Associate Professor Joseph Maina is an environmental systems informatician and lecturer in Spatial Information Science whose research sits at the intersection of science, technology, and policy. He focuses on understanding complex environmental and ecological challenges across interconnected ecosystems, from landscapes to seascapes, and developing solutions that advance sustainability and resilience. His work integrates biophysical ecology, advanced data technologies, and spatial analytics to translate large, diverse datasets into actionable strategies for policy implementation and evaluation.

Maina’s research addresses environmental management and sustainable development, including responses to climate change and strategies for biodiversity conservation, resource governance, and food security. Much of his work is funded through partnerships with industry and organizations in conservation and development, reflecting its applied relevance and contribution to real-world sustainability challenges.

He also leads data science initiatives that develop tools for integrating and analyzing  (often large) heterogeneous datasets, enabling cross-disciplinary insights for managing natural resources and adapting to global environmental change. His work spans terrestrial, freshwater, coastal, and marine systems, linking ecological processes to governance frameworks and informing decisions from source-to-sea connectivity to ocean policy.