We contribute to the Science in the Forest, Science in the Past series by investigating the specific practices of “data science”, a set of contemporary methods associated with large-scale data processing infrastructure that shares many characteristics with artificial intelligence technologies. We offer a critical history of data science in relation to the engagement of Western publics with environmental policy through “citizen science”, and contrast those developments with the authors’ different experiences and perspectives of applying aspects of data science and citizen science in collaboration with local communities in South America and Africa.
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