So what do these three - computers, science, and Japanese - have in common? Well they are all part of my daily routine doing research at the Morton Arboretum. For a long time, I thought doing research in the scientific field of ecology meant going outside, making observations, collecting data, and then bringing that back into the lab for analysis. Crucial to the field of ecology, was going outside as ecology is the study of the relationships of living things.
What's an engineer's role at The Morton Arboretum? For me, its flying drones, creating 3D models of trees, and learning about trees from passionate scientists!
A review of one of the most important tools and techniques that researchers have at their disposal for understanding tree growth, some of its misconceptions, and how looking at a tree's past can allow researchers to help trees in the future.
A few weeks ago, I went to Costa Rica to gather spatial data for the EARTH Forest Fertilization Experiment (EFFEX). Doing research in the tropical rainforests of Costa Rica was one of the most impactful and fascinating experiences I have yet to have. The overwhelming abundance of diversity created much distraction while gathering spatial and coordinate data.
