Dr. Michael Evans

Senior Data Scientist

Dr. Mike Evans’ work is focused on developing new ways to use data and technology to improve conservation decision-making and prioritization. Many of his projects apply deep learning approaches to remote sensing data to better understand land-use dynamics. Before arriving at Chesapeake Conservancy, Dr. Evans was the senior conservation data scientist at Defenders of Wildlife, where he led the use of geoinformatics and data science to improve federal conservation policy.

Dr. Evans is drawn to a career in conservation based on a love of wildlife with an academic background in wildlife ecology. He earned a Ph.D. in natural resource management from the University of Connecticut where his research helped state agencies understand how the space use and movements of black bears change across gradients of human landscape modification. He is also a scientific SCUBA diver and studied the population ecology of Caribbean corals while working on his master’s degree in ecology, evolution and behavior at the University at Buffalo. Evan also holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Oberlin College. Dr. Evans recently authored the paper “Convolutional neural network for high-resolution wetland mapping with open data: Variable selection and the challenges of a generalizable model” and co-authored three others “Novel data show expert wildlife agencies are important to endangered species protection,” “Pumas Puma concolor as ecological brokers: a review of their biotic relationships” and “Coproduce Conservation Technology With Conservation Decision Makers and Practitioners to Increase Its Impact.”

In his free time he enjoys archery, snowboarding and disc golf.