Insights from the 2025 Summer School on Precision Forestry
A Week of Innovation and Learning at the 2025 Interdisciplinary Summer School on Precision Forestry
Dr Sate Ahmad had the chance to attend the 2025 Interdisciplinary Summer School on Precision Forestry, an event organised by the COST Action 3DForEcoTech, in collaboration with the European Forest Institute (EFI), IUFRO – International Union of Forest Research Organizations, and the Department of Geomatics at the Forest Research Institute, Poland.
During this incredible week, Sate gained hands-on experience in using Airborne and Terrestrial LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data to characterize forests. This experience has greatly enhanced the understanding of how LiDAR technology can be utilized for future research in ecosystem restoration and microtopography monitoring.
A special thanks to the event organizers—María Menéndez Miguélez, Mattia Balestra, Bartłomiej Kraszewski, Martin Mokros, and Krzysztof Stereńczak—whose hard work and dedication ensured the success of the event. Beyond mastering the technical aspects of LiDAR technology, the event provided a valuable platform for building connections, and Sate left with many ideas for future research collaborations.
The insights gained during this experience will undoubtedly shape the future of our research at Plant Climate Lab, and Sate is eager to incorporate TLS (Terrestrial Laser Scanning) and ALS (Airborne Laser Scanning) into ongoing and upcoming projects.
Witness Tree Project – 2025 Update
Exploring the Role of Trees in Climate Change Mitigation Through Collaborative Research
The Witness Tree Project continues to play a crucial role in advancing research on climate change through its focus on long-lived trees, which act as natural sensors of environmental change. In 2025, the project has made significant strides with new research initiatives, collaborations, and the involvement of a growing team of dedicated experts, students, and volunteers.
This year, Dr Miriam Slodownik, the lead of the Witness Tree Project, was responsible for leading the team at the National Botanic Gardens, where she focused on key questions regarding urban trees and their capacity to improve air quality. The research investigates which tree species are most effective at capturing particulate matter (PM) and explores the leaf traits that support PM uptake, including leaf area and surface texture.
Dr Ailbhe Brazel led a new initiative this year, collecting leaf samples from four tree species — alder, hazel, common Oak, and maidenhair tree — to identify molecular biomarkers of environmental responses. This research aims to deepen our understanding of how trees respond to environmental stressors and contribute to enhancing urban air quality.
A central theme of this research includes:
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Which tree species captures the most particulate matter (PM)?
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How do Leaf Area Index (LAI), leaf angles, and leaf size affect PM uptake?
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What specific leaf traits help increase PM absorption per tree?
By linking leaf traits with air quality data, the project is providing valuable insights to inform urban planning decisions aimed at improving air quality in cities.
Charlotte Salter-Townsend, a Master’s student, was also involved, examining which species within the Witness Tree Project have the highest PM capturing capacity. Charlotte’s work focuses on understanding how traits like leaf area, trichome density, and leaf size influence PM capture, and how these traits may work together to enhance the tree’s ability to absorb particulate matter.
At the Trinity College Botanic Gardens, Dr Michelle Murray led a separate team focused on monitoring the health of trees in response to environmental stressors such as temperature fluctuations and urban heat islands. Dr Christos Chondrogiannis supported the team, contributing to field collection and data analysis.
This year, a group of dedicated volunteers contributed significantly to the success of the project. A huge thank you goes out to Sophie, Lucy, Phoebe, Yidan, Ríona and Ciaran for their invaluable help. Their hard work, enthusiasm, and commitment to the project have been essential to the progress made this year.
The project remains highly active on social media, particularly through its Instagram platform, where updates and findings from the ongoing research are shared. Recent posts highlight the involvement of students, volunteers, and researchers in this year’s activities, showing the critical role that community engagement plays in the success of the project.
