Public resources deserve the same level of innovation, design, and technology as the private sector. That’s the purpose of the databranch: to bring high-quality design, computer science, and digital ingenuity to bear on conservation challenges and natural resource management. At a time when consumer products are swimming in big data, we often struggle to get basic data on our oceans, wildlife, and public lands. Solutions are out there, but we need to translate and repurpose them to meet the needs of the people that manage, protect, and rely on our natural infrastructure. The databranch seeks to make connections across the conservation and technology sectors to enable digital stewardship on a changing planet.
The databranch offers three main services:
Network building
The databranch seeks out, connects, and cultivates relationships among a wide array of professionals to expand the capacity of the natural resource management sector and catalyze new and innovative projects. Starting with our newsletter, the databranch offers low-touch, high-value opportunities to move ideas across disciplines and connect people with experts and tools that advance their work.
Problem framing & design
Applying new approaches requires a clear definition of goals and the problem to be solved. Public agencies and user groups do not always have the capacity to assess their current data systems, conduct qualitative research to identify community needs, or explore a wide range of potential tools. The databranch can help with problem framing directly or by finding and matching you with experienced service designers and technical consultants.
Project management
Once you’ve identified your project’s goals and scope, the databranch can help you fill out your team with researchers, designers, software engineers, and other skilled partners. The databranch also offers project management capacity to keep a project on track.
The databranch is committed to making it easier for managers, resource users, and the public to collect, analyze, and access essential data for smart decisions and long-term stewardship.
Leadership
Since 2014, Kate Wing has worked as a consultant for a range of social enterprises on strategy design, organizational development, and ocean conservation. She’s worked on two studies reviewing U.S. fisheries data systems; held a residency at the open science space Manylabs, where she hosted the first-ever San Francisco Fishackathon; and received a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant to teach computers to identify fish. Prior to starting her own firm, she worked as a Program Officer for the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation’s Marine Conservation Initiative, where she developed and managed a $20 million grant portfolio and helped create private/public partnerships. She worked on state and national ocean campaigns during her eight years at the Natural Resources Defense Council, including the creation of California’s network of marine protected areas. She was a Knauss Sea Grant Fellow on the Senate Commerce Committee and holds a Master’s of Marine Affairs from the University of Washington and a B.A. in Marine Biology from Smith College.
