CINXE.COM
News & Highlights
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?><rss version="2.0" xml:base="https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/news" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"> <channel> <title>News & Highlights</title> <link>https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/news</link> <description></description> <language>en</language> <atom:link href="https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/news/rss.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <item> <title>Approaching Ecosystems as Family Networks: Studying the Decline of Red-Tailed Hawks</title> <link>https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/news/approaching-ecosystems-family-networks-studying-decline-red-tailed-hawks</link> <description><div class="field field-name-field-news-date field-type-date field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">November 26, 2024</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-news-image field-type-image field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <img src="https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/Screenshot%202024-11-14%20at%2012.23.17%20PM.png?itok=FluW0UYT" alt="Image shows Keshia De Freece Lawrence, left, leaning against a tree. Neil Pederson is leaning against a different tree to the right." /> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <p>Keshia De Freece Lawrence, Harvard Forest’s Indigenous Education Specialist, is conducting research to investigate the decline of red-tailed hawks. Her work is inspired by years of observing an alarming number of dead hawks along roadsides. De Freece Lawrence, a member of the Ramapough Lenape tribe, combines her academic background with her Indigenous heritage to approach the issue holistically, viewing the hawks not just as individual animals but as part of a broader ecological "family network." While Western scientific methods often focus narrowly on addressing symptoms—such as increasing prey populations to support hawks—Lawrence emphasizes the importance of considering the entire ecosystem’s health.</p><p>Drawing on her experience with a Canadian subarctic research center that integrated Indigenous and government science perspectives, De Freece Lawrence applies instinct and deep cultural knowledge alongside traditional scientific surveys. Her work advocates for stronger collaboration between Indigenous communities and academic institutions, highlighting the value of Indigenous ecological wisdom. With optimism that her research, and the partnerships it fosters, will encourage greater inclusion of Indigenous voices in institutions like Harvard, De Freece Lawrence sees this moment as a pivotal step toward building protocols that respect and integrate diverse ways of knowing. Readers can learn more about her work and its impact in a recent Boston Globe story.</p><p>Readers can learn more about DeFreece Lawrence's work as featured in a recent <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/09/19/science/indigenous-tribe-forest-ecology-research-red-tailed-hawk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boston Globe story</a> (<a href="/sites/default/files/755/Academic%20research%20and%20Indigenous%20practices%20forge%20new%20partnerships.pdf">view PDF</a>) and via Sovereign Science's storymap, <em><a href="https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/56526363513c44f6b917e5d168af241e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mapping Collaborative Research</a>.</em></p><p><em>-</em></p><p><em>To learn more about the effects of rodenticides on wildlife in Massachusetts, please read this <a href="https://animal.law.harvard.edu/news-article/rodenticides-are-killing-massachusetts-wildlife-will-authorities-step-up/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Harvard Animal Law Clinic petition</a>.</em></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-research-topic-tag field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><a href="/major-research-topics/experimental-scale/regional-studies">Regional Studies</a></div> <div class="field-item odd"><a href="/major-research-topics/major-research-topics/biodiversity-studies">Biodiversity Studies</a></div> <div class="field-item even"><a href="/major-research-topics/major-research-topics/conservation-and-management">Conservation and Management</a></div> <div class="field-item odd"><a href="/major-research-topics/major-research-topics/environmental-justice">Environmental Justice</a></div> </div> </div> </description> <pubDate>Tue, 26 Nov 2024 19:16:22 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>emilyjohnson@fas.harvard.edu</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false">2385 at https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu</guid> </item> <item> <title>Schoolyard Ecology Program Launches Giving Campaign</title> <link>https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/news/schoolyard-ecology-program-launches-giving-campaign</link> <description><div class="field field-name-field-news-date field-type-date field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">November 26, 2024</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-news-image field-type-image field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <img src="https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/20240606_132424%20%281%29.jpg?itok=D3oqP-0e" alt="Image shows several students collecting data outside." /> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <p>For 20 years, the Harvard Forest <a href="https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/schoolyard-lter-program" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Schoolyard Ecology</a> community has brought young people outdoors to collect scientific data in their local environment and has given teachers the support they need to teach real science with real data.</p><p><img style="float: right;" src="/sites/default/files/755/givingtuesday%20social%20media.png" alt="Image shows a picture of a student's hands holding a salamander with a blue backdrop and Giving Tuesday logo." width="194" height="275" /></p><p>Whether monitoring forest research plots, measuring bud burst, tracking the spread of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, or learning to create graphs from long-term data, Schoolyard Ecology participants have contributed significant data to Harvard Forest's ecological research over the years.</p><p>Amid the increasingly complex landscape of teaching in higher education, the Program provides participating instructors with inspirational and relevant frameworks to advance STEAM curriculums across Massachusetts (and beyond!). </p><p>This season of giving, help us continue to build data literacy and engage the next generation of climate leaders by connecting students with their natural world.