Kamila Presents at Nature Connections 2025 Conference
Exploring Urban Forest Bathing at Nature Connections 2025
Dr Kamila Kwaśniewska recently attended Nature Connections 2025 in Derby, hosted by the University of Derby, to present her research poster, “Urban Forest Bathing – Calm in the Chaos of Student Life”, co-authored by Dr Michelle Murray and Prof. Jennifer McElwain. The project was developed in collaboration with NovelEco, Student Counselling Services and Trinity College Botanic Gardens, exploring how guided nature-connection sessions can support student mental health.
The study involved 2-hour urban forest bathing sessions held in the Trinity College Botanic Garden, followed by reflective surveys completed by participating students. The findings revealed encouraging results:
85 % joined to reduce stress and relax,
78 % felt significantly more relaxed afterwards,
74 % reported improved mood,
72 % experienced a stronger connection to nature,
and 62 % left feeling more positive and uplifted.
Students described the experience as calming, grounding, and emotionally restorative, showing how even small-scale, urban green spaces can play a meaningful role in wellbeing.
The conference itself offered a rare blend of academic insight and lived experience. Alongside research presentations and keynote talks, including one by Prof. Miles Richardson, it featured outdoor workshops, movement-based sessions, creative writing, and shared plant-based meals in open-air settings. It was a space filled with real conversations, creative energy, and a sense of shared purpose.
Our Labs Achieve Exceptional Sustainability Scores with 'My Green Lab Certification'
Our Labs Achieve Exceptional Sustainability Scores with 'My Green Lab Certification'
We are thrilled to announce that all our laboratories: Variable Atmosphere and Light Lab, Plant Atmosphere Interactions Lab, and Paleo-Botanical Lab have achieved outstanding results in the My Green Lab Certification process. Led by Professor Jennifer McElwain and dedicated teams, each lab has earned impressive 90+ scores in recognition of their exceptional commitment to sustainability in research.
A special thank you goes to former Research Assistant Katie O’Dea and Christos Chrondogiannis for their invaluable contributions to making this achievement possible. Their efforts were instrumental in the success of this project.
My Green Lab is a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving sustainability in scientific research, particularly within laboratory environments. The My Green Lab Certification is globally recognised as the gold standard for laboratory sustainability practices and is endorsed by the United Nations Race to Zero Campaign as a key indicator of progress towards a zero-carbon future.
By achieving My Green Lab Certification, our labs have demonstrated leadership in sustainable research practices. These labs are now part of a select group of research institutions that have met the highest standards of environmental responsibility. Their certification underscores the importance of integrating sustainability into scientific research without compromising excellence.
PlantClimate Lab Represents Trinity at IPSAM 2025 in Galway
Planting Knowledge, Cultivating Insight - PlantClimate Lab at IPSAM
Our PlantClimate Lab had an outstanding presence at this year’s Irish Plant Scientists’ Association Meeting (IPSAM 2025) in Galway on 16–17 June. Across five talks and two posters, our team shared research spanning paleoenvironmental chemistry, epigenetic stress responses, ecosystem water balance, restoration ecology, and climate-focused tree monitoring.
Talks
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Ailbhe Brazel presented “Understanding the role of histone methylation in plant hypoxia responses”, exploring how epigenetic mechanisms help plants adapt to low oxygen stress conditions.
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Emma Blanka Kovács delivered “Mercury analyses of modern and fossil plant substrates as indicators of atmospheric Hg loading”, highlighting how modern and historical plant material can trace mercury pollution through time.
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Sate Ahmad shared “On Weather, Water & Willows: Stomatal Response to Meteorological Forcings in Salix viminalis”, examining the effects of meteorological variability on plant water use and ecosystem balance.
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Miriam Slodownik presented findings from the Witness Tree Project, which uses mature trees at Trinity Botanic Garden to monitor environmental change. Her talk focused on long-term tracking of physiological responses—such as stomatal conductance and particulate capture—to air pollution and climate stressors.
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Christos Chondrogiannis gave an evolutionary perspective in his talk on the origins and evolution of CAM (Crassulacean Acid Metabolism) photosynthesis, using cycads as a model. His research contributes to understanding how ancient plant lineages adapted to arid environments, providing insight into the evolutionary drivers of water-use efficiency in plants.
