Center for Ecosystem Forecasting
Our Mission
We are an interdisciplinary research center that creates innovative forecasts of future environmental dynamics, providing actionable insights for decision-making.
We are an action-oriented research center: we collect and analyze environmental data; build and share ecological models and software; create and assess a range of forecasting methods; translate and communicate forecasts for decision support; and partner and engage with forecast users. We strive to advance the discipline of ecosystem forecasting globally by leading cutting-edge forecasting research, education, and community engagement.
- Ecology + Data + Models = Insights
- Ecology + Data + Models = Insights
- Ecology + Data + Models = Insights
News & Updates
Follow Along
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Mary Lofton earns Ecological Forecasting Outstanding Publication Award , articleThe Center for Ecosystem Forecasting is looking years ahead to train the next generation of ecosystem forecasters, environmental data scientists, and water managers with their Macrosystems EDDIE (Environmental Data-Driven Inquiry and Exploration) undergraduate training program.
Date: Oct 10, 2025 - -
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Five faculty members elected to the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine , articleThe new members are Cayelan Carey, William "Bill" Hopkins, Liwu Li, Hesham Rakha, and Julie Ross.
Date: Sep 30, 2025 - -
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'Curious Conversations' podcast: Cayelan Carey talks about ecosystem forecasting , articleCarey's ecosystem forecasting provides near real-time predictions about water quality in lakes and reservoirs. Believed to be the first of its kind, the system is collecting data from 15 lakes and reservoirs spanning three continents and providing each with a daily, 30-day forecast.
Date: Sep 22, 2025 -
Featured News
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Ecological Forecasting Initiative Conference 2025 gathers at Virginia Tech Date: May 27, 2025 - -
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Why This Work Matters
We can no longer use historical baselines to predict tomorrow’s environmental conditions.
The environment is changing dramatically, and quickly.
We develop tools to predict future environmental conditions, in the way the National Weather Service currently forecasts weather. The environmental variables we focus on provide critical services for society and bolster our understanding of natural resource management.