For nearly five decades, since the passage of the US NEPA legislation, environmental impact evaluation, monitoring and regulation have been evolving on a parallel path from ecological theory. What has emerged from these regulatory practices is a collection of qualitative assessments based on unproven ideas in ecology dating from the 1960s and 70s. These practices ignore the significant advances made in data collection, analysis and modeling in all domains of ecology as well as the dynamic nature of all ecological and environmental systems.
Today, we can no longer envision the "dilution solution" (the dispersal of contaminants instead of removal or prevention) or any other ideas that suggest what happens on one continent or in one basin is too small to have an effect elsewhere. It is urgent that conceptual and technical progress be assimilated rapidly where ecological theory is applied: environmental impact assessment, mitigation, restoration, conservation and protection.
OUR MISSION
The Entangled Bank Laboratory (EBLab) was founded by a multi-disciplinary group of marine scientists wishing to re-examine fundamental concepts and theories of ecology. We aim to develop and promote a quantitative ecological framework that reduces our current dependence on phenomenological reasoning.
Our research combines modelling with recursive analysis and experiments. We work primarily with testable concepts for the reconstruction of trends in ecosystems. Calibrated, validated trend reconstruction is an important step toward quantifying the impacts of human activities on marine ecological systems at different time scales. In this perspective, we are collaborating with environmental consultants to revise and eventually replace decision-making tools based on subjective criteria with the means to propose quantitative, integrated analyses of marine systems in coastal and offshore environments.
milestones
Our members have professional experience in a broad range of scientific disciplines in marine sciences, including mathematics and modelling, geochemistry, ecology and biology, as well as in graphic design, collections management and communication. Some of our most important milestones are:
- Founding members of an international research laboratory between Canada and France, the "Laboratoire International Associé, BeBEST" (www.liabebest.org).
- Created an international group on environmental impact based on a partnership with Gravity Marine Consulting (gravitymarine.com/).
- Participation in EU graduate teaching programs within marine ecology
- We are contributing to the development of an international art-science exhibition about ecological research in the Arctic
- Created our non-profit association, "The Entangled Bank Laboratory"