ClimateAugust 17, 2026
informatics
in-for-MAT-iks
Definition
The study and application of computational, information, and communication systems to process data, particularly in fields like health and biology.
Etymology
Coined in the mid-20th century, likely blending 'information' with the suffix '-matics' (as in mathematics) to describe the science of processing information.
In the news
The term is used to describe the academic specialty of a researcher who studies how health-related data, such as mortality rates and tree canopy patterns, can be analyzed to improve public health.
Protecting mature trees from storms and disease can reduce Chicago deaths, study finds
Read the full article ↗Chicago Tribune