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.
