Kelp Forest Foundation’s Post

🎉 We are pleased to announce that Giulia Lodi, Rémi Dupont, and Michell Andree Fernández Velarde have received a #FWO scholarship for their #PhD research! 🌱Giulia Lodi research project aims to demonstrate the effect of increasing atmospheric [CO2] and temperature on the Si cycle in tropical wetlands by focusing on the dominating flora: papyrus. To achieve this, she will first work on historical sampling from herbaria and perform experiments on papyrus, grown under preindustrial, present and future [CO2] and temperatures. Then, she will run a case study in Lake Mburo (Uganda). All of this will end up in a conceptual modelling of how this mass balance may change under 3 [CO2] scenario’s and which effect this may have on the phytoplankton community, as some phytoplankton groups (diatoms) are Si-dependent. 🏝️ Rémi Dupont research aims to understand the impact of artificial islands with a nature-inclusive design (NID) on ecosystem services (e.g. fisheries, climate regulation, waste mediation, etc.). To achieve this, he plans to develop an integrated ecosystem services model that can assess and predict both the negative impacts of island construction and the positive impacts of NID. This model will be developed to demonstrate the true potential of NID to better inform decision-making. 🌱 Michell Andree Fernández Velarde research focus on developing an integrated socio-economic valuation model for Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) to improve water resilience and encourage private sector investment, particularly in the context of climate change. Department of Biology @ University of Antwerp Research Foundation Flanders - FWO

We are proud to present our Fellow of the Month of #MSCA COFUND #IberusTalent, Mara Paneghel! Mara is a PhD researcher from Italy at #UdL at the Department of Agricultural and Forest Science and Engineering, part of the ADAPTAFOR Research Group, and a MSCA Early-Stage Researcher of the #IberusTalent Programme. The aim of her project is to study the regeneration of Mediterranean forests after wildfires. Her focus is mainly set on the effect of climatic conditions on the recovery of pine-dominated forests after stand-replacing wildfires. This is particularly important in the context of climate change, that predicts a consistent increase in temperature and a reduction in precipitation for the Mediterranean basin. Such conditions are likely to result in longer drought periods and likely in more frequent wildfires. Are Mediterranean forests capable of recovering from disruptive disturbances in such conditions? How do changing climatic conditions affect the demographic recovery and the performance of plant species? These are the main questions she aims to answer. She embraces such questions at the individual and local scale through observational and experimental approaches. This is Mara’s insight as a MSCA IberusTalent fellow: “It’s an excellent opportunity to do research with financial independence: studying plants and forests, participating in courses and conferences, as well as research stays.” Learn more about Mara and her research: 👉IberusTalent website: https://lnkd.in/dNt2fxdY

Consider applying to get new perspectives on climate-smart agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and bioeconomy developments.

Apply for a fully funded PhD "Assessing the Hydroecological Impacts of Climate-Driven Extreme Events on UK Rivers" under NERC IAPETUS DTP https://lnkd.in/erw9Anjy Summary - Predicting the impact of extreme events on river hydro ecology and water quality under uncertain climate conditions is a complex but critical area of research. This approach necessitates the integration of extensive datasets (e.g. climate projections, river flow, ecological data), advanced models (e.g. hydrological, ecological, computational), and sophisticated data science techniques, such as probabilistic methods for uncertainty quantification and mathematical extreme value theory. By combining these elements, the project aims to assess and predict how extreme events—like floods, droughts, and temperature spikes—will affect river ecosystems. Full details https://lnkd.in/erw9Anjy Supervisory Team Dr Sandhya Patidar (Contact [email protected]), Heriot-Watt University Dr Cedric Laize FRGS, United Kingdom Centre for Ecology & 

We're welcoming 10 new CALS faculty! 🎉 From studying information ecosystems & rural livelihoods decision-making to working on solutions to the biodiversity crisis, they're off & running pursuing purpose-driven science. https://lnkd.in/e3AR_D42 🔺 Daniel Anstett is working to find solutions to the biodiversity crisis by leveraging genomics & spacial-based science to inform conservation management & restoration ecology. https://lnkd.in/evmP52eE 🔺Andrew Bell studies rural livelihoods decision-making, conducting pro-poor, people-first environment & development research in areas like migration, agricultural development, irrigation & human-wildlife conflict. https://lnkd.in/ekzW4UFt 🔺Aaron Benanav is investigating the historical & structural forces shaping contemporary labor markets, examining the relationship between the global decline of manufacturing employment & the expansion of the service sector & social phenomena like unemployment, precarity & inequality. https://lnkd.in/e-i_JfDD 🔺Jacqueline Gerson is a watershed biogeochemist, studying how anthropogenic activities have altered the cycling of nutrients & contaminants through watersheds. https://lnkd.in/e4u6qpk6 🔺Dan Kowal's research aims to provide reliable, scalable & interpretable statistical inference for a variety of “messy” data that might include temporal or spatial dependencies, missing data, nonlinear associations, & more. https://lnkd.in/ez8JiGsi 🔺Jonathan Lin is an atmospheric scientist studying weather & climate in the tropical atmosphere, with a focus on the dynamics & impacts of hurricanes. https://lnkd.in/e9_JR-Jk 🔺Wunpini F. Mohammed, Ph.D.'s research focuses on interrogating power in media & communications while working together with disenfranchised communities to use media to bring about transformative change in communities. https://lnkd.in/e7hGEGTZ 🔺Madeline Oravec ’14 studies the genetic understanding & improvement of grapes, with an emphasis on fruit quality, environmental resilience & biotic resistance. https://lnkd.in/eCm3EJXe 🔺Claire Wardle studies information ecosystems, with a particular interest in improving communication by trusted institutions, e.g. government agencies, newsrooms, universities, as a mechanism for improving resilience against misinformation. https://lnkd.in/eJjUvHFd 🔺Yun Yang studies plant water use from field to global scales using remote sensing techniques to guide irrigation scheduling & monitor plant stress condition. https://lnkd.in/eJZRSJRH

🎄 Holiday Research Spotlight Series 🎄 Today, we highlight Magnus Kamau Katana Lindhardt, whose research in agrivoltaics is paving the way for a future where sustainable agriculture and renewable energy go hand in hand. Kamau grew up in Copenhagen and Hundested, where his early interest in natural sciences was sparked by the sea and nature. After high school, he pursued a student position aboard the training ship Georg Stage, gaining invaluable skills and lifelong friendships. Back on shore, Kamau began a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources at the Københavns Universitet - University of Copenhagen, specializing in plants. His academic journey took him to Brazil and Colombia, where he gained firsthand experience with tropical agriculture. These experiences deepened his understanding of how climate and culture shape agricultural systems and reconnected him with his Kenyan heritage. After completing his bachelor’s degree, Kamau pursued a master’s degree in Plant Sciences and Geoinformatics at Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands. Returning to Denmark, Kamau worked at the Danish Agricultural Agency, focusing on satellite-based monitoring of farmland. However, he missed the hands-on connection with the land. Today, Kamau is pursuing a PhD at Aarhus Universitet as part of the EU-funded Value4Farm project, researching agrivoltaics—the combination of agriculture and solar energy. His work studies how vertical solar panels affect crop growth and quality, aiming to create multifunctional land use that produces both food and sustainable electricity. Read more about Kamau's journey and his vision for a sustainable future: https://lnkd.in/d_qYY9wS Stay tuned for more portraits of our brilliant researchers. #Agroecology #Research #ClimateChange #SustainableSolutions #PhD #HolidaySeason

#Sustainability and #Quality of #Life Pathway within the #Future #Scientists 2 Program, supervised by #King #Faisal #University and the Abdullatif Al-Rashed #Humanitarian #Foundation This pathway highlights research methodologies and applications that address environmental issues, with a focus on models of native plant species in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The aim is to contribute to climate change adaptation and food security. Through this pathway, future scientists learn research methodologies and knowledge related to quality of life and environmental sustainability, using plants as an experimental model. In our experiments, we utilized both the millet plant and the mangrove plant. #Millet is one of the traditional agricultural crops in Saudi Arabia, primarily grown in the regions of Jazan and Madinah. It is drought-resistant and well-suited to the local climate, making it an effective option for sustainable agriculture. Millet plays a significant role in achieving self-sufficiency in some rural areas and enhancing biodiversity, thereby contributing to resilience against climate change. #Mangrove, on the other hand, has an immense capacity to support environmental sustainability. It grows along the coasts of eastern, western, and southwestern Saudi Arabia. Mangroves are ecologically significant due to their ability to sequester large amounts of carbon, which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improves air quality. We also explored the role of machine learning in monitoring plant growth. With Dr. Abdelghafour, we captured images of the plants after the experiment to track growth using machine learning techniques for both mangrove and millet. These images enabled effective and precise analysis of the plants’ growth stages, providing a scientific understanding of how plants respond to environmental and experimental factors. We extend our gratitude to the success partners who played a pivotal role in supporting and enabling the Sustainability and Quality of Life Pathway within the Future Scientists Program. Special thanks to Mr. Khalid Al-Ali, Mr. Abdul Latif Al-Mughlouth, Mr. Ahmed Al-Naim, Ms. Asmaa Al-Jughiman, and Ms. Wafa Al-Huwaile, whose dedication and expertise significantly contributed to the success of this project. Additionally, we offer our sincere thanks to the administration of King Faisal University and the Abdullatif Al-Rashed Humanitarian Foundation for their tremendous support of the Future Scientists Program, which has had a profound impact on advancing and achieving the program’s objectives. Special thanks to: the Vice President of Research and Graduate Studies Prof. Abdul Al Lily The head of The National Research Center for Giftedness and Creativity Prof. Adel Al-Shuaibi and the Dean of the College of Agriculture, Dr. Ahmed Al-Suqafi

🌍 Thrilled to Announce My Master’s thesis defense 🌿 I am excited to share that I have successfully defended my Master’s thesis in Sustainable Management and Climate-Resilient Agroecosystems. My research focused on the characterization and assessment of agrosilvopastoral practices in a rural community in Northern Tunisia, aiming to highlight the environmental and socio-economic importance of Sulla for restoring degraded land. The study site, heavily impacted by overgrazing and climate change, had suffered from soil degradation and loss of plant biodiversity. With the intervention of General_Directorate _of_Forests and ICARDA; International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas , native species that are well-adapted to local condition of the site such as Sulla was reseeded showcasing their ability to restore soil fertility and enhance ecosystem resilience. As part of the project, I conducted a socio-economic survey with farmers to determinethe role of Sulla for their livestock feed by forage production, assessed biodiversity through the transect technique, and monitored the evolution of vegetation cover using VegMeasure Software. Special thanks to my supervisor, Dr. Rania MECHERGUI Mechergui, for her guidance and mentorship throughout this journey. I am deeply grateful to the National Institute of Rural Engineering,Waters and Forests INRGREF, ICARDA; International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, General_Directorate _of_Forests, and CRDA Zaghouan for their invaluable support during my thesis project. This work has deepened my understanding of the importance of sustainable practices in supporting both the environment and rural communities. 🌱 #Sustainability #Agroecology #ClimateResilience #Biodiversity #SocioEconomicDevelopment #SoilRestoration #SocialInclusion

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗢𝗰𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗿𝗶 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗮   “𝑶𝒄𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑩𝒍𝒖𝒆 𝑮𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒕𝒉”   The oceans have been extensively recognized as a fascinating new frontier for economic development globally. Many island nations are well-positioned to promote the “Blue Economy” and “Blue Growth” that focus on inclusive economic growth and livelihood development while ensuring the environmental sustainability of the oceans and coastal regions. However, there are growing concerns about “Blue Justice”; a newly emerged concept that insists on fair treatment for all stakeholders within the domains of blue economy and blue growth. Therefore, it is a timely important topic to stimulate a dialogue on achieving more justice within inclusive blue growth.    With this goal, Ocean University of Sri Lanka hosts its first International Research Symposium this year under the broader theme of “Ocean Research for Blue Growth”. This International Symposium for Ocean Research – 2024 (iSOR ‘24) has provided a great platform for multidisciplinary research while facilitating collaboration among national and international researchers, scientists, academics, industrialists, professionals, emerging scholars, and undergraduates working in different disciplines related to ocean science and affiliated fields. We have called the abstracts to share your research findings at different plenary sessions under the dynamic conference tracks of: ▫️Coastal and Marine Environmental Management  ▫️Fisheries and Aquaculture ▫️Seafood Science and Technology ▫️Marine Engineering and Technology  ▫️Oceanography and Hydrography ▫️GIS and Remote Sensing applications for Marine Science ▫️Maritime Transportation and Logistics ▫️Sustainable Supply Chain Management ▫️Socio-economic and Marketing. Through this prominent event, we seek to encourage researchers and practitioners to exchange their cutting-edge research findings and experience to establish the roadmap for blue growth placing blue justice at the forefront of the blue economy. Edit courtesy 🖥️ : Kusal Gamakaranage

La Trobe University offers a range of doctoral scholarships for specific research projects.   Successful applicants receive a generous stipend, tuition fee scholarship and allowances. Stipends are valued at $34,000 per annum (2024 full-time rate) for 3.5 years. In the School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, the following project-based scholarships are now available. Determining how the soluble dietary fibre mixed linkage β-glucan is synthesised and regulated in cereals. This project will investigate the molecular mechanism(s) of synthesis and regulation of (1,3;1,4)-β-glucan (mixed-linkage glucan, MLG), a major soluble dietary fibre component of cereal grain cell walls. Specialised pollination systems and the conservation of Australian orchids. While pollinators are critical for plant reproduction, they are rarely considered when establishing new populations of endangered species. Our innovative approach to conservation translocation involves using pollinators in site selection, developing strategies to mitigate risks of hybridisation, and optimising plant reproduction through planting design. Our main focal genus will be Caladenia, the spider orchids. How does temperature and competition interact to shape evolutionary responses to climate change in Drosophila. Current predictions of climate change vulnerability ignore species interactions, yet they shape all aspects of a species ecology including the capacity to adapt to climate change. Using Drosophila, species this project will examine how temperature and competition shape evolutionary responses in key traits linked to climate change. Hotspots of endemism in forest invertebrates. Insect biodiversity decline is an environmental crisis. This project aims to address gaps in our knowledge of invertebrate endemism and conservation approaches for litter invertebrates in the forests of south-eastern Australia. Applications close for both domestic and international applicants on 31 March 2024. Find out more about these projects and apply now: https://bit.ly/3SNhuA7 #LaTrobeAgricultureBiomedicineAndEnvironment #LaTrobeUniversity #Scholarships