</p><h3>~~ <a href="https://community.alumni.harvard.edu/give/51710996" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donate here</a>. ~~</h3><h3><img style="font-size: 14px;" src="/sites/default/files/755/fundraiser%20banner%20final.png" alt="Image shows a collage of very small Schoolyard Ecology pictures" width="756" height="63" /></h3> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-news-other-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><a href="/other-tags/education-schoolyard-k-12">Education - Schoolyard K-12</a></div> </div> </div> </description> <pubDate>Tue, 26 Nov 2024 16:17:46 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>emilyjohnson@fas.harvard.edu</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false">2384 at https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu</guid> </item> <item> <title>Boston Globe: Neil Pederson, Other Experts Answer Key Questions About Drought Conditions</title> <link>https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/news/boston-globe-neil-pederson-other-experts-answer-key-questions-about-drought-conditions</link> <description><div class="field field-name-field-news-date field-type-date field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">November 13, 2024</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-news-image field-type-image field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <img src="https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/HarvardFarm_2015_EastPastureBryantLand1_DRF.jpg?itok=52fxiXv0" alt="Image shows autumnal scene, including senescing leaves and former pasture land. By David Foster." /> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">The Boston Globe recently dug into the effects of the current drought, speaking with Neil Pederson, Harvard Forest Senior Ecologist.</p><p>While we often think late-season dry spells are less problematic than during peak growing season, they can significantly impact next year’s growth.</p><p>Discussing how trees form buds in the fall, Pederson states, “what they are actually doing is setting how much they are going to grow in the next year in terms of branch elongation and sometimes how many leaves are produced.”</p><p>Read the article <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/11/11/metro/new-england-drought-explained/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in the Boston Globe</a>.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-research-topic-tag field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><a href="/major-research-topics/major-research-topics/conservation-and-management">Conservation and Management</a></div> <div class="field-item odd"><a href="/major-research-topics/major-research-topics/forest-atmosphere-exchange">Climate and Carbon Exchange</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-news-other-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><a href="/other-tags/news">In The News</a></div> </div> </div> </description> <pubDate>Wed, 13 Nov 2024 17:52:53 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>emilyjohnson@fas.harvard.edu</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false">2383 at https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu</guid> </item> <item> <title>New Study Reveals Unexpected Soil Carbon Response to Nitrogen and Warming</title> <link>https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/news/new-study-reveals-unexpected-soil-carbon-response-nitrogen-and-warming</link> <description><div class="field field-name-field-news-date field-type-date field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">November 12, 2024</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-news-image field-type-image field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <img src="https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/UNK_2005_TreeStump_DRF19.JPG?itok=URsjL4Zd" alt="Image shows a rotting tree stump on the forest floor. By David Foster." /> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <div class="flex max-w-full flex-col flex-grow"><div class="min-h-8 text-message flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 whitespace-normal break-words [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-5" dir="auto" data-message-author-role="assistant" data-message-id="c4cd88fd-7be0-47a1-a545-4e34ab724091" data-message-model-slug="gpt-4o"><div class="flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden first:pt-[3px]"><div class="markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert light"><p>A recent study reveals the nuanced relationship between warmer temperatures and increased nitrogen deposits in forest soils, both of which are influenced by fossil fuel emissions. <a href="https://harvardforest1.fas.harvard.edu/publications/pdfs/Knorr_NatureEcolEvol_2024.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Published in <em>Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution</em></a>, the study was led by University of New Hampshire researchers Melissa Knorr and Serita Frey (the latter also being a Harvard Forest Research Associate). Leveraging over 16 years of data collected at the Harvard Forest, the study reveals a better understanding of how these two factors influence the storage of carbon in forest soils of the northeast.</p><p>Harvard Forest's extensive long-term data repository and unique field site allowed the researchers to expand upon previous research, which had only studied the impacts of each factor independently, to include how different climate-driven processes occur together. To their surprise, Frey and Knorr found that when warmer temperatures and increased nitrogen levels were <em>both</em> present in soil simultaneously, the amount of carbon stored in the soil remained stable. This finding counters previous research, implying that forest soils in the northeast might be capable of storing more carbon than formerly predicted. </p><p>While the findings certainly hold global significance, they are particularly relevant to the northeast, where increased temperatures and historically elevated nitrogen deposition have both influenced forests. An increased understanding of plant-soil interactions is integral to ensuring that forests remain carbon sinks, reducing the concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere.</p><p>Read more at the University of New Hampshire's <a href="https://www.unh.edu/unhtoday/news/release/2024/09/25/new-research-reveals-climate-change-impact-forests-may-be-lower-expected" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a>.