Carly Batist
Meet Rafi
Scientist / Researcher
Washington D.C., United States
Carly Batist, Ph.D., is a biodiversity monitoring and nature tech expert dedicated to harnessing AI and emerging technologies for conservation impact. As Nature Tech & AI Innovation Manager at Conservation International’s Moore Center for Science, she works to equip practitioners with tools that transform ecological data into actionable insights, bridging science, technology, and on-the-ground conservation.
Areas of activity:
Conservation, Nature-tech
About:
Carly Batist, Ph.D., is a conservation scientist and technology strategist with a deep commitment to aligning innovation with biodiversity outcomes. As Nature Tech & AI Innovation Manager at Conservation International’s Moore Center for Science, she leads efforts to build capacity, integrate AI tools, and drive technology adoption across the organization’s global projects—spanning wildlife monitoring, ecosystem restoration, and climate resilience. Her work focuses on putting the most advanced tech in the hands of those protecting nature, enabling data-driven decision-making at scale.
Prior to joining Conservation International, Carly held roles across the conservation tech ecosystem, including Science Engagement Manager at Rainforest Connection, where she managed the Arbimon bioacoustics platform, developed new features, led global workshops, and presented at major conferences. She also consulted for the Rainforest Alliance, advising on AI integration and nature tech strategy for landscape-level sustainability platforms, and served as Science Outreach Lead for WildMon, shaping communications and product development for biodiversity data tools.
Her academic career includes a Ph.D. in Biological Anthropology from the Graduate Center, City University of New York, where her dissertation, Listening for Lemurs, used acoustic monitoring to translate the vocalizations of black-and-white ruffed lemurs into conservation insights. She also holds an M.S. in Primate Behavior & Ecology from Central Washington University. Carly is passionate about fostering collaboration between scientists, technologists, and local communities, believing that the most effective conservation solutions emerge when innovation is grounded in real-world needs.