Speaker Bio & Abstract

Carolyn Savoldelli Platform Manager, Resource Watch
World Resources Institute (WRI)
USA

BiographyCarolyn manages Resource Watch – WRI’s dynamic platform that leverages technology, data, and human networks to bring unprecedented transparency about the planet right now. Resource Watch features hundreds of data sets on the state of the planet’s resources and inhabitants, allowing users to visualize challenges facing the planet from climate change to poverty, water risk to state instability, air pollution to human migration, and more. Carolyn also oversees the institute’s commitment to open data and assists with setting standards to improve the quality, accuracy, and institutional coherence of WRI’s data products and interactive applications.

Prior to joining WRI, Carolyn conducted research on evolutionary biology at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama. She has also been involved in studies on aquatic ecology in the Adirondacks and on the Chesapeake Bay.

Carolyn holds a B.A. from Colgate University in Environmental Biology. She enjoys spending her free time outdoors, whether it is hiking, bouldering, or reading a good book. AbstractFrancis Gassert, Carolyn Savoldelli | World Resources Institute Creating a healthy planet where people and ecosystems can thrive requires trustworthy, accessible, and actionable information. Data has never been more plentiful, but few sources are open and curated to meet our needs. Resource Watch is the world's monitoring system: an open-source, collaborative data platform that makes it possible to track and manage precious natural resources. Hundreds of open datasets offer unprecedented insight into some of our planet's most urgent issues, including climate change, air pollution, and water insecurity. Access data and integrate datasets to meet your interests, easily create custom visuals, and share insights on your findings to help address the world's most pressing natural resource challenges. Resource Watch is curated by World Resources Institute (WRI), built together with over 40 partner organizations. This presentation will focus on how this tool can be used for to conduct or share geospatial analysis, and how to access and use its open APIs. Learn more about the initiative and how to get involved at http://resourcewatch.org.