</p></div></div></div></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-research-topic-tag field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><a href="/major-research-topics/major-research-topics">Major Research Topics</a></div> <div class="field-item odd"><a href="/major-research-topics/major-research-topics/conservation-and-management">Conservation and Management</a></div> <div class="field-item even"><a href="/major-research-topics/major-research-topics/forest-atmosphere-exchange">Climate and Carbon Exchange</a></div> <div class="field-item odd"><a href="/major-research-topics/major-research-topics/soil-carbon-and-nitrogen-dynamics">Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics</a></div> </div> </div> </description> <pubDate>Tue, 12 Nov 2024 16:03:26 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>emilyjohnson@fas.harvard.edu</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false">2382 at https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu</guid> </item> <item> <title>Immersive Global Change Ecology Course Expands Experience of First-Years</title> <link>https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/news/immersive-global-change-ecology-course-expands-experience-first-years</link> <description><div class="field field-name-field-news-date field-type-date field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">October 30, 2024</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-news-image field-type-image field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <img src="https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/First-year-2024_swift%20river.JPG?itok=wAwmcFQx" alt="Image shows the 2024 First-Year Seminar students at the Swift River in Petersham." /> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <p>Dave Orwig, Senior Forest Ecologist at Harvard Forest, isn't your typical Harvard instructor. A leading researcher examining - firsthand - a variety of disturbances to forests across the northeast, Orwig is acutely aware of these threats, affecting individual tree species, complex vegetative communities, and the web of organisms that rely upon them. Summers spent conducting research at remote, threatened old growth forests inevitably give way to Orwig's fall course, <a href="https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/harvard-first-year-seminar-program">Global Change Ecology: Forest, Ecosystem Function, and the Future</a>. </p><p>Uniquely comprised of three weekend-long, retreat-style excursions to Harvard Forest, the course immerses students in a globally-renowned climate change research facility that includes over 100 active research projects conducted by scientists worldwide. Roughly 90 minutes west of Cambridge, "the Forest" is comprised of 4,000 acres, predominantly wooded, with oodles of gadgets, trees hopped up on wifi, and charismatic experiment nicknames like "the snow pillow."</p><p><img style="float: right;" src="/sites/default/files/755/2024_Students%2BBoose_DAO.PNG" alt="[&lt;i&gt;Image shows students in Orwig's 2024 First-Year Seminar class outside in the woods, learning about hydrologic research from Emery Boose (Harvard Forest Senior Scientist and Information Manager). &lt;/i&gt;]" width="522" height="335" /></p><p>Orwig began co-teaching the course more than 20 years ago, weathering a variety of institutional, technological, and climate-driven changes. “What I love about the course is the immersive format, which allows students to get a hands-on introduction to forests, learn about ecology, and help build their literacy and sense of empowerment in understanding ecological concepts related to global change, climate justice, and the science behind current predictions of future climate scenarios."</p><p>Each year, course enrollment is limited by the number of students that can be piled into a van. (In fact, visits to Harvard Forest are almost always limited by some transportational impediment, but we're working on it.) Each weekend includes themes, with readings and subsequent woods walks that urge students to think deeply about the science behind climate change issues. Topics have changed over the years, reflective of the Forest's evolution, and while unfamiliar at first, these new themes bring new perspectives, discoveries, and opportunities for growth.</p><p><img style="float: left;" src="/sites/default/files/755/PH_2017_OrwigGraph_DRF_crop.JPG" alt="[&lt;i&gt;Image shows Professor Orwig explaining a graph during the 2017 course.&lt;/i&gt;]" width="206" height="341" />It's no coincidence that we see many of our First-Year Seminar students continue on into careers focusing on climate change research, policy, and environmental justice. "The concepts they learn will hopefully inform their appreciation for forest ecosystems, how they function, the important role they play in combatting climate change, and the vital role of human decision-making in determining their future,” says Orwig. Offering enthusiasm, a thoughtful approach, and real-world relevance, Orwig's teaching style is emblematic of Harvard Forest's quiet and steadfast commitment to the future of this work.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-research-topic-tag field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><a href="/major-research-topics/major-research-topics/conservation-and-management">Conservation and Management</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-news-other-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><a href="/other-tags/education-undergraduate">Education - Undergraduate</a></div> <div class="field-item odd"><a href="/other-tags/harvard-university">Harvard University</a></div> <div class="field-item even"><a href="/other-tags/climate-change">Climate Change</a></div> </div> </div> </description> <pubDate>Wed, 30 Oct 2024 19:26:33 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>emilyjohnson@fas.harvard.edu</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false">2381 at https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu</guid> </item> <item> <title>Schoolyard Ecology Winter Data Workshop Registration Now Open!</title> <link>https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/news/schoolyard-ecology-winter-data-workshop-registration-now-open</link> <description><div class="field field-name-field-news-date field-type-date field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">October 29, 2024</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-news-image field-type-image field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <img src="https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/20240606_105116b.jpg?itok=vC6ApGar" alt="Image shows student work created as part of the Schoolyard Ecology Data Jam" /> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <p>Each year, Harvard Forest's <a href="https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/schoolyard-lter-program">Schoolyard Ecology Program</a> hosts a Winter Data Workshop to provide support to instructors participating in the program. This year, two workshop options will be offered! Because of winter weather and the large number of Eastern Massachusetts teachers, a second data workshop will be held in Cambridge at Harvard's Natural History Museum.</p><p><strong><br />Option 1: Full Data Workshop in Petersham</strong></p><p><em>Tuesday, January 28th, 2025-9 am - 3:30 pm </em></p><p style="padding-left: 40px;">This is the Traditional Data Workshop at the Harvard Forest, Petersham, MA with Harvard Forest's wonderful Ecologists. This is open to all Schoolyard Ecology teachers regardless of the project or how many years teachers have been collecting data. The program offers three levels for participants to choose from. Whether it's getting support entering your data, designing a lesson plan from the database, or getting specific feedback from project scientists on what your data may mean, we've got something for everyone!</p><p style="padding-left: 40px;">The workshop will be at the Fisher Museum, Harvard Forest, 324 N. Main Street, Petersham, MA.</p><p style="padding-left: 40px;"><em>Coffee/Tea and light snacks provided.Bring a bagged lunch, laptop, and data.