Nick Balster

Nick Balster is a Professor in the Department of Soil Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. His research integrates soil ecology, plant physiology, and environmental education to study energy and material cycling in natural and anthropogenic ecosystems, with a focus on urban soils, global change impacts, and invasive species dynamics.

• Key research areas:
  • Stable isotope ecology
  • Soil aggregation and hydrology
  • Rain garden functionality
  • Ecosystem response to climate change
  • Environmental pedagogy

Recent publications highlight his work on freeze-thaw cycles, vegetation-soil interactions, and science education programs. He also contributes to innovative teaching tools and urban stormwater management research.