World Online Ranking of Best Ecology & Evolution Scientists – 2023 Report

by Imed Bouchrika, Phd

Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist

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On March 27, 2023, Research.com published the 2nd edition of the best ecology and evolution scientists report. The results of the ranking were the culmination of hours spent by our research team analyzing more than 11,000 scientist profiles on Google Scholar and Microsoft Academic Graph. It is also a collaborative project that contributes to our commitment to the academic community and our goal to increase the visibility of impactful researchers in the field of ecology and evolution.

For the 2023 edition of the report, there are some shake-ups in the leading countries and institutions; however, the top positions are still held strongly by countries like the United States and the United Kingdom and institutions like the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the James Cook University.

Our inclusion criteria for scientists were based on the discipline h-index, the number of awards received, and the proportion of contributions made in the field, among others. The h-index threshold was set to 30 if most of the scientist's publications were in the field of ecology and evolution science.

Latest discoveries in ecology and evolution research

The latest discoveries in the field of ecology and evolution have unveiled some fascinating developments on how different organisms are adapting to environmental changes. For instance, The World Economic Forum recently published a story on how scientists are studying the ability of animals and plants in urban areas to undergo rapid genetic evolution to avoid or cope with challenging conditions in cities.

Moreover, more studies are showing that certain plants may be evolving to cope with climate change more rapidly than previously assumed. A paper published in the journal, Current Biology, for example, found that “Climate change is shifting flowering time in complex ways, even across local spatial gradients."

Meanwhile, another interesting study in ecology showed that the presence of predators can help protect coral reefs and support reef fish populations. Additionally, research has revealed that the microbiome of insects can play a significant role in their evolution. These discoveries are just a few of the many new insights being gained in the fields of ecology and evolution research.

The Key findings for the 2nd edition of the best ecology and evolution scientists ranking

• The United States tops the list of countries with the most number of leading scientists in ecology and evolution. It has 386 scholars included in 20223 representing 38.6% of the entire ranking.
• Other countries that made the top five are the United Kingdom (137 scientists), Australia (89), Canada (63), and Germany (57).
• The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) is once again the top institution with the most number of ecology and evolution scientists. In the ranking, CSIC has a total of 20 scholars who made it to the top 1,000.
• The first two spots in the ranking are occupied by scientists Peter B. Reich (University of Minnesota) and Philippe Ciais (Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace).
• The 2023 report shows a diverse top 10, with scientists coming from the US, UK, Saudi Arabia, France, Spain, Australia, and Germany.
• The average number of citations for the top 1,000 scientists is 31603.94 citations.
• The average D-index for the top 1% of scientists is 160.2 against an average of 82.52 for all 1,000 scientists included in the ranking.

The full ranking for the 2023 list of the best ecology and evolution scientists can be found here:

BEST ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION SCIENTISTS RANKING

Countries with the highest number of leading ecology and evolution scientists

The top 10 countries in this year's report have all retained their previous rankings with the exception of the top 8 and 9 positions. Switzerland (last year's 8th placer) and the Netherlands (last year's 9th placer) have traded places. See our chart below for the corresponding number of scientists per country.

Within the top 100 countries, there is a good number of scientists coming from the Asian region. China has two scientists, while Singapore and Thailand have one each. Other countries that have representative scientists in the top 100 include Canada (6), Denmark (3), South Africa (1), the Czech Republic (1), Norway (1), Finland (1), Panama (1), and New Zealand (1).

Please note that the country associated with a scientist is based on the affiliated research institution according to MAG, not on their actual nationality.

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Institutions with the highest number of leading scientists

The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) is the top institution in our 2023 report followed by the James Cook University with 20 and 15 scientists respectively. Stanford University comes in third with 14 scientists. These three institutions have maintained their standing from the 2022 report.

The big changes in 2023 are in the rest of the institutions in the top 10. For example, the University of British Columbia moved up two spots to become fourth in the rankings with 14 scientists. The University of California, Berkeley is also a climber from tenth place to eight with 12 scientists.

Moreover, three institutions namely the University of Oxford, the University of California, Davis, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison relinquished their 2022 standing. These institutions dropped to fifth, sixth, and ninth from fourth, fifth, and seventh respectively.

Meanwhile, our report welcomes two newcomers in the top 10: Cornell University (7th place) and the University of Queensland (10th place).