</em></p><p><strong>Option 2: Level 1 only workshop in Cambridge</strong></p><p><em>Wednesday, February 5th, 2025: 9:30 am -3:00 pm </em></p><p style="padding-left: 40px;">The Schoolyard Ecology team is taking the show on the road! A small number of Harvard Forest staff will come to the Harvard Natural History Museum for a Level 1 only workshop. While open to any schoolyard educator who would like to come, this workshop will focus on data entry support and an introduction to using the Schoolyard Data base with students.</p><p style="padding-left: 40px;">The workshop will be at Harvard University's Natural History Museum. Parking instructions will be distributed post-registration.</p><p style="padding-left: 40px;"><em>Bring a bagged lunch, snacks, laptop, and data.</em></p><p>Workshops are free and open to any Schoolyard Ecology educator.</p><p>PDP's are awarded to all participants upon request.</p><p><u><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScPpdcuFOzCZ-76ZuBQakzeXOzkhloSM7XButal8yAbvgCQiw/viewform?usp=sf_link">Register for both data workshops here</a></u></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-research-topic-tag field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><a href="/major-research-topics/major-research-topics/conservation-and-management">Conservation and Management</a></div> <div class="field-item odd"><a href="/major-research-topics/major-research-topics/forest-atmosphere-exchange">Climate and Carbon Exchange</a></div> <div class="field-item even"><a href="/major-research-topics/major-research-topics/invasive-plants-pests-and-pathogens">Invasive Plants, Pests and Pathogens</a></div> <div class="field-item odd"><a href="/major-research-topics/major-research-topics/physiological-ecology-population-dynamics-and-species">Physiological Ecology, Population Dynamics, and Species Interactions</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-news-other-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><a href="/other-tags/education-schoolyard-k-12">Education - Schoolyard K-12</a></div> </div> </div> </description> <pubDate>Tue, 29 Oct 2024 15:41:11 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>emilyjohnson@fas.harvard.edu</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false">2380 at https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu</guid> </item> <item> <title>Research Spotlight: Leaf Phenology in New England</title> <link>https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/news/research-spotlight-leaf-phenology-new-england</link> <description><div class="field field-name-field-news-date field-type-date field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">October 23, 2024</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-news-image field-type-image field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <img src="https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/HF_2004_RedOak2_JOK%26DL.jpg?itok=uZgACRsJ" alt="Image shows a close-up image of a leaf, with cellular-level coloration of greens, reds, and oranges. By John O&#039;Keefe. " /> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <p>Decades-long research by Harvard Forest ecologist John O'Keefe has shown that climate change is altering the timing of New England's fall foliage. For over 30 years, O'Keefe has meticulously tracked the development of leaves, recording when they leaf-out in the spring and when their leaves change color each autumn. This phenological data - still being collected as we speak - is showing that warmer temperatures are delaying the peak of autumn colors, lengthening the growing season.</p><p>This shift in leaf timing could disrupt ecosystems, affecting species that rely on seasonal cues. O'Keefe’s data has become crucial for understanding how forests respond to climate change, helping other scientists create more accurate models for future climate predictions. His findings highlight the interconnectedness of climate and nature, showing that seemingly minor temperature changes can have widespread effects on plant life.</p><p>Now, O'Keefe’s work is carried on by Harvard Forest's Education Coordinator &amp; Field Technician Greta VanScoy, who continues the tradition of monitoring leaf cycles in Harvard Forest. VanScoy’s research will build on the 30 years of collected data, continuing the Forest's broad exploration of the impacts of climate change on forest ecosystems and seasonal patterns.</p><p>Read more in <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/what-30-years-studying-new-england-woods-reveals-about-colors-changing-leaves-180985234/?fbclid=IwY2xjawF7Rr1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHSC2WrrhvRMv9n4RTUq7qdbBkvdbPrh9yHr2GqNxYRjJLvsa28Qm7_lkyw_aem_rzo3cWv8wafb1OTv0fzg1A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Smithsonian Magazine</a>. </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-research-topic-tag field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><a href="/major-research-topics/experimental-scale/regional-studies">Regional Studies</a></div> <div class="field-item odd"><a href="/major-research-topics/major-research-topics/biodiversity-studies">Biodiversity Studies</a></div> <div class="field-item even"><a href="/major-research-topics/major-research-topics/forest-atmosphere-exchange">Climate and Carbon Exchange</a></div> <div class="field-item odd"><a href="/major-research-topics/major-research-topics/physiological-ecology-population-dynamics-and-species">Physiological Ecology, Population Dynamics, and Species Interactions</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-news-other-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><a href="/other-tags/climate-change">Climate Change</a></div> </div> </div> </description> <pubDate>Wed, 23 Oct 2024 20:01:55 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>emilyjohnson@fas.harvard.edu</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false">2379 at https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu</guid> </item> <item> <title>Wintersession Internships for Harvard Students Available</title> <link>https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/winternships</link> <description><div class="field field-name-field-news-date field-type-date field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">October 10, 2024</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-news-image field-type-image field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <img src="https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/2023%20Winter%20interns%20selfie%20on%20day%201%20-%20photo%20by%20Karina%20Chung.JPG?itok=yXDiYiEL" alt="6 students and mentors smile in the forest in winter" /> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <h2>NOVEMBER 2024 UPDATE: Applications are now closed.</h2><p>Harvard Forest Wintersession Internships bring Harvard students (undergraduate and/or graduate) to the Forest in January 2025 for paid, on-site research internships. Interns will work directly with mentors on projects related to Indigenous representation, forest ecology, environmental education, and more (described below). In addition to a paid stipend, room, board, and transportation will be provided to interns at no cost. (See <a href="#log">logistics</a> section at the bottom of this page and carefully read each project description.)