Becky Ball

Becky Ball is a Professor at Arizona State University (ASU) within the School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences in the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences. She serves as the Lead PI and Director of the Central Arizona-Phoenix Long Term Ecological Research (CAP LTER) program and is the Program Lead for environmental science degrees. She joined ASU in 2010 after