It is somehow ingrained in my body, I think. The appreciation of biodiversity. I know I love wetlands, growing up by a lake (mostly in it as a child) as I did. It turns out that parts of that lake are so-called Ramsar wetlands of international importance. Little did I know, growing up to be an astrophysicist that these sites existed and that it would once become part of my professional life. Here. On my home planet.
Bliksvaer Ramsar site, Norway. Photo: Bente Lilja Bye
The link between my expertise on planets and the universe on the one side, and biodiversity and wetlands on the other, is my engagement in Earth observations. Some of these observations are collected from space, as I am sure you all know. Through my work for and in the Group on Earth observations I am currently working on a webinar addressing both wetlands and biodiversity and how they can benefit collectively from Earth observations.