</p><p><strong><em>Quick links to project descriptions below:</em></strong></p><p><a href="#id1">Project 1: Re-Centering Indigenous Perspectives in the Fisher Museum</a><br /><a href="#id2">Project 2: Long-term Temperate Forest Dynamics</a><br /><a href="#id3">Project 3: Research on the Impacts of Environmental Education</a><br /><a href="#id4">Project 4: Land Access Mapping for the Nipmuc Community</a><br /><a href="#workforce">Project 5: Environmental Workforce Development Projects in Boston</a></p><p><strong><em>Note to student applicants</em>: Apply directly to the individual project that interests you. See required application materials at the end of each project description. To apply, submit one combined PDF file including all of the requested application materials to the posting in the Crimson Careers portal or directly to <a href="mailto:bgoulet@g.harvard.edu">Ben Goulet-Scott</a> by the end of the day on Monday, November 4, 2024.</strong></p><h2><strong><a id="id1"></a>Project 1: Re-Centering Indigenous Perspectives in the Fisher Museum </strong></h2><p><em>Mentored by Nia Holley, Nipmuc Community Mentor; Tyler White, Harvard Graduate School of Design; Emily Johnson, Harvard Forest Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator; and Clarisse Hart, Harvard Forest Director of Education and Outreach</em></p><p>The Harvard Forest Fisher Museum has been a source of academic understanding of the natural history and landscape change of the Northeast US for generations. The primary 7 historical dioramas in the Museum center a narrative of transformation of the land by European settler-colonists, establishing a seemingly objective history of land management across the region. Excluded from this narrative is the Indigenous history, the perspective of animals and other non-human beings, and the contribution of labor (culturally stewarded, or forced by colonial powers) in shaping the many productive, scientific, and cultural components of the land. A new grant from the federal Institute for Museum and Library Services will support the creation of a new exhibition, <em>Perspectives from Other Beings </em>(<a href="https://www.imls.gov/grants/awarded/igsm-255760-oms-24">explore the funded proposal here</a>), led by Nipmuc community member Nia Holley and Harvard GSD student Tyler White, to disrupt and expand this narrative with a perspective that de-centers the colonial period as the primary pivot point for modern ecosystem function. The intern on this project will conduct research to contribute to a new type of Fisher Museum interpretation (primarily digital) that will begin to reveal the consequential land legacy of Indigenous peoples and uplift the role of Indigenous stewardship on the land today.</p><p>The selected student will support the Curatorial Council in three critical areas of the research and engagement strategy for the <em>Perspectives from Other Beings </em>exhibition.</p><p>Curatorial Research:</p><ol><li>Historical research understanding the conception, production, and intended use of the Fisher Museum dioramas in the 1930s</li><li>Conducting research (based on traditional ecological knowledges that are shared with free, prior, and informed consent) into the life histories of several more-than-human species in this region</li><li>Collecting examples of contemporary design and art practice by Indigenous (to Turtle Island) land artists and stewards in reclaiming Indigenous histories of land stewardship</li><li>Regional investigation of historical land-settling processes, industries, economies, and cultures over the past several millennia</li></ol><p>Engagement Strategy:</p><ol><li>Create a short list of questions for the Curatorial Council’s spring interviews with Indigenous community members and artists for the production of exhibition content</li><li>Work with the Curatorial Council to contact Indigenous community members and artists (by phone, email, and in-person visits) to contribute to exhibition</li></ol><p><u>Successful candidates will possess a combination of the following skills/experiences:</u></p><ul><li>Experience organizing written and multimedia information into a searchable resource folder</li><li>Experience working as part of a team</li><li>Strong oral and written communication skills</li><li>Experience (or just interest!) in museum exhibition praxis</li><li>Commitment to working respectfully and with an understanding of free, prior, and informed consent on projects related to Indigeneity and Indigenous land</li><li>Experience conducting interviews (in community organizing, journalism, or the social sciences) a plus but not required</li><li>An understanding of Indigenous history and kinships on Turtle Island (particularly the Eastern Woodlands) is preferred</li></ul><p><u>To apply, please submit a combined PDF file to <a href="mailto:bgoulet@g.harvard.edu">Ben Goulet-Scott</a> by the end of the day on Monday, Nov. 4 that includes</u>:</p><ul><li>A resume that includes your contact info, study concentration, and graduation year, plus a list of 3-5 relevant courses you have taken, and 3-5 relevant jobs or activities you have had</li><li>Contact info for two academic or professional references</li><li>A 250-500-word statement of interest exploring these questions:<ul><li>Why do you think this internship would be a valuable opportunity for your growth?</li><li>What about your background would make you a good fit for this position?</li><li>What would success look like for you in this internship?</li></ul></li></ul><h2><strong><a id="id2"></a>Project 2: Long-term Temperate Forest Dynamics</strong></h2><p><em>Mentored by Danelle Laflower, Harvard Forest Research Assistant; Jonathan Thompson, Harvard Forest Senior Ecologist; and Audrey Barker Plotkin, Harvard Forest Senior Ecologist</em></p><p><strong> </strong>Forest ecosystems responses to disturbance unfold over decades, but datasets spanning long timescales are rare. We are seeking an intern to collaborate on an analysis of a unique dataset documenting forest change within a network of permanent field plots established in 1960 across the 23,000-hectare Quabbin Watershed in Central Massachusetts, just west of the Harvard Forest. We are interested in quantifying and describing long-term changes in tree demographics, forest structure, and carbon uptake among sites with varying tree species and management history. After 1-2 days of field work to get familiarized with the forests and the sampling design, the intern will assist with data analysis and visualization using the R statistical programming language. There is an opportunity to stay involved with the project and help co-author a peer-reviewed journal article.