodiversity Data on Non-native Plant Species with Environmental and Socioeconomic Factors in Cities Across the Globe

PI: Dr. Daijiang Li (University of Arizona), Co-PIs: Dr. Myla Aronson (Rutgers University), Dr. Benjamin Baiser (University of Florida), Dr. Marc Cadotte (University of Toronto), Dr. Luke Potgieter (Stellenbosch University)

Observing Unci Maka: Environmental Data Science and Tribal Lands

Co-Project Leaders: Joni Tobacco (Salish Kootenai College), Shannon Boldt (Northwest Indian College), Elisha Yellow Thunder (Oglala Lakota College), Darryl Reano (Arizona State University)

popClimVar: Climatic variability and fluctuating populations

PI: Tad Dallas (University of South Carolina), Co-PI: Lauren Shoemaker (University of Wyoming)

VERDE: Vast Exploration and Research across Dry Forest Ecosystems

PI: Catherine Hulshof De La Peña (Virginia Commonwealth University), Co-PIs: German Vargas Gutiérrez (Oregon State University), Jennifer Powers (University of Minnesota)