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Benjamin D. Best, PhD
Environmental Data Scientist
Currently working on automation and visualization of environmental data and scientific workflows. Seeking to continue promulgating these technical skills for solving pressing environmental problems.
Education
Ph.D. in Marine Science and Conservation
Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke
Durham, NC
2016
Dissertation: Data to Decision in a Dynamic Ocean: Robust Species Distribution Models and Spatial Decision Frameworks
M.S. in Environmental Sciences
Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke
Durham, NC
2007
Thesis: Geospatial Modeling of Habitat and Connectivity
B.A. in Geography, B.S. in Aquatic Biology
University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB)
Santa Barbara, CA
1998
Professional Experience
Environmental Data Scientist & Founder
EcoQuants, LLC
Santa Barbara, CA
2016 - present
Lecturer (part-time)
Masters in Environmental Data Science, University of California
Santa Barbara, CA
202 - 2022
Lecturer (part-time)
Bren School of Env. Sci. & Mgmt., UCSB
Santa Barbara, CA
2014 – 2016
Senior Analyst, Ocean Health Index
National Center for Ecological Analysis & Synthesis, UCSB
Santa Barbara, CA
2014 – 2016
Research Associate, Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab
Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke
Durham, NC
2002 – 2008
Computer & Network Technologist
Bren School of Env. Sci. & Mgmt., UCSB
Santa Barbara, CA
2000 – 2002
Database Developer & IT Consultant
European Human Rights Foundation
Brussels, Belgium
1998 – 1999
Lab and Scuba Diving Research Assistant
Marine Biogeography Lab of Dr. Steven Gaines, UCSB
Santa Barbara, CA
1997 – 1998
Teaching Experience
Machine Learning in Environmental Science
Masters in Environmental Data Science, University of California
Santa Barbara, CA
2022
Team Science, Collaborative Analysis and Project Management
Masters in Environmental Data Science, University of California
Santa Barbara, CA
2021
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Cal State Channel Islands
Camarillo, CA
2020
GIS
Environmental Studies, UCSB
Santa Barbara, CA
2019
GIS
Bren School of Env. Sci. & Mgmt., UCSB
Santa Barbara, CA
2016
Environmental Informatics
Bren School of Env. Sci. & Mgmt., UCSB
Santa Barbara, CA
2016
Landscape Ecology
Bren School of Env. Sci. & Mgmt., UCSB
Santa Barbara, CA
2015
Advanced Topics in GIS
Bren School of Env. Sci. & Mgmt., UCSB
Santa Barbara, CA
2014, 2015
Marine GIS
Nicholas School of the Env., Duke
Durham, NC
2012
Awards
NOPP Excellence in Partnering Award
Project: Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (EcoQuants)
Santa Barbara, CA
2017
Special Achievement in GIS
Software: Marine Geospatial Ecology Tools (Duke). Award presented by Jack Dangermond at Esri International User Conference.