Posters
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Siddiq Muhammad presented “How Atmospheric Change Influences Elemental Composition in Woody Plants Across Global Biomes”, a global-scale study leveraging herbarium collections to assess how rising CO₂ and nitrogen deposition have shifted leaf nutrient profiles across biomes.
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Sate Ahmad also presented “The Role of Landscape Ecology in Ecosystem Restoration”, outlining a multidisciplinary project that combines ecological data, spatial analysis, and long-term field monitoring to assess restoration outcomes across Irish landscapes.
It was a fantastic two days of science, collaboration, and connection. We’re incredibly proud of our team for representing PlantClimate Lab with such energy and excellence, and for contributing to important conversations on how plants respond to a changing planet.
Representing Our Research at the 42nd Mid-Continent Paleobotanical Colloquium
Representing Our Research at the 42nd Mid-Continent Paleobotanical Colloquium
This past month, two of our very own PhD students, Catarina (me!) and Antonietta, travelled to Middletown, Connecticut, to present at the 42nd Mid-Continent Paleobotanical Colloquium, hosted by Wesleyan University (Go Cardinals!).
Antonietta delivered a well-received talk titled “Regional Plant Ecological Turnover and Diversity Loss at the End-Triassic Mass Extinction at the Jameson Land Basin, East Greenland” and fielded more questions than any other speaker!
Catarina, despite battling jetlag, presented a poster titled “Sampling Strategies and Their Influence on Paleoecological Interpretations at the Triassic–Jurassic Boundary”, a follow-up to her earlier IGRM presentation.
Reflecting on the experience, Antonietta shared, “Visiting the palaeobotany collections at museums of such importance as the Yale Peabody Museum was an absolutely amazing experience.” Catarina added, “It was great getting to meet everyone and share the work we’ve been doing with our American peers — and to see what they’ve been working on as well!”
by Catarna Barbosa
Flatlining Fens - Signs of homogenisation beneath the surface
Fine-scale ecosystem variation signals early functional decline in alkaline fens, new research shows
New research from the discipline of Botany, in collaboration with the Engineering Department and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), reveals that some of Ireland’s rare alkaline fens—peat-forming, groundwater-fed wetlands—are becoming more uniform, or “homogenised,” due to historic drainage and degradation.
Led by Dr Sate Ahmad, the research team compared a relatively intact fen in Westmeath with a degraded one in Limerick and found striking differences. While both had high levels of organic matter, the degraded site held significantly less water and showed far less microvariation in soil and surface features. The team discovered that the degraded fen had become much more spatially uniform—a red flag for ecological health. These differences hint at a loss of the ecosystem’s ability to perform vital functions. The findings highlight the importance of microtopography—the tiny bumps and dips in fen surfaces—as early indicators of damage and recovery. They also underscore the value of small-scale mapping and monitoring in ecosystem restoration.
As Ireland works to restore and protect its remaining peatlands, the study offers new tools to measure restoration success and ecosystem complexity. The study was funded by Research Ireland (formerly Irish Research Council) New Foundations Award in partnership with Sunflower Charitable Foundation and Community Foundation Ireland.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X25002481
Unearthing Memory - Siobhan McDonald’s Artistic Dialogue with Nature
Merging Science and Art - Siobhan McDonald’s Collaboration with Terraform in BOGSKIN
Siobhan McDonald’s latest work explores the intricate balance between preservation and decay, drawing inspiration from the bog ecosystems that have safeguarded organic matter for centuries. Working in collaboration with Terraform, she engaged with leading ecological research and material preservation techniques to deepen the scientific foundation of the project. Their expertise provided critical insights into the anaerobic conditions that allow materials such as sphagnum moss, peat, and decaying plant matter to endure over time, mirroring the way the Faddan More Psalter was preserved within the bog.
