Understanding, Quantifying, and Managing Carbon Footprint at Multiple Scales: Toward a Climate-resilient and Sustainable Agricultural System

Dr. Wei Ren is an associate professor at the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky. She earned her MS in Meteorology at the Nanjing Institute of Meteorology, China, and Ph.D. in Ecosystem Ecology at Auburn University. Dr. Ren uses an integrated system approach that combines numerical modeling, multi -source observations from field measurements, sensor monitoring, remote sensing imagery, and big -data analytical tools to investigate ecosystem dynamics (productivity, soil carbon, greenhouse gas emissions, nutrient leaching, etc. ) under global environmental changes. Her unique interdisciplinary research enabled her to participate in a range of projects supported by NASA, NSF, and USDA as an integrated ecosystem modeler. Dr. Ren received the 2012 Early Career Ecologist Award from t he Asian Ecology Section of the Ecological Society of America, recognizing her outstanding contributions to ecosystem modeling and global change ecology. She is also the recipient of the 2021 NSF Early Career Faculty (CAREER) Award. In this seminar talk, Dr. Ren will introduce her research experience from understanding and assessing carbon dynamics to managing carbon. Emphasis will be given to her recent and ongoing research about multiscale climate-smart-agriculture management (e.g., conservation tillage and cover crop) to build climate resilience, promote soil health, and achieve food security.