Dr Myers-Smith studies the influence of warming climate on tundra vegetation in northern ecosystems. In particular, she investigates the spread of willows and other shrub species into arctic and alpine tundra. Shrubs have the potential to restructure tundra ecosystems by changing ecosystem functions and creating feedbacks to climate warming that could further the increase of shrubs. She collaborates with researchers working at sites around the circumpolar Arctic to synthesise data to better understand vegetation change in tundra ecosystems.

Dr Myers-Smith was recently selected by WIRED magazine as a member of the select group WIRED25, a list of “25 innovators who are using technology to lead society through this period of global uncertainty and pointing the way to a safer future“. You can warm-up ahead of her presentation by visiting her WIRED25 presentation here: www.wired.com/video/watch/wired25-2020-drs-isla-myers-smith-deonie-allen-steve-allen