As part of this process, Siobhan utilized the cutting-edge facilities of the Variable Atmosphere and Light (VAL) laboratory at Trinity College Dublin. The VAL Lab’s advanced plant growth chambers, designed to control light intensity, spectra, temperature, humidity, and atmospheric composition, enabled her to cultivate and study plant materials under precisely simulated environmental conditions. This scientific approach allowed for an innovative integration of organic materials and artistic expression, reinforcing the themes of memory, transformation, and impermanence within her work.
Further supported by Terraform’s ERC-funded research, Siobhan incorporated experimental methods to investigate the interplay of light, organic matter, and time. These techniques expanded the possibilities of her practice, pushing the boundaries of material exploration while maintaining a strong connection to ecological and historical narratives.
The results of this research and artistic exploration are currently on display at the Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts in Dublin. Her latest exhibition, BOGSKIN, is open to the public until April 20th 2025, offering a unique opportunity to experience the interplay of science, art, and the fragile ecosystems that inspire her work.
Looking ahead, Siobhan will continue her collaboration with Terraform as she embarks on a new project examining Dublin’s coastline as a wetland. This work will form part of the upcoming STARTS4Water II residencies, furthering her engagement with environmental themes and the passage of time in shifting landscapes.
For more information on Siobhan’s work, please visit: https://www.siobhanmcdonald.com/
TERRAFORM Researchers Present at IGRM2025
TERRAFORM Researchers Present at IGRM2025
The 68th Irish Geoscience Research Meeting (IGRM2025) was held at Trinity College Dublin from February 28th – March 2nd. The meeting included a session on palaeoclimate, at which several project TERRAFORM researchers showcased their current work and scientific advancements. Dr William J. Matthaeus presented his talk titled, Trait-Based Palaeo–Ecosystem Simulations Reveal Shifting Forest Cover Across the Triassic–Jurassic Biotic Crisis, highlighting the exciting potential of utilising plant fossil trait data in deep-time ecosystem modelling. PhD candidates Antonietta B. Knetge and Catarina Barbosa also presented talks on the Triassic–Jurassic Biotic Crisis. Knetge presented her study Palaeoecology and Diversity Loss During the End–Triassic Event at South Tancrediakløft, East Greenland, and Barbosa presented How Counting Method Influences the Interpretation of Plant Palaeoecological Data. Barbosa received an honorable mention for best student presentation. E. Blanka Kovács gave a talk on her research about secondary controls on the natural mercury cycle during large-scale volcanic events, titled Astronomical modulation of enhanced environmental mercury (Hg) fluxes during early Toarcian LIP volcanism. TERRAFORM members have benefited from engaging with Earth scientists from global and regional communities. IGRM is a critical venue for fostering collaborations in Ireland’s emerging geosciences community.
by Antonietta Knetge and Blanka Kovacs
Liffey Sensing - Art & Science Workshop
Art, Science, and the River - Siobhán McDonald’s Liffey Sensing Workshop
Project TERRAFORM’s artist-in-residence, Siobhán McDonald held a Liffey Sensing Workshop on February 18th to communicate her work with the European Union-funded STARTS4Water. McDonald is the STARTS4Water ambassador for Ireland, representing the river Liffey globally to contribute an artistic perspective to hydrologic science and technology in response to the drastic effects of climate change on our water systems. The Liffey Sensing workshop encouraged the attendees to artistically connect to the river Liffey and explore the river’s significance environmentally and socially. TERRAFORM PhD researcher Antonietta Knetge also attended and gave a brief presentation on the origins of the Liffey within the Wicklow mountains, the importance of the geology that supports the system, and Ireland’s rich geologic and fossil history. The attendees then created art inspired by the sounds and scents of the Liffey using marine herbarium specimens and local coastal sediment collected by McDonald. The photographs here illustrate the workshop and the incredible works by Artist Siobhán McDonald for the STARTS4Water project.
Project links:
https://starts.eu/starts4water-ii-residencies/
https://starts.eu/siobhan-mcdonald-shapeshifter/
by Antonietta Knetge
