Stephen M. Via

Dr. Stephen M. Via is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at Norfolk State University within the College of Science, Engineering and Technology. He integrates classical physiological metrics with standoff remote sensing to study plant stress responses across scales. He manages the Norfolk State University Greenhouse and serves as NSU's representative on the Sea Grant Research and Education Advisory Committee.

• Plant physiological ecology
• Anthropogenic stress responses
• Remote detection of plant health
• Cross-scale ecological dynamics

Dr. Via's research focuses on differentiating physiological responses to anthropogenic stressors like heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and explosives from natural stressors. His work supports environmental and restoration monitoring as well as munition detection applications. Recent publications highlight UAV-based phytoforensics for explosives detection and long-term vegetation responses to contamination.

Key trends in Dr. Via's publications include: cross-scale investigations of explosive contamination impacts, integration of hyperspectral imaging for remote sensing, and long-term ecological monitoring of contaminated soils. His work spans plant physiology, community ecology, and environmental remediation technologies.

The NSU Greenhouse under Dr. Via's management serves as a critical research facility for plant stress studies. His Sea Grant committee role connects him to coastal ecosystem monitoring initiatives, aligning with his work on barrier island vegetation dynamics and climate change impacts.