Accelerating Biodiversity Conservation: Enhancing the Extinction Solutions Index with Advanced Data Science

Faculty Mentors

Dr. Haipeng Chen and Dr. John Swaddle

Student Researcher

Pranjali Gupta '27, Majors: Data Science and Finance

Project Description

Pranjali Gupta worked alongside Conservation X Labs to apply AI to collect and evaluate data on solutions that mitigate the global extinction crisis.

Combating the global extinction crisis is complex.  We know that there are extinction solutions, but we are lacking data synthesis and analyses needed to identify the most effective solutions. Collecting and synthesizing large extinction datasets is challenging.

The Extinction Solutions Index (ESI) is an initiative led by Conservation X Labs. The ESI is designed to evaluate, compare, and ultimately produce a ranked list of the most effective and efficient solutions to biodiversity loss. The goal of the ESI is to collect and analyze data needed to identify and evaluate solutions to mitigate extinction of species.

In 2025, Pranjali Gupta worked with Conservation X Labs and W&M’s Dr. Haipeng Chen and Dr. John Swaddle to design an AI chatbox that can be used to identify, collect and synthesize information on solutions to species extinction.

Project ID - Format

25-009-25 - CRP Year