Turetsky

New collaboration explores new approaches to the development of bio-plastics

Daniel Morton — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 23:05:55 +0000

New collaboration explores new approaches to the development of bio-plastics Daniel Morton Thu, 06/26/2025 - 17:05

Daniel Morton

In an inter-institute collaboration RASEI Fellow Merritt Turetsky teams up with Carson Bruns from ATLAS to explore a productive way to deal with the plastic waste problem. Awarded a ��ɫ��Ƶ 2025 Research & Innovation Seed Grant, the team are excited to get started!

Plastics are a huge problem. Plastic waste can now be found at the bottom of the deepest ocean and on top of the tallest mountains, and the environmental and health impacts are only starting to be understood. In 2024 the world generated an estimated 240 million tons of plastic waste, of which less than 10% was recycled, the rest going to landfill, or worse, polluting the environment. That is the equivalent of 50 million elephants.

One of the key reasons for the difficulty in recycling plastics is that they are made from petroleum and don’t easily breakdown in nature. Plastics can be made from bio-based feedstocks, but adoption has been slow. There are a number of reasons for this, including low stability, cost, and ability to compost. This research from the Bruns and Turretsky team aims to change that. This work, that will be primarily based in Bruns’ Emergent Nanotechnology Lab will be focused on turning agricultural materials into bio-based plastics that are strong enough for their applications, but can be readily recycled, more easily composted, or even used as a fertilizer.

The Turetsky lab specializes in exploring and understanding ecosystems, in particular northern ecosystems, looking at permafrost degradation and how this impacts the environment and communities. What is her team doing investigating polymers? They are more at home looking at boglands and moss!

One of the hurdles in figuring out how well a bio-plastic degrades is getting good conditions for composting. It is hard to characterize the biodegradability of the bio-plastics under accurate conditions. That is where the Turetsky lab plugs in to this project. Working with the Bruns team the Turetsky group are developing systems to more accurately investigate and characterize the biodegradability of the new bio-plastics being developed.

Excited to see the results of this developing collaboration!

June 2025

Off

Traditional

White

The challenging but unique eco-evolutionary aspects of Sphagnum moss.

Daniel Morton — Sun, 01 Jun 2025 22:05:53 +0000

The challenging but unique eco-evolutionary aspects of Sphagnum moss. Daniel Morton Sun, 06/01/2025 - 16:05

NEW PHYTOLOGIST, 2025, ASAP

Off

Traditional

White

A new habitat map of the Lena Delta in Arctic Siberia based on field and remote sensing datasets

Daniel Morton — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 19:28:02 +0000

A new habitat map of the Lena Delta in Arctic Siberia based on field and remote sensing datasets Daniel Morton Mon, 04/28/2025 - 13:28

EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE DATA, 2025, 17, 4, 1707-1730

Off

Traditional

White

The Net GHG Balance and Budget of the Permafrost Region (2000-2020) From Ecosystem Flux Upscaling

Daniel Morton — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 21:59:52 +0000

The Net GHG Balance and Budget of the Permafrost Region (2000-2020) From Ecosystem Flux Upscaling Daniel Morton Thu, 04/03/2025 - 15:59

GLOBAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES, 2024, 38, 4, e2023GB007953

Off

Traditional

White

Overwintering fires can occur in both peatlands and upland forests with varying ecological impacts

Daniel Morton — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 19:33:48 +0000

Overwintering fires can occur in both peatlands and upland forests with varying ecological impacts Daniel Morton Mon, 03/24/2025 - 13:33

NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION, 2025

Off

Traditional

White

Permafrost instability negates the positive impact of warming temperatures on boreal radial growth

Daniel Morton — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 03:24:57 +0000

Permafrost instability negates the positive impact of warming temperatures on boreal radial growth Daniel Morton Mon, 12/02/2024 - 20:24

PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 2024, 121, 50, e2411721121

Off

Traditional

White

Six RASEI Fellows named 2023 Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Six RASEI Fellows named 2023 Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 11/15/2023 - 00:00

Each year Clarivate announces their Highly Cited Researchers list. This year five RASEI Fellows were included, Joe Berry, Matt Beard, Joey Luther, Mike McGehee, Mike Toney and Merritt Turetsky.

2023 Highly Cited Researchers List

Analysis

Clarivate Press Release

Researcher Spotlight

A highly cited researcher is an individual who has demonstrated significant and broad influence in their field(s) of researcher. Analysts at the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI)™ have recognized 6,849 Highly Cited Researchers in 2023, from more than 1,300 institutions in 67 nations and regions. The evaluation and selection process draws on data from the Web of Science™ citation index, together with analysis performed by bibliometric experts and data scientists at the ISI at Clarivate™.

Bar Veinstein, President of Academia & Government at Clarivate said: “We celebrate the Highly Cited Researchers whose contributions transform our world by helping to make it healthier, more sustainable and more secure. Recognition of Highly Cited Researchers not only validates research excellence but also enhances reputation, fosters collaboration, and informs resource allocation, acting as a beacon for academic institutions and commercial organizations.”

All RASEI fellows were awarded in the Cross-Field category, recognizing their collaborative interdisciplinary approaches.

Congratulations Joe, Matt, Joey, Mike, Mike, and Merritt!

Off

Traditional

White

Turetsky named faculty Director for Arctic National Security at NSI

Anonymous — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Turetsky named faculty Director for Arctic National Security at NSI Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 10/03/2023 - 00:00

Off

Traditional

White