Durham, NC
2012
Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program Project of the Year in Sustainable Infrastructure
Project: Mapping Cetacean Habitat (Duke)
Durham, NC
2008
Audrey Lynn Copeland Memorial Award for Excellence in Ecology Evolution and Marine Biology
Nominated by Dr. Steven Gaines (UCSB)
Santa Barbara, CA
1998
President’s Undergraduate Research Fellowship
Proposed evaluating genetic distance of continental versus island samples to test rafting on kelp holdfasts by brooding sea cucumbers (UCSB)
Santa Barbara, CA
1997
Howard Hughes Medical Internship
Worked with Dr. Peter Collins manipulating hormonal levels of fish in lab and slicing the brains to evaluate efficacy for mariculture purposes (UCSB)
Santa Barbara, CA
1996
Publications
45. CStories: Digital Tools to Facilitate Community Participation in Offshore Wind Planning and Development
2024 AGU Ocean Sciences Meeting
N/A
2024
Chang G, BD Best, S Kramer
44. SanctSound: Building Data Systems for Sound Decisions
in The Effects of Noise on Aquatic Life: Principles and Practical Considerations
N/A
2024
Hatch, L., J Barkowski, S Baumann-Pickering, CW Bell, BD Best, J Brown, A DeAngelis, J Joseph, E Kim, D Kitchen, A Kok, A Kügler, A Kumar, M Lammers, T Margolina, M McKenna, K Merkens, LP Reeves, TJ Rowell, … E Zang
43. Empowering Communities to Participate in Marine Energy Planning and Development
Proceedings of the European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference
N/A
2023
Chang G, BD Best, S Kramer
42. Empowering Communities with a Multi-Use Decision Support Dashboard to Participate in Marine Renewable Energy (MRE) Planning and Development
USDOE EERE Technical Report
N/A
2023
Chang G, BD Best, S Kramer
40. Marine Energy Environmental Toolkit for Permitting and Licensing
USDOE EERE Technical Report
N/A
2022
West A, Z Barr, C Jones, G Chang, S Kramer, J Roberts, W Peplinski, BD Best, N Johnson, M Caspard
39. Webenizing Condition Reports: Communicating Data-Driven Ecosystem Indicators in a Visually Engaging and Interactive Online Platform
National Marine Sanctuaries Conservation Series
N/A
2021
Spector P, BD Best, J Ranganathan, T Murray, JA Brown, C Caldow, G Canonico, A DeVogelaere
38. Reef-Fish Abundance, Biomass, and Biodiversity Inside and Outside No-Take Marine Zones in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary: 1999–2018
Oceanography
N/A
2021
Medina M, C Estes, BD Best, C Stallings, E Montes, L McEachron, F Muller-Karger
37. tbeptools: An R package for synthesizing estuarine data for environmental research
Journal of Open Source Software
N/A
2021
Beck MW, MN Schrandt, MR Wessel, ET Sherwood, GE Raulerson, AA Budihal, BD Best
36. Improving the IEA approach using principles of open data science
Coastal Management
N/A
2021
Bastille K, S Hardison, L DeWitt, J Brown, J Samhouri, S Gaichas, S Lucey, K Kearney, BD Best, S Cross, S Large, E Spooner
35. Data-driven approach for highlighting priority areas for protection in marine areas beyond national jurisdiction
Marine Policy
N/A
2020
Best BD, ME Visalli*, RB Cabral, W Cheung, N Clark, C Garilao, K Kaschner, …, DJ McCauley
* shared first authorship
34. A Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) Pole-to-Pole of the Americas in Support of Conservation and Sustainable Use of Living Resources in the Sea
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
N/A
2019
Montes, E, G Canonico, MT Kavanaugh, P Miloslavich, E Klein, BD Best, S Habtes, EG Escobar-Briones, G Bigatti, and M Di Domenico
33. Submarine Cable Analysis for U.S. Marine Renewable Energy Development
