Capitol News

Jiquan Chen, a professor of Geography at Michigan State University, will be honored with the Scientific Achievement Award by the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO). The award recognizes those who advance science and promote international cooperation in forestry research. It is presented every five years for significant scientific or technical achievements that impact regional or world forestry.

Chen's work focuses on landscape ecology and ecosystem science, particularly within forested landscapes. His research has explored edge effects in fragmented landscapes, biosphere-atmosphere exchanges in carbon and water, and the dynamics of social-environmental systems (SES). He is noted for his efforts to quantitatively integrate SES functions across different scales.

His influential studies have dissected the interplay between land use, policy changes, and global climate shifts across Eurasian drylands. This research has not only advanced scientific understanding but also increased its societal relevance. Chen's work has led to expanded global collaborations and open data access over his 15-year tenure as co-chair of IUFRO's Landscape Ecology Working Party from 1994 to 2012.

The award will be presented during the XXVI IUFRO World Congress in Stockholm, Sweden, from June 23-29, 2024. Other recipients include Eckehard Brockerhoff, Carol Jean Pierce Colfer, Shannon Hagerman, Henrik Hartmann, Cindy Prescott, John Sessions, Ge Sun, Chung-Jui Tsai, and Brenda Wingfield.