What happens when ecosystems reach a tipping point—when desertification from climate change threatens entire landscapes? When coral reefs bleach and collapse, disrupting entire marine food chains? Can we reverse environmental collapse?
As part of the celebrations marking 15 years of Umeå University's Integrated Science Lab (IceLab), we invite you to a special public lecture in Aula Nordica on May 22nd by distinguished researcher Ricard Solé. This free event is open to all, with a particular invitation to students. Expect a lively presentation and discussion!
Ricard Solé explores "terraforming ecosystems" as a method to restore and stabilize environments damaged by human activity. This approach uses synthetic biology to engineer organisms capable of rehabilitating ecosystems at risk of collapse due to climate change and overexploitation. By introducing specially designed organisms, the goal is to restore ecological balance and prevent catastrophic shifts.
For example, in arid regions, engineering native microbes to enhance water retention could support plant growth and combat desertification. This strategy focuses on using organisms already adapted to local conditions, reducing risks associated with introducing foreign species.
Solé's work combines ecology, synthetic biology, and complex systems science to develop interventions that can avert ecosystem tipping points. His research includes mathematical models that predict the outcomes of introducing engineered organisms, aiming for safe and effective ecological restoration.
In this lecture, Solé will discuss how synthetic biology can be applied to environmental conservation, focusing on innovative solutions to pressing ecological challenges.
Scroll all the way to the bottom of this page to register to attend this event. No ticket is required, but registration helps us track attendance.
IceLab is an interdisciplinary research hub at Umeå University in northern Sweden, dedicated to breaking down traditional barriers between scientific disciplines. Much of our research focuses on modeling adaptive mechanisms in living systems under stress.
Are you a researcher or staff member at Umeå University or SLU interested in IceLab’s 15-year celebration events? Visit our website to register. This registration is for the public lecture only.
This public lecture is part of IceLab's 15th anniversary celebrations. See more about the celebrations here.
Ricard Solé
Professor Ricard Solé leads the Complex Systems Lab at the Catalan Institute for Research and Advanced Studies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Spain.
Solé studies the evolutionary origins of complex systems, using mathematical models and synthetic biology experiments. He introduced the concept of “synthetic major transitions” to explore evolutionary innovation, including the origins of protocells, multicellularity, symbiosis, cognition, and language.
Another key research area is the instability of biological systems, such as highly adaptable RNA viruses and cancer cells. Solé also pioneered the idea of “terraforming” endangered or human-made ecosystems to prevent catastrophic shifts.