A picture of drought: ND ecologist matching NASA images with field data to measure forest health
Nate Swenson strides so quickly through the Wisconsin forest while carrying a large pole clipper that postdoctoral researcher Vanessa Rubio usually follows the 40 feet of rope dragging behind him.
When they reach the designated plot, Swenson extends the clipper about 30 feet high and pulls the rope to snip off a leafy twig from the canopy of a tall, tagged tree. The twig floats down through the dappled sunlight and lands in his hand.
It would be a majestic scene but for the mosquitoes. Hundreds and thousands of them, swarming everything that smells like warm blood.
Swenson cuts twigs from nine sample trees in each plot where the reflection of light from the leaves could show up in a space-based image. Rubio selects one leaf from each twig, folds it into a labeled test tube, and drops it in a metal canister of liquid nitrogen.
This flash freezing will preserve its RNA, which degrades quickly otherwise. Later in his campus lab, Swenson can study the leaf’s gene expression, which changes as it is stressed by drought later in the summer.
Latest University News
- Karen Kennedy appointed associate vice president for residential lifeKaren Kennedy, senior advisor in the Office of the Executive Vice President at the University of Notre Dame, has been appointed associate vice president for residential life in the Division of Student Affairs, effective spring 2024. In this role, Kennedy will oversee all established and emerging areas of the Office of Residential Life…
- Professor, bestselling author delivers Notre Dame Forum lecture on threats to democracyIn front of a standing-room-only crowd of more than 300 people on Monday (Dec. 4), Harvard University professor and New York Times bestselling author Steve Levitsky delivered a passionate lecture that was part U.S. and world history and part future-state prediction, as he described how democracy in the United States — as well as democracies around the world — risk sliding into minority rule.…
- Notre Dame ranks second in US for study abroad participationThe University of Notre Dame ranks second in the nation for study abroad participation among doctorate-granting universities, according to the latest Institute of International Education Open Doors report. This new designation, which ranks Notre Dame second with a participation rate of 77 percent for undergraduate students during 2021-22, recognizes the University’s commitment to global education.
- Five Notre Dame alumni recognized as Forbes 30 Under 30 recipientsFive University of Notre Dame alumni have been recognized as Forbes 30 Under 30 recipients. Forbes unveils its 30 Under 30 list each fall, spotlighting the 30 most accomplished individuals in the United States under the age of 30 in various industries. The list features emerging talent in 20 fields, including finance, science, health care, education, music, art, style, social impact and more.
- Notre Dame acquires former Tribune property in downtown South BendThe University of Notre Dame has acquired the historic portion of the former South Bend Tribune property from Schurz Communications. Acquisition of the property represents an early milestone for the University’s newly adopted strategic framework, which calls for meaningful investments in science and engineering and further collaborations to advance economic well-being in the South Bend-Elkhart region.
- Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., elected 18th president of the University of Notre DameThe Board of Trustees of the University of Notre Dame has elected Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., as the University’s 18th president, effective July 1. He will succeed Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., who announced in October that he will step down at the end of the 2023-24 academic year after serving as president for 19 years.…