Within the top 20 institutions for this year, 11 are American universities, representing 55% of the institutions with the leading scientists in this field. European universities have a strong showing again this year with Spain, Netherlands, Denmark, and the UK all having representative institutions in the top 20.

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Strengthening research in online universities

Advancements in technology and the changing perceptions about online education have paved the way for more universities to offer world-class programs. In fact, online education trends point to more online learning programs in the future, as universities try to meet a growing market.

We can imagine this trend would significantly benefit not only students but also the research community in ecology and evolution. By eliminating geographical borders, online universities make it easier for researchers to collaborate with their peers. This in turn fosters knowledge exchange among academics, students, and professionals working on similar research projects. Yale University, for instance, offers an open course on Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Open courses are free and taught by the university's distinguished teachers and scholars. They aim to make educational materials accessible online to anyone who wishes to learn.

Aside from facilitating knowledge exchange, online universities also support research activities through their extensive digital libraries and databases. Students and researchers often gain access to software and data visualization tools that can enhance their research work.

How can specialized academic programs advance research careers?

In today’s competitive research environment, targeted academic programs are key to cultivating both scientific expertise and leadership acumen. These programs offer streamlined curricula and flexible learning paths that integrate advanced research methodologies with management skills, ultimately empowering scientists to drive impactful projects and secure funding. By blending technical proficiency with strategic management, institutions enable their researchers to navigate emerging challenges and foster interdisciplinary collaboration. Professionals seeking to enhance their capabilities can explore options such as accelerated healthcare administration degree online, which exemplifies the benefits of specialized programs in accelerating career growth.

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Advanced online degree programs offer researchers the opportunity to deepen their expertise while maintaining flexible schedules. These programs provide rigorous curricula specifically designed to bridge theoretical research with practical applications, enabling scientists to integrate innovative methodologies into their work. Additionally, learners gain access to state-of-the-art digital resources and collaborative platforms that foster international partnerships without the constraints of physical proximity. This modern educational approach not only accelerates skill development but also enhances competitive standing for grant applications and academic advancements. For researchers looking to expedite their journey, consider the quickest masters degree online as a viable path forward.

What role do accelerated doctoral programs play in advancing research careers?

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H-index ranking-leaders, averages, and distribution

Professor Peter B. Reich, from the University of Minnesota, ranks 1st once again among scientists in North America. Professor Reich has an H-index of 184. He is also the top scientist in the world ranking.

For Europe, Professor Philippe Ciais from the Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace, France is ranked first in the region, with an H-index of 178. He places at number 2 in the world ranking.

Professor Carlos M. Duarte from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia emerges as the top scientist in the Middle East with an H-index of 158. He ranks 5th this year.

For Oceania, Professor Hugh P. Possingham from the University of Queensland, Australia is on top of the list with an H-index of 146. He ranks 11th in the world ranking.

Professor David M. Richardson, affiliated with Stellenbosch University, South Africa is the top scientist in Africa. He has an H-index of 132 and ranks 28th this year.

Professor Shilong Piao who is affiliated with Peking University, China is the leading scientist in Asia with a D-index of 121. Professor Piao places 46th in the world ranking.

A new region that entered our top 100 is Central America. Professor S. Joseph Wright from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute hails from Panama. He has a D-index of 109 and ranks 84th in our 2023 report.

The average H-index for the top 1% of scientists is 160.2 against an average of 82.52 for all 1,000 scientists in this year's report.

The scientist with the lowest index value who made it to the ranking in 2023 has an H-index of 66.

The average number of published articles for the top 1% of scientists in the ranking is 788.4 against an average of 275.51 for all 1,000 scholars.

The average number of citations for the top 1% of scientists is 125, 707.1 against an average of 31, 603.94 for all 1,000 scholars.

You can learn more about the methodology used to create this report here.

About Research.com

All research was coordinated by Imed Bouchrika, Ph.D., a computer scientist with a well-established record of collaboration on a number of international research projects with different partners from the academic community. His role was to make sure all data remained unbiased, accurate, and up-to-date.

Research.com is the number one research portal for science and educational rankings. Our mission is to make it easier for professors, research fellows, and students to progress with their research and find the top experts in a wide range of scientific disciplines. Research.com is also a leading educational platform that helps students find the best colleges, academic opportunities, and career paths.