The Future of Data Science in Conservation Through the Eyes of Xylo System’s Elaine Zhao

February 11 marks the United Nations International Day of Women and Girls in Science, a global initiative dedicated to promoting full and equal access to participation in science for women and girls. This day is a vital reminder of the contributions women make in STEM fields, despite the challenges of underrepresentation and gender biases.

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At Xylo Systems, a female-founded company harnessing the power of data science to drive biodiversity conservation, we are proud to spotlight one of our own, Elaine Zhao, a data scientist making waves in tech-driven environmental solutions. In 2024, Elaine was also recognised as a Data Leader of the Year finalist at the prestigious Women in Digital Awards, a testament to her impact in the field.

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We caught up with Elaine to dive into her journey, how she found her way into data science, what drives her passion for biodiversity, and the challenges she’s overcome as a woman in STEM.

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Elaine’s Journey from Environmental Science to Tech Innovation

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Elaine’s journey into data science was sparked by her natural affinity for logic and analysis. “I feel like I’m quite an analytical and logical person, so data science seemed like a natural fit for me in terms of a career,” she shares. Her first exposure to the field came when she saw a colleague use Python for data analysis to solve a complex problem. “It was amazing to see data-driven problem-solving in action, and it got me curious.”

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With a background in biology and environmental consulting, Elaine found the perfect intersection of her passions at Xylo Systems. “Joining Xylo was a natural choice when I saw the opportunity come up! It was a way for me to bridge my expertise in biology with my growing skills in data science to create meaningful change in biodiversity conservation.”

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Overcoming Obstacles and Finding Success in STEM

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The journey of women in STEM is often marked by challenges, and Elaine’s experience echoed that. “Being a woman in STEM can feel isolating at times, especially in male-dominated spaces, I’ve been the only woman in every single data science/tech team I have been in.”

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Despite these experiences, Elaine has found strength in her resilience and supportive colleagues. “Most of my hobbies growing up were in male-dominated spaces like photography and gaming, so I’ve been exposed to worse sexism. That experience helped me recognise biases when they occur, but I’ve been fortunate to have great mentors and colleagues along the way.”

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Her recent Women in Digital Award nomination was an empowering moment. “It was an incredible honour and an eye-opening experience seeing so many women in the tech industry. The nomination was validating and made me feel motivated to continue improving on myself in data science.”

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Elaine is at the Forefront of Shaping the Impact Xylo Systems has on Biodiversity

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‍Elaine’s work at Xylo Systems is paving the way for a new way of protecting and acting on biodiversity conservation. One of her most compelling projects involved developing a model that quantifies the extent to which land development projects, like housing or energy infrastructure, affect the surrounding environment. “It was exciting because it had never been done before—there was no precedence to reference. Seeing the model live on the platform was incredibly rewarding.”

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As a data scientist, Elaine plays a key role in Xylo System’s ability to translate complex biodiversity data into actionable insights. “I help turn raw data into insights and metrics that help clients make sense of biodiversity, which is a multi-faceted and complex concept that can be hard to quantify.”

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She is particularly excited about Xylo System’s ability to make biodiversity data more widely accessible and understandable. “The concept of biodiversity can be difficult to grasp, and we have to be scientifically rigorous while making it approachable at the same time.”

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‍The Power of Data Science in Protecting Biodiversity

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‍Elaine sees data science as a game-changer for biodiversity conservation. “There is more biodiversity data available now than ever, and that is only going to improve over time. That means data science is becoming increasingly powerful in enabling predictive modelling and helping stakeholders make data-driven decisions.”

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For Xylo Systems, leveraging data for conservation is at the core of their mission. “Biodiversity is essential for ecosystem health, climate stability, and human survival. Xylo is leading the charge by building data-driven tools and making complex information accessible.”

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Personally, Elaine is committed to continuous learning and growth. “I hope to keep developing my skills as a data scientist and contributing to transformative efforts in biodiversity conservation.” She also hopes for a shift in how society views conservation. “It would be amazing if biodiversity preservation and climate change efforts were seen as integral to our survival, rather than optional pursuits.”

Encouraging More Women and Girls in STEM

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‍Elaine is passionate about fostering greater diversity in STEM. “Having more diverse representation in any field brings fresh perspectives which can drive innovative solutions to complex challenges. Having more women and girls in STEM is no different.”

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She highlights the importance of early exposure to role models. “I think having more role models from a young age is crucial. Sometimes people don’t realise they can achieve something until they see someone similar to them doing it. It can be daunting and isolating being the only woman in a field dominated by men.”

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Her advice to young girls considering a STEM career? “You can be whoever you want to be. Believe in your abilities, don’t listen to the voices telling you otherwise, and have the courage to be the first woman to do something, because you may just inspire others to do the same.”

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‍A Female-Founded Startup Driving Sustainable Change

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‍Xylo Systems is proud to be a female-founded company at the forefront of biodiversity technology. For Elaine, being part of such an organisation is deeply empowering. “It’s inspiring to see women leading in STEM, especially in traditionally male-dominated fields. Being part of Xylo makes me hopeful that the playing field is levelling out.”

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On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we celebrate Elaine Zhao and countless other women making their mark in STEM. Their contributions are shaping the future of technology and conservation, proving that diversity in science drives innovation and progress.

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