</p><p><u>Successful candidates will possess a combination of the following skills/experiences:</u></p><ul><li>Interest in forest ecology, ecological data analysis, and data visualization</li><li>Willing to spend limited time in the forest doing winter fieldwork (Harvard Forest can help to provide wintertime gear for safety and comfort in cold conditions)</li><li>Must have previous experience analyzing and visualizing data, preferably using the R Statistical Software</li></ul><p><u>To apply, please submit a combined PDF file to <a href="mailto:bgoulet@g.harvard.edu">Ben Goulet-Scott</a> by the end of the day on Monday, Nov. 4 that includes</u>:</p><ul><li>A resume that includes your contact info, study concentration, and graduation year, plus a list of 3-5 relevant courses you have taken, and 3-5 relevant jobs or activities you have had</li><li>Contact info for two academic or professional references</li><li>A 250-500-word statement of interest exploring these questions:<ul><li>Why do you think this internship would be valuable for your academic career?</li><li>What about your background would make you a good fit for this position?</li></ul></li></ul><h2><strong><a id="id3"></a>Project 3: Research on Environmental Education</strong></h2><p><em>Mentored by Katharine Hinkle, Harvard Forest Manager of Youth Education; and Clarisse Hart, Harvard Forest Director of Education and Outreach</em></p><p>During the academic year of 2024-2025 the Schoolyard Ecology team at Harvard Forest is conducting an evaluation on the efficacy of our K12 participatory science program. Over 100 students in our program took a presurvey evaluating their environmental awareness and Science identity. They will take a post survey at the end of the academic year. We are seeking an intern who is interested in qualitative sociological and educational research. Interns will learn the fundamentals of human subject research and gain their CITI certification. They will process survey results and learn analysis skills as well as continuing a literature review for the study.</p><p><u>Successful candidates will possess a combination of the following skills/experiences:</u></p><ul><li>Interest in education research</li><li>Experience working with spreadsheets</li></ul><p><u>To apply, please submit a combined PDF file to <a href="mailto:bgoulet@g.harvard.edu">Ben Goulet-Scott</a> by the end of the day on Monday, Nov. 4 that includes</u>:</p><ul><li>A resume that includes your contact info, study concentration, and graduation year, plus a list of 3-5 relevant courses you have taken, and 3-5 relevant jobs or activities you have had</li><li>Contact info for two academic or professional references</li><li>A 250-500-word statement of interest exploring these questions:<ul><li>Why do you think that this internship would be a valuable opportunity for your growth as a scientist?</li><li>What do you hope to learn/gain from this experience?</li></ul></li></ul><h2><strong><a id="id4"></a>Project 4: Land Access Mapping for the Nipmuc Community</strong></h2><p><em>Mentored by Cheryll Holley,</em><em> Hassanamisco Nipmuc Community Mentor; </em><em>Jose Ite Santana</em><em>, </em><em>Chaubunagungamaug Nipmuck</em><em> Community Mentor; Emily Johnson, Harvard Forest Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator; and Clarisse Hart, Harvard Forest Director of Education and Outreach</em></p><p>With active citizens across several bands, the Nipmuc are the ancestral stewards of central Massachusetts, including Harvard Forest’s 4,000 acres. Increasingly, land stewardship organizations have granted the Nipmuc and other Indigenous peoples access to land for cultural uses. However, information about these easements or agreements is not centrally located or clearly accessible to all Nipmuc people. This project will effectively collate land access information into educational resources that will increase awareness across the Nipmuc community. Using Google My Maps or a similar program for their final product, the interns will organize and identify missing data, create an interactive map, design printed educational resources such as maps and address lists, and present their findings to Nipmuc leadership.</p><p><u>Successful candidates will possess a combination of the following skills/experiences:</u></p><ul><li>Experience organizing quantitative and qualitative data into Excel spreadsheets</li><li>Strong oral and written communication skills</li><li>Ability to work independently and problem-solve</li><li>A strong background understanding New England’s Indigenous history is preferred</li><li>Experience working with georeferenced mapping data (e.g., .gpx, .kml) is preferred</li><li>Experience using Google My Maps or a similar program is preferred, but not necessary</li></ul><p><u>To apply, please submit a combined PDF file to <a href="mailto:bgoulet@g.harvard.edu">Ben Goulet-Scott</a> by the end of the day on Monday, Nov. 4 that includes</u>:</p><ul><li>A resume that includes your contact info, study concentration, and graduation year, plus a list of 3-5 relevant courses you have taken, and 3-5 relevant jobs or activities you have had</li><li>Contact info for two academic or professional references</li><li>A 250-500-word statement of interest exploring these questions:<ul><li>Why do you think this internship would be a valuable opportunity for your growth?</li><li>What about your background would make you a good fit for this position?</li></ul></li></ul><h2><a id="workforce"></a>Project 5: Environmental Workforce Development Projects in Boston</h2><p><em>Mentored by Ann Lewis, Harvard Forest staff and H&amp;LS RP Grant Project Director</em></p><p>A Harvard &amp; the Legacy of Slavery Reparative Partnership Seed Grant for FY 2025, “The Environmental Workforce Development Grant”, helps the grantees (Urban American Outdoors, Inc./SODAS Life, and Ann Lewis) to develop relationships with Boston community organizations to determine which are most capable and interested in working with the grant awardees to design a sustainable environmental workforce development program for implementation in FY 2026. We have organizations with which we are initiating talks, but to be most effective in the long run, we need to know what programs are operating in Boston, what their mandates are, and how they function. The Wintern will complete web-based research and make telephone calls to identify all of the green or environmental workforce development programs that operate with Boston City Limits and their mandates. Ideally, the student may also be able to suggest organizations with which we do not yet communicate, but that we should be considering.</p><p><br />Successful candidates will possess a combination of the following skills/experiences:</p><ul><li>An interest in workforce development and/or social justice</li><li>Ability to think critically and quickly and to be incisive while talking with people in a friendly formal manner</li><li>Ability to summarize web and verbal information quickly in written form</li><li>A good telephone manner</li></ul><p>To apply, please submit a combined PDF file to &lt;<a href="mailto:bgoulet@g.harvard.edu">bgoulet@g.harvard.edu</a>&gt; by the end of the day on Monday, Nov. 4 that includes:</p><ul><li>A resume that includes your contact info, study concentration, and graduation year, plus a list of 3-5 relevant courses you have taken, and 3-5 relevant jobs or activities you have had</li><li>Contact info for two academic or professional references</li><li>A 250-500-word statement of interest exploring these questions:</li><ul><li>Why do you think this internship would be valuable to your short- or long-term life goals?