NextGen: Artur Stefanski
Hello! My name is Artur Stefanski. I grew up in Poland where my adventure with science began. My research goals are to deepen our understanding of plant physiology and ecology, plant-plant and plant-environment interactions, forest ecosystem function and dynamics, and how those processes and relationships will be affected by future climate.
Q) When did you know that you wanted to become a scientist and how did it unfold for you?
A) I like to think that my interest in science and becoming a scientist sprouted from a passion for exploring, but it took me a while to realize it. Growing up on a family farm triggered my curiosity about the surrounding environment, animals and plants. I think that I can pinpoint the beginning of my interest in science to 6th grade. That year extra assignments in physics and biology classes led me to a fascination with both subjects. This evolved into a more focused interest in forestry, ecology, and plant ecophysiology, although it was a slowly growing process because I only planned one step at a time. My first goal was just to finish my forestry high school program and become a forester, but then I decided to go to college and expand my knowledge in forestry, and after that to get a master’s degree, and so on. Fortunately, at each step I was introduced to great people whom I can proudly call my mentors. Little by little, they inspired to purse science – and, giving me a little push at each step, I slowly but surely became hooked. However, it was not until I finished my master’s thesis that I truly realized that my life path is to be not only a forester but also a scientist and teacher.
Reflecting on why I chose plants, and their ecology and physiology, the answer boils down to plants being stationary. Plants cannot move when they are faced with changing abiotic and biotic conditions that might affect their growth and survival. Instead, they must come up with counteractive measures, typically involving short and long-term changes in their physiology and/or morphology. If they do not, they will often pay hefty costs in the form of reduced performance, or even death. Thus, I got fascinated by trying to understand how plant physiology—in particular, the physiological processes that play an important role in plant growth, survival, and ability to compete—are affected by changes in growth conditions.
Q) Tell us about your research projects in ASCEND
A) Spectral data opens up unprecedented opportunities in trait detection, whether that be performed directly at the leaf level or remotely, and is often "easier" and faster than plant trait measurement done in more traditional ways which are often very laborious and time-consuming. Technological advances and miniaturization makes these measurements more accessible than ever before. This presents new and previously impossible opportunities in the spectral detection of plant traits. For example, nowdays we can fly a drone with hyperspectral sensors, or just carry it as a backpack, and within seconds take a measurement of spectral reflectance which allows detection and quantification of plant traits with remarkable accuracy.
My work in ASCEND is focused on broad collaboration and teamwork, mostly stemming from my involvement in managing a couple of large experiments that are being leveraged by ASCEND. In particular, the Boreal Forest Warming at an Ecotone in Danger (B4WarmED) and International Diversity Experiment Network with Trees (IDENT) which offer platforms for addressing key questions that aim to answer: i) how functionally and spectrally distinct taxa interact locally, leading to the assembly and dynamics of communities at multiple spatial scales, under current and future climate (i.e., Theme 3), ii) the role of biodiversity in ecosystem functioning and its response to global change (i.e., Theme 4), and multiple bridging project among the themes. Thus, my involvement spans a relatively broad range of topics. Personally, I'm mostly interested in addressing questions related to the ability to use spectral detection methods whether on a leaf, whole plant, or a community level of plants’ traits and their scaling from leaf to community level as well as traits seasonal variability. I am also interested in addressing questions related to plants’ responses to climate change factors such as elevated temperatures and water availability and nutrient resorption. Finally, I’m also interested in the effect that biodiversity has on plant-plant and plant-environment interactions and forest community assembly and succession.
Artur Stefanski at the B4W research project, Cloquet Forestry Center, near Cloquet MN. Artur is Research Associate at the department of Forest Resources of the University of Minnesota.
Q) What are your hobbies and preferred activities when you are not doing science?
A) Growing up on a farm kick-started my interest in science, and always kept me attracted to nature. Consequently, I spend a lot of time outside, during the growing season my wife and I spend most of our time gardening, then pickling, canning, and fermenting, and tending our collection of orchids and Groot (an avocado plant) as well as the enclosed ecosystem. We also enjoy hiking and camping with our dog Sunny. During the long winters here in Minnesota, I enjoy snowboarding or snowshoeing, a good fantasy book, or a good movie. At any time of the year, I enjoy variety of projects involving design, planning and hand craftsmanship. For example, I enjoy woodworking with my primary interest in designing and making household items from wood (e.g., coat racks, wood burned coasters, wine racks, desk etc.).
Q) How would you explain your research to someone who is not a scientist?
A) Plants are remarkable organisms that can harvest and store energy coming from the sun in the form of chemical bonds between carbon atoms. These molecules serve as building blocks, storage, and sources of energy. These long carbon chains are used not only by plants themselves but also by all other organisms – that is why they are called primary producers. This whole process of harvesting, storing, and using energy is possible due to a process called photosynthesis. This process has been studied for quite a while now and we have learned much about it. Yet, there are still many unknowns and for example, we are still learning how this process will be affected by the future climate. Investigating how photosynthesis will respond to a changing climate is important to predict what will happen to plants in the future and to understand how climate-driven changes in the carbon assimilation process will affect the trajectory of the changing climate.