NREL Technical Report
N/A
2019
Best BD, L Kilcher
32. Competing Use Analysis for Offshore Renewables and Subsea Cables
MHKDR Dataset
N/A
2019
Best BD, L Kilcher
31. Global Observational Needs and Resources for Marine Biodiversity
Frontiers in Marine Science
N/A
2019
Canonico G, PL Buttigieg, E Montes, CA Stepien, D Wright, …, BD Best, … BJ Murton
30. Minimizing wildlife impacts for offshore wind energy development: Winning tradeoffs for birds in space and cetaceans in time
PLoS ONE
N/A
2019
Best BD, PN Halpin
29. A Global Database of Intentionally Deployed Wrecks to Serve as Artificial Reefs
Data in Brief
N/A
2018
Ilieva I, L Jouvet, L Seidelin, BD Best, S Aldabet, R da Silva, D Amor A Ovando
28. Advancing Marine Biological Observations linking the Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) and Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) Frameworks
Frontiers in Marine Science
N/A
2018
Muller-Karger FE, P Miloslavich, NJ Bax, S Simmons, MJ Costello, IS Pinto, G Canonico, W Turner, M Gill, E Montes, BD Best, J Pearlman, P Halpin, …, G Geller
27. Satellite sensor requirements for monitoring essential biodiversity variables of coastal ecosystems
Ecological Applications
N/A
2018
Muller-Karger FE, E Hestir, C Ade, K Turpie, D Roberts, D Siegel, R Miller, …, F Davis, BD Best, …
26. Our path to better science in less time using open data science tools
Nature Ecology & Evolution
N/A
2017
Lowndes JS, BD Best, C Scarborough, JC Afflerbach, MR Frazier, CC O’Hara, N Jiang, BS Halpern
25. Habitat-based cetacean density models for the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico
Scientific Reports
N/A
2016
Roberts JJ, BD Best, L Mannocci, E Fujioka, PN Halpin, DL Palka, LP Garrison, KD Mullin, TVN Cole, CB Khan, WA McLellan, DA Pabst, GG Lockhart
24. Best practices for assessing ocean health in multiple contexts using tailorable frameworks
PeerJ
N/A
2015
Lowndes, JSS, EJ Pacheco, BD Best, C Scarborough, C Longo, SK Katona, BS Halpern
23. Updated marine mammal distribution and abundance estimates in coastal British Columbia
Journal of Cetacean Research and Management
N/A
2015
Best BD, CH Fox, R Williams, PN Halpin, PC Paquet
22. Patterns and Emerging Trends in Global Ocean Health
PLoS ONE
N/A
2015
Halpern BS, CL Longo, JSS Lowndes, BD Best, M Frazie, SK Katona, … ER Selig
21. Assessing the health of the U.S. west coast with a regional-scale application of the Ocean Health Index
PLoS ONE
N/A
2014
Halpern BS, CL Longo, C Scarborough, D Hardy, BD Best, S Doney, S Katona, K McLeod, A Rosenberg, J Samhouri
20. Data Integration for Conservation: Leveraging Multiple Data Types to Advance Ecological
journal
N/A
2014
Fujioka E, CY Kot, BP Wallace, BD Best, J Moxley, J Cleary, B Donnelly, PN Halpin
19. A Regional-Scale Ocean Health Index for Brazil
PLoS ONE
N/A
2014
Elfes CT, CL Longo, BS Halpern, D Hardy, C Scarborough, BD Best, T Pinheiro, G Dutra
18. Habitat-specific larval dispersal and marine connectivity: Implications for reserve design
Ecosphere.l
N/A
2013
Anadón JD, M del Mar Mancha-Cisneros, BD Best, LR Gerber
17. Assessing global marine biodiversity status within a coupled socio-ecological perspective
PLoS One
N/A
2013
Selig ER, CL Longo, BS Halpern, BD Best, D Hardy, CT Elfes, C Scarborough, KM Kleisner, SK Katona
16. An index to assess the health and benefits of the global ocean
Nature
N/A
2012
Halpern BS, C Longo, D Hardy, KL McLeod, JF Samhouri, SK Katona, K Kleisner, SE Lester, J O’Leary, M Ranelletti, AA Rosenberg, C Scarborough, ER Selig, BD Best, DR Brumbaugh, FS Chapin III, LB Crowder, KL Daly, SC Doney, C Elfes, MJ Fogarty, SD Gaines, K Jacobsen, LB Karrer, HM Leslie, E Neeley, D Pauly, S Polasky, B Ris, K St. Martin, GS Stone, UR Sumaila, D Zeller
