Most succinctly, the President’s International Fellowship Initiative (PIFI) has made it possible for me to expand my scientific contributions at the Center for Mountain Futures of the Kunming Institute of Botany (KIB), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). My previous research focused on biogeochemistry, addressing the many ways that biological organisms influence chemical flows through Earth systems. At KIB’s Center for Mountain Futures, I was exposed to aspects related to agricultural sustainability. I was encouraged to explore and develop novel technologies towards this broad goal.

Since my PIFI award, I have written or contributed to 10 scientific publications with four more in review or in final preparation, with other manuscripts at earlier stages, but these do not tell my complete research story.

PIFI has also helped me to contribute to other KIB’s Center for Mountain Futures research. Fungus-growing termites produce valuable mushrooms that have not been cultivated before, and I used a LICOR CO₂ analyzer to measure soil CO₂ concentrations in the field to help make this happen. This same device was used by other KIB collaborators to demonstrate lichen photosynthesis occurring under conditions that were previously unknown. I have also helped measure xylem flow in mangoes under varying conditions of vapor-pressure deficit using loggers, as mentioned above. The Center for Mountain Futures is developing an online and hands-on research course for advanced high school students dealing with sustainable agriculture and sustainable resource use. I will be taking the lead on that.

I am reaching outside KIB to create a global database of forest litterfall. It is the largest natural carbon flux that remains poorly summarized and lacking in the testing of ecological hypotheses. I am also calling upon Chinese researchers to combine their genetic-engineering expertise with my CO₂ expertise to develop crops that will perform optimally under CO₂ future concentrations. I am also involved in other projects not listed here. The main idea is that I explore science broadly and more so because KIB and PIFI have expanded my opportunities.

Source: Douglas Allen Schaefer,

Kunming Institute of Botany,

Chinese Academy of Sciences