Evan Wang ’24, Computer Science

Evan Wang ’24

Major

Computer Science

Project Title

Using Machine Learning to Analyze Earth’s First Reefs

Presentation Link

View Evan's Presentation

I studied archaeocyathids, which were ancient reef-building organisms. The motivation for studying these organisms is twofold. First, since reefs provide an abundance of habitats and nutrients, there may be a significant link between archaeocyathids and the Cambrian explosion of 500 million years ago during which biodiversity skyrocketed. Second, in the face of climate change, predicting reef behavior is crucial and obtaining empirical data from Earth’s history can bolster our modern models. I analyzed a data set of fossil images taken from the Yukon territory in Canada with the goal of understanding how archaeocyathids and other sediments moved and progressed through time. I worked on automating a process for identifying and classifying sediments in image data that involved using a convolutional neural network — a type of machine learning model — to segment parts of images. This process included converting old training data to a more useful format, creating my own training data, and improving the neural network. I gained experience working with the programming languages MATLAB and Python, and I loved being able to apply coding to novel research. My internship reaffirmed my interest in the intersection of computer science and the environment.