LAS Lecture Series to discuss effects of soil carbon dynamics in changing climate

09/30/2014 2:52 PM

By Margaret Cipriano ‘15

Bradley’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences will open its 2014-2015 lecture series with biology department chair Dr. Sherri Morris’ discussion of soil carbon dynamics in a changing climate.

A celebration of faculty scholarship, the Lecture Series stimulates conversation among faculty, students, and members of the community to promote interdisciplinary study and foster genuine discussion, collaboration, and research. In light of the UN Summit on Climate Change held September 23, 2014, Morris’ lecture will engage students and community alike in a timely discussion regarding soil and our changing environment.

Morris, who also is co-director of the Center for STEM Education, described the premise of her lecture as dealing with “the ability of soils to store carbon and nitrogen under forest, grassland and agriculture conditions.” She noted that soils are our most valuable natural resource and play a “large role in determining the extent and impacts of global climate change.”

Morris stressed the importance of her research stating, “The degree to which disturbed and native soils act as sinks or sources for carbon must be better understood so that we can adequately model climate change and develop management strategies that favor carbon storage.”

When contextualized by of the UN Summit on Climate Change and their call for “bold action,” Morris’ investigation will provide information useful for modelers, managers and planners interested in predicting or manipulating carbon storage in soils under a changing global climate.

During the lecture, Morris will also discuss research methods including, “tracer techniques such as carbon dating, 13C analysis, soil fractionation,” while applying a global perspective to the importance of the data she has gathered over fifteen years of extended research.

The lecture will be 6:30 p.m. October 6 at Marty Theater in the Student Center basement, followed by a post-lecture reception next door in the Executive Suite.