I have a PhD in Ecology and a BS in CS. I find the bifurcation portrayed here exaggerated. The best modern ecologists merge rigorous fieldwork with advanced modeling; we need to harness vast, underutilized datasets, not just generate new ones.

The 'computer scientist' quote illustrates a frustrating trend: tech-centric 'drive-bys' that lack the ecological context required for good science. On the flip side, the 'old guard' who ignore modern data assimilation are leaving massive potential on the table. The field is rightfully shifting from site-specific anecdotes to foundational, broad-scale work, but we need both skillsets to do it justice.