15. Online Cetacean Habitat Modeling System for the U.S. East Coast and Gulf of Mexico
Endangered Species Research
N/A
2012
Best BD, PN Halpin, AJ Read, E Fujioka, CP Good, EA LaBrecque, RS Schick, JJ Roberts, LJ Hazen, SS Qian, DL Palka, LP Garrison, WA McLellan
14. Community structure in pelagic marine mammals at large spatial scales
Marine Ecology Progress Series
N/A
2011
Schick RS, PN Halpin, AJ Read, DL Urban, BD Best, CP Good, JJ Roberts, EA LaBrecque, DL Palka, H Whitehead, WA McClellan, DA Pabst, C Dunn
13. Dynamic habitat models: a new perspective in analyzing fisheries bycatch
Ecology Letters
N/A
2011
Zydelis R, RL Lewison, SA Shaffer, JE Moore, AM Boustany, JJ Roberts, M Sims, DC Dunn, BD Best, Y Tremblay, MA Kappes, PN Halpin, DP Costa, LB Crowder
12. Are all seeds equal? Spatially explicit comparisons of seed fall and sapling recruitment in a tropical forest
Ecology Letters
N/A
2010
Swamy V, J Terborgh,KG Dexter, BD Best, P Alvarez, F Cornejo
11. Spatio-temporal gap analysis of OBIS-SEAMAP project data: Assessment and way forward
PLoS ONE
N/A
2010
Kot CY, E Fujioka, LJ Hazen LJ, BD Best, AJ Read, PN Halpin
10. Marine Geospatial Ecology Tools: an integrated framework for ecological geoprocessing with ArcGIS, Python, R, MATLAB, and C++
Ecosystem Modeling & Software
N/A
2010
Roberts JJ, BD Best, DC Dunn, EA Treml, PN Halpin
9. Program Design: Developing a Comprehensive Data Strategy
Chapter 11 in Integrating and Applying Science: A handbook for effective coastal ecosystem assessment. IAN press.
N/A
2010
Lookingbill T, MT Trice, S Carter, G Sanders G, BD Best, BJ Longstaff, JM Hawkey
8. Near bottom current direction inferred from comatulid crinoid feeding postures on the Terre Adélie and George V shelf, East Antarctica
Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography
N/A
2010
Eléaume M, RJ Beaman, HJ Griffiths, BD Best, MK Riddle, V Wadley, SR Rintoul, LG Hemery, N Améziane
7. Predictive Marine Mammal Modeling for Queen Charlotte Basin, British Columbia
Technical Report for Raincoast Conservation Foundation. 120 p.
N/A
2009
Best BD, PN Halpin
6. Striking the right balance in right whale conservation
Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
N/A
2009
Schick RS, PN Halpin, AJ Read, CK Slay, SD Kraus, BR Mate, MF Baumgartner, JJ Roberts, BD Best, CP Good, SR Loarie, JS Clark
5. OBIS-SEAMAP: The world data center for marine mammal, sea bird and sea turtle distributions
Oceanography
N/A
2009
Halpin PN, AJ Read, E Fujioka, BD Best, B Donnelly, LJ Hazen, C Kot, K Urian, E LaBrecque, C Good, LB Crowder, KD Hyrenbach
4. Understanding movement data and movement processes: current and emerging directions
Ecology Letters
N/A
2008
Schick RS, SR Loarie, F Colchero, BD Best, A Boustany, DA Conde, PN Halpin, LN Joppa, CM McClellan, JS Clark
3. Geospatial web services within a scientific workflow: Predicting marine mammal habitats in a dynamic environment
Ecological Informatics
N/A
2007
Best BD, PN Halpin, E Fujioka, AJ Read, SS Qian, LJ Hazen, RS Schick
2. Marine Animal Data Applications
Chapter 4 in ArcMarine: GIS for a Blue Planet
N/A
2007
Halpin PN, E Fujioka, MS Coyne, BD Best
1. OBIS-SEAMAP: developing a biogeographic research data commons for the ecological studies of marine mammals, seabirds, and sea turtles
Marine Ecology Progess Series
N/A
2006
Halpin PN, AJ Read, BD Best, KD Hyrenbach KD, E Fujioka, MS Coyne, LB Crowder, SA Freeman, C Spoerri