</li><li>What experience(s) do you have that might be useful for working on this project?</li></ul></ul><h2><a id="id5"></a>Logistics for All Internship Projects</h2><ul><li>Program dates: Wednesday, January 8, 2025 through Friday, January 24, 2025, with MLK Day off (84 total hours of work)</li><li>Interns will be paid a one-time stipend of $1920 (undergraduates) or $2112 (graduate students) at the conclusion of the internship.</li><li>Interns will live on site at Harvard Forest in Petersham, MA and work full-time (35 hrs/wk).</li><li>Room and board are provided at no cost to the intern. Interns are housed in a small farmhouse dorm on the Harvard Forest campus, with students in single or shared (double and triple) bedrooms and shared common areas.</li><li>Interns will cook their own meals in the dorm kitchen and be driven to the local Market Basket grocery store weekly to obtain groceries (funded by Harvard Forest) for those meals.</li><li>Transportation between Harvard Square and Harvard Forest at the beginning and end of the program is provided cost-free as part of the internship. Students who have their own cars are welcome to bring them (we will reimburse your mileage between Harvard Square and Harvard Forest at the beginning and end of the program).</li><li>Harvard Forest is located in a remote area (Petersham, Massachusetts is a rural town of 1,000 people), 70 miles west of the main Harvard campus. Public transportation is not available here. Interns’ work and free time will be spent here on the quiet Harvard Forest campus, unless they have their own car.</li><li>Harvard University wifi is available throughout campus, including the dorm.</li><li>Interns are given their own desk in a shared office workspace in the main HF building and all necessary supplies.</li><li>Interns can expect daily or near-daily check-ins with their project mentors - but there also will be a strong expectation for independence and self-motivation in the work. The full intern cohort will be offered a weekly guided field trip to explore the local landscape. For your free time, there are many hiking trails at Harvard Forest and we will provide snowshoes for those who would like to use them.</li><li>Harvard Forest has a <a href="https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/harvard-forest-code-conduct">Code of Conduct</a> that everyone working and living here is expected to follow.</li><li>Harvard Forest is a department of Harvard University, so all relevant university policies, including COVID protocols, are in place here.</li><li>The Harvard Forest welcomes individuals with disabilities to participate in its programs. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation for the application process or have questions about the physical access and resources provided on-site, please contact us at hfvisit@fas.harvard.edu.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> </span></li></ul><h2>To Apply</h2><p>See required application materials at the bottom of each project description, above. All applications are due to the posting in the Crimson Careers portal or directly to <a href="mailto:bgoulet@g.harvard.edu">Ben Goulet-Scott</a> by the end of the day on November 4, 2024. <strong>Please note: Applications are now closed.</strong></p><p><em>Read highlights about the work of our <a href="https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/news/winter-interns-gain-skills-advance-harvard-forest-research-efforts">January 2024 interns</a>, <a href="/news/winter-interns-arrive-advance-harvard-forest-research">January 2023 interns,</a> and <a href="/news/winter-interns-explore-us-forest-cover-indigenous-partnerships-museum-communication">January 2022 interns</a>.</em></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-research-topic-tag field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><a href="/major-research-topics/major-research-topics/conservation-and-management">Conservation and Management</a></div> <div class="field-item odd"><a href="/major-research-topics/major-research-topics/forest-atmosphere-exchange">Climate and Carbon Exchange</a></div> <div class="field-item even"><a href="/major-research-topics/major-research-topics/ecological-informatics-and-modelling">Ecological Informatics and Modelling</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-news-other-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><a href="/other-tags/harvard-university">Harvard University</a></div> <div class="field-item odd"><a href="/other-tags/arts">Arts and Humanities</a></div> <div class="field-item even"><a href="/other-tags/education-graduate-post-doc">Education - Graduate &amp; Post-doc</a></div> <div class="field-item odd"><a href="/other-tags/education-undergraduate">Education - Undergraduate</a></div> </div> </div> </description> <pubDate>Thu, 10 Oct 2024 04:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Anonymous</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false">2234 at https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu</guid> </item> <item> <title>New Grant to Center Indigenous Voices and Values in Harvard Forest's Fisher Museum</title> <link>https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/news/new-grant-center-indigenous-voices-and-values-harvard-forests-fisher-museum</link> <description><div class="field field-name-field-news-date field-type-date field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">September 19, 2024</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-news-image field-type-image field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <img src="https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/Dioramas_colonization.png?itok=GyKOQllS" alt="Image of two prominent Fisher Museum dioramas depicting land use change during European colonization." /> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <p>Harvard Forest was recently awarded an <em><a href="https://www.imls.gov/grants/available/inspire-grants-small-museums">Inspire! Grant for Small Museums</a> </em>from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services to support the development, design, installation, and evaluation of a new multimedia exhibit to center the voices and values of the Nipmuc people, the tribe Indigenous to the land occupied by Harvard Forest.</p><p>The <a href="https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/fisher-museum">Fisher Museum</a>, which includes seven dioramas that depict landscape change beginning at the time of European colonization, continues to perpetuate a narrative of race-based harm and erasure. In collaboration with the Nipmuc community, the new content will seek to disrupt this systemic erasure through highlighting the Indigenous stewardship legacies that define the land today and offer resilience to the land of tomorrow.</p><p><img src="/sites/default/files/755/Dioramas_multi.png" alt="Image shows a series of Fisher Museum dioramas depicting land use change since European colonization." width="768" height="80" /></p><p>The two-year grant, entitled <em>Re-Centering Indigenous Perspectives in the Fisher Museum</em>, will be led by artist-curators Nia Holley, artist and community organizer (Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band), and Tyler White, Graduate Student (Harvard Graduate School of Design). This project will be an extension of their work developing Harvard Forest’s new interpretive trail, <em><a href="https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/manexit">To Be Seen: Manchage Manexit Reflective Trail</a></em>. The work will be supported by Clarisse Hart, Director of Outreach &amp; Education, and Emily Johnson, Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator. Video Editing support will be conducted by Roberto Mighty of Celestial Media LLC.</p><p>Learn more about the grant <a href="https://www.imls.gov/grants/awarded/igsm-255760-oms-24">here</a>.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-research-topic-tag field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><a href="/major-research-topics/major-research-topics/conservation-and-management">Conservation and Management</a></div> <div class="field-item odd"><a href="/major-research-topics/major-research-topics/environmental-justice">Environmental Justice</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-news-other-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><a href="/other-tags/fisher-museum">Fisher Museum</a></div> </div> </div> </description> <pubDate>Thu, 19 Sep 2024 16:25:31 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>emilyjohnson@fas.harvard.edu</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false">2377 at https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu</guid> </item> <item> <title>October 3 & 4: Yadvinder Mahli to Present Bullard Lectures </title> <link>https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/news/october-3-4-yadvinder-mahli-present-bullard-lectures</link> <description><div class="field field-name-field-news-date field-type-date field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">September 5, 2024</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-news-image field-type-image field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <img src="https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/Professor%20Yadvinder%20Malhi%20Oxford%20University%20Wytham_Woods-111.jpeg?itok=g6q7BLmB" alt="Image shows Professor Yadvinder Mahli standing in the woods." /> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <p>The Harvard Forest and the Harvard University Center for the Environment are delighted to co-present the second Charles Bullard Lectures featuring <a href="http://yadvindermalhi.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Yadvinder Mahli</a> CBE FRS<sup>1</sup>, Professor of Ecosystem Science at the Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, and Senior Research Fellow at Oriel College, University of Oxford.</p><p>The annual Charles Bullard Lectures were established by the Harvard Forest in 2022 to honor and learn from renowned scholars of forest ecology and conservation. The Lectures are supported by the Charles Bullard endowment and are closely associated with Harvard’s long-running <a title="" href="https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/mid-career-fellowships">Bullard Fellowship</a>, a distinguished scholar-in-residence program for forest research.</p><p><strong>Tropical Forests and Planet Earth: A Macroscope View</strong></p><p><em>October 3, 2024 | 5pm | Biological Labs Lecture Hall (1080), 16 Divinity Ave., Cambridge</em></p><p>The twin key environmental challenges of our times are to stabilise our climate system and reverse the decline of biodiversity. Tropical forests play an important role in addressing both these challenges. I explore what role tropical forests play in the Earth System and the interaction between tropical forests and climate change, highlighting some of my team’s recent research that combines detailed field data collection with satellite remote sensing. Field work and observations remain an essential component of understanding and stewarding our changing biosphere. </p><p><strong>Captured Sunshine: An Energetic View of Terrestrial Ecosystems | <a href="https://harvard.zoom.us/rec/play/7di2vmyjbNCXudP-llMK2fQelUBU6d6N_paKTTwzI9i8czmJAZeZTHnAmkEb9A0nr_Jt7XyAGA0jgqA-.WKEvF6xCmZQLni7I?canPlayFromShare=true&amp;from=share_recording_detail&amp;continueMode=true&amp;componentName=rec-play&amp;originRequestUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fharvard.zoom.us%2Frec%2Fshare%2FqOYz_95TwWX-dM7BkiJy9pfiL2GS_JY-KZrKjVAmpkV8hjvBIekfAb4B7wh_13gf.F8bWGJaAq0jI4TX8" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Watch recorded lecture</em></a></strong></p><p><em>October 4, 2024 | 11am | Harvard Forest Fisher Museum (Petersham) and Zoom</em></p><p>The biosphere was first described as “a planetary membrane for capturing, storing and transforming solar energy” by Vernadsky in the early 20<sup>th</sup> century. Every living organism and organism function in the biosphere is united, and can be compared, by the cascade of captured sunshine that powers it. But beyond powerful imagery, can an energetics approach to ecosystems yield a practical contribution to understanding how increasing human pressure is altering ecological function, and be a tool for assessing effectiveness of nature recovery? This talk explores this potential with a focus on plants, birds and mammals, the best documented taxonomic groups, in the context of terrestrial ecosystems. I draw on examples from Wytham Woods, intact and logged tropical forests in Borneo, and a broad regional examination of sub-Saharan Africa. An energetic approach to understanding life an earth can yield some surprising and provocative insights into our changing biosphere.</p><p><strong><em>Registration for both events is now closed.</em></strong></p><p><img src="/sites/default/files/755/Flyer_2024_Malhi.jpg" alt="Image shows a flyer with event information and a photograph of Yadvinder Malhi." /></p><p><em><sup>1</sup> Commander of the Order of the British Empire; Fellow of the Royal Society</em></p><p> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-research-topic-tag field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><a href="/major-research-topics/experimental-scale/international-research-projects">International Research Projects</a></div> <div class="field-item odd"><a href="/major-research-topics/major-research-topics/conservation-and-management">Conservation and Management</a></div> <div class="field-item even"><a href="/major-research-topics/major-research-topics/forest-atmosphere-exchange">Climate and Carbon Exchange</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-news-other-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden clearfix"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><a href="/other-tags/climate-change">Climate Change</a></div> <div class="field-item odd"><a href="/other-tags/bullards">Bullards</a></div> </div> </div> </description> <pubDate>Thu, 05 Sep 2024 15:14:45 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>emilyjohnson@fas.harvard.edu</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false">2376 at https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu</guid> </item> </channel> </rss>