Our DNA 2023

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by JULIA ST. ANDRE Holding a high-precision GPS unit to support drone flight in Norway. Credit: Brian J. Enquist BORN AND RAISED IN

the planet. And that’s causing what

it, you know, working and trying to

CALIFORNIA , JON WANG’S

we call a biome shift,” explains Wang.

pay off student loans. I decided that

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE TOOK

By utilizing decades of satellite data

I wanted to try to understand that

HIM ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO

from sources such as NASA, Wang

whole issue a lot better.”

BROWN UNIVERSIT Y WHERE HE

is able to observe changes to these

STUDIED BIOLOGY AND GEOLOGY.

ecosystems over long periods of time

Wang began his career by researching

by combining machine learning and

urban heat islands and forestry in

“It was the major that had the most

data science to transform the satellite

an effort to understand the role that

field trips,” jokes Wang. “It really set

information

trees play in

me down on this path of trying to

into useful

urban ecology,

understand the Earth system overall,

datasets. Having

carbon capture,

and how biogeochemical cycles like

a big-picture

and human

the carbon cycle or nutrient cycles

view of these

health. Though

interact and form the world as we

ecosystems

there are fewer

know it today.”

helps inform

trees in cities,

these scientists

they play an

Wang is now an Earth systems

about where, when, and why certain

important role in the absorption of

scientist who recently joined the

ecosystems have changed and what

carbon emissions. “We were working

faculty of the School of Biological

that means for addressing climate

towards a better understanding of

Sciences as an assistant professor.

change.

urban ecology so we can account for the urban forest part in this carbon

Wang’s current research revolves

As he began his PhD at Boston

budget, and that can in turn improve

around understanding environmental

University, climate change was at the

our ability to evaluate these carbon

changes to ecosystems in places like

forefront of global conversation. Wang

emissions programs that cities are

Canada and Alaska, where rapidly

says he felt compelled to be more

trying to implement,” says Wang.

warming temperatures are reshaping

involved with research surrounding

Closer to home, Wang also studied the

the variety of plant life that grows

climate solutions. “Things were

California wildfires and their impact

in those areas. “In the far north, it’s

starting to feel pretty serious, and I

on both urban and wild areas.

warming faster than anywhere else on

felt like I was really outside of all of

RECOGNITION & RESEARCH | 2023


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