7
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF
installed as the College of Science’s
is driven by concerns that drought,
BIOLOGY WILLIAM ANDEREGG IS
first Senior Fellow, SBS’s own Fred
insects, and wildfire may devastate
A 2023 RECIPIENT OF THE
Adler and Amy Luers, Global Director
forests in the coming decades. “We
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION’S
for Sustainability Science at Microsoft.
study how drought and climate change affect forest ecosystems,
(NSF) WATERMAN AWARD.
Presentations from the five finalists
including tree physiology, species
The nation’s highest honor for early-
competing for the historic $1.5
interactions, carbon cycling and
career scientists and engineers,
million Wilkes Climate Prize were also
biosphere-atmosphere feedback,”
the award was presented to him
staged for the gathering of more
writes the forest ecologist. “This
and other recipients in May at a
than 400. The winner, Seattle-based
research spans a broad array of spatial
ceremony during the NSF meeting
Lumen Bioscience, was announced in
scales from xylem cells to ecosystems
in Washington, DC. He is also one of
September at a special event hosted
and seeks to gain a better mechanistic
three national laureates to receive
at the Natural History Museum of
understanding of how climate change
this year’s Blavatnik Award for Young
Utah. The winning entry proposes
will affect forests around the world.” <
Scientists as well as acknowledged,
dosing all dairy cows and beef cattle
with his mentor John Sperry, emeritus
with a methanogen-inhibiting,
faculty member, by Clarivate as being
genetically engineered microbe called
one of the most cited scientists in the
spirulina by 2040, which they estimate
world.
would reduce methane emissions from livestock by 40%. To achieve this,
As Director of the Wilkes Center for
they estimate they will need 1,540,000
Climate Science & Policy, Anderegg
tons a year of spirulina, which requires
also oversaw the inaugural Wilkes
a spirulina pond that is 14 x 14 miles
Climate Summit (May 16-17) at the U.
in area in an area spread globally via
The summit offered scores of panelists
local spirulina farms.
and keynote speakers including Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson, former
The Wilkes directorship is a natural
state legislator Tim Hawkes, recently
role for Anderegg whose research
Anderegg receives Waterman Award. Courtesy of NSF
COVER STORY & RECOGNITION | 2023
