Hi, I’m Eric.
I’m a ‘social impact data scientist’. Academically trained in ecology, statistics, and network science; and practically trained in the use and abuse of ‘big data’, I work with social mission companies, organizations, corporate initiatives, investors, and philanthropists to use data for good.
Hi, I’m Eric.
I’m a ‘social impact data scientist’. Academically trained in ecology, statistics, and network Science; and practically trained in the use and abuse of ‘big data’, I work with social mission companies, organizations, corporate initiatives, investors, and philanthropists to use data for good.
I’m a Data Scientist
I co-founded a visual data interface company which was acquired by Rakuten in 2016. I now run Vibrant Data Labs, a social impact data science group that uses ecological approach to synthesizing data. We focus on empowering people to see the big picture and make evidence-based decisions. Partners have included The Omidyar Group, Humanity United, Omidyar Network, TED, Intel Labs, Skoll Global Threats, Shell’s Scenarios team, and Red Bull Human Performance, among others. More…
I’m a Network Scientist
I have been collaborating with ecologists, physicists, and computer scientists since the late 1990’s to understand the architecture and dynamics of complex networks – from food webs to flows of money to friendship ties. Some might say I’m obsessed with finding simplicity in complexity. I currently focus on how a community of independent actors can collectively tackle problems that are bigger than anyone alone can solve. More…
I’m an Ecologist
My academic career started in marine ecology, and migrated to alpine ecosystems of the Sierra Nevada, where I helped build the first University of California research center in Yosemite. In collaboration with park scientists, the USGS, and Microsoft Research, we synthesized satellite, climate, and field data to support conservation of Threatened amphibians. A recurring theme of this research is to leverage data and computation to facilitate evidence-based stewardship of nature. More…
Featured Publications
- The Other (Bigger) Privacy Problem (Boston Globe)
- Predicting pollination network invasions (Nature)
- Surprisingly simple organization of ecosystems (PLOS)
- 25 Years of Creativity Research (J. Creativity Research)
- Network structure of Chilean rocky shores (Ecology)
- Approaching a state shift in Earth’s biosphere (Nature)
- Causal inference with observational data (Nature)
- Predicting rare amphibian habitat in Yosemite (PLOS)
- Simple predictions in complex food webs (PNAS)
- Keystone effects in complex networks (Ecology Letters)
- 2 degrees of separation in complex food webs (PNAS)
- Global biodiversity scenarios for the year 2100 (Science)
- Strong effects of weak interactions (Nature)
- more…
Featured Projects
- Misinformation vulnerability hotspots in the US
- Ending STEM teacher shortages with network mapping
- 100 years of Science Fiction
- 10 years of TED talks
- Network analysis of the Personal Data Economy (2012…)
- Dead Stuff: the secrete ingredient of food webs (TEDEd)
- Feedback Loops in Nature (TEDEd)
- Pollination Networks (TEDEd)
- Dogsled-accessed skiing in the Arctic
- openmappr: a network exploration interface
- more…
Swall Institute
Swall Institute is a sustainably designed creative residency space located one hour south of Yosemite National Park and overlooking the deepest valley in North America. Designed for intimate groups of <10 ppl, Swal has hosted TED Fellow residencies, Levi-Strauss’ strategic off-sites, a Red Bull High Performance endurance camp, a 72andSunny creativity retreat, and numerous data science team hackathons. At Swall, Sean Gourley and I drafted of our 2013 TED talk, and Alex MacDonald finished a book about the economic history of space exploration. Artist residencies have included: mural artist, Jane Kim, singer-songwriter Meklit Hadero, musician/composer Patrick Cress, mushroom burial suit inventor Jae Rhim Lee, and New Yorker writer Jelani Cobb. Swall is a California hub of GrownSkis. Contact me if you want host a residency.
Dr. Eric L. Berlow is an ecologist, complexity scientist and CEO of Vibrant Data Labs – a social impact data science group. He previously co-founded a visual data interface company which was acquired by Rakuten in 2016 – where he then led data product innovation from the world’s largest e-commerce panel. Eric was the founding director of the University of California’s first science institute in Yosemite National Park, where he co-led efforts to leverage data and computation for evidence-based conservation policy. Eric’s research on ecological complexity – which includes publications in Nature, Science, and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences – has been recognized as being among the top 1% most highly cited papers in the field. He is has been a TED Fellow, TED Senior Fellow, Alexander von Humboldt Fellow, and a National Science Foundation Fellow; and was listed among the Top 100 Creatives by Origin Magazine. Eric received a B.A. in Biology from Brown University and a PhD in Community Ecology from Oregon State University.
Dr. Eric L. Berlow is an ecologist, complexity scientist and CEO of Vibrant Data Labs – a social impact data science group. He previously co-founded a visual data interface company which was acquired by Rakuten in 2016 – where he then led data product innovation from the world’s largest e-commerce panel. Eric was the founding director of the University of California’s first science institute in Yosemite National Park, where he co-led efforts to leverage data and computation for evidence-based conservation policy. Eric’s research on ecological complexity – which includes publications in Nature, Science, and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences – has been recognized as being among the top 1% most highly cited papers in the field. He is has been a TED Fellow, TED Senior Fellow, Alexander von Humboldt Fellow, and a National Science Foundation Fellow; and was listed among the Top 100 Creatives by Origin Magazine. Eric received a B.A. in Biology from Brown University and a PhD in Community Ecology from Oregon State University.