Prof. Jennifer McElwain Delivers Oxford Autumn Lecture
Trees Through Time with Prof. Jennifer McElwain
Last week, Professor Jennifer McElwain delivered her invited public lecture “Trees Through Time” as part of the University of Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum Autumn Lecture Series. The event took place at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History on Thursday, 20 November, and was attended both in person and online.
If you missed the live lecture, the full recording is now available on YouTube:
Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/live/dpNrLJXBrMw
In the talk, Jennifer explores the deep-time history of Earth’s forests, from the earliest land plants to the rise of complex tree ecosystems, and shows how these evolutionary milestones fundamentally shaped our planet’s climate. She highlights how shifts in plant life altered atmospheric CO₂, influenced global temperatures, and even contributed to major environmental transitions. By looking at ancient ecosystems preserved in the fossil record, Jennifer reveals what they can teach us about today’s rapidly changing climate and the future resilience of modern forests.
Visit from Prof. Isabel Patricia Montañez (UC Davis)
Prof. Isabel Patricia Montañez Visits Trinity and Delivers Lecture on the Evolution of Atmospheric CO₂
This week, PlantClimateLab was delighted to welcome Prof. Isabel Patricia Montañez, the Chancellor’s Leadership Distinguished Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of California, Davis.
Prof. Montañez’s research explores the evolution of atmospheric CO₂ through deep time, investigating how global carbon cycling, climate, and ecosystems interacted during major transitions from glaciated to non-glaciated worlds. Her pioneering work on paleo-CO₂ reconstructions provides essential insights into how Earth’s climate system responds to CO₂-driven change, offering vital analogues for our warming future.
During her visit, Prof. Montañez delivered a lecture at Trinity College Dublin titled: “Reconstructing the Evolution of Atmospheric CO₂: Lessons from the Deep Past for Our Climate Future.” In her talk, she discussed the challenges and advances in constraining paleo-CO₂ estimates and outlined a path forward toward building a next-generation CO₂ record for the past 400 million years. She also presented new work reconstructing CO₂–climate–ecosystem feedbacks during the Late Paleozoic Ice Age, when CO₂ levels fluctuated within ranges comparable to both the last ice age and projections for this century. The event concluded with a wine and cheese reception (6–8 pm, Main Foyer, Museum Building), offering an opportunity for informal discussion and collaboration.
Earlier in the day, Catarina and Will from our group joined Prof. Montañez for lunch and a discussion on ongoing research connections – including her role as Catarina’s co-PI for her PhD project. Later, she took time to meet and chat with other members of the team, showing genuine interest in their work and offering insightful, thoughtful feedback – exactly the kind of generous exchange that defines great scientific collaboration.
It was a great pleasure to host Prof. Montañez and to exchange ideas on the future of paleo-CO₂ research and its implications for understanding Earth’s changing climate.
Christos Presents PlantClimateLab at Trinity’s Climate Gateway Launch
PlantClimateLab at Trinity College Dublin’s Climate Gateway Launch
Recently, Dr Christos Chondrogiannis had the chance to represent PlantClimateLab at the launch of the new Climate Gateway at Trinity College Dublin.
The event, held on 4 November 2025, brought together researchers, policy-makers, industry leaders, and community partners to mark the opening of this new initiative aimed at building momentum for a more resilient, climate-ready future.
Christos presented our posters highlighting the lab’s work on plant-based climate solutions, ecosystem modelling, and nature-inspired adaptation strategies, like plant-enhanced weathering as a part of the Terraform project. He also had the opportunity to connect with colleagues from across Trinity and beyond who are working on climate resilience, biodiversity, and sustainability research.
The Climate Gateway aims to connect Trinity expertise with wider society – linking policy, business, education, and communities to co-create actionable climate solutions. Our participation reflects PlantClimateLab’s ongoing commitment to collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches to tackling the climate challenge.
We’re excited to continue contributing to the Climate Gateway network and exploring new ways our research can support Ireland’s transition to a sustainable, nature-positive future.
Professor McElwain Featured on the Blindboy Podcast
Jennifer McElwain Joins Blindboy for a Conversation on the Evolution of Life on Earth
Professor Jennifer McElwain recently joined Blindboy for a fascinating and wide-ranging conversation about the evolution of plants, mass extinction events, and how life on Earth has literally terraformed our planet over deep time – shaping the atmosphere, climate, and environments we depend on today.
The discussion beautifully echoes the themes at the heart of our Terraform Project, where we explore how plants have driven planetary change throughout Earth’s history and what that can teach us about future climate resilience and life beyond Earth.
True to Blindboy’s unique and creative interview style, the conversation is anything but conventional — curious, humorous, and thought-provoking, bringing complex plant science to life in a way that’s accessible and engaging. Professor McElwain’s reflections highlight how studying ancient ecosystems not only deepens our understanding of the past but also offers powerful insights into how living systems shape planetary environments.
It’s not every day you hear palaeobotany, climate science, and philosophical musings on humanity’s place in the universe all in one podcast episode.
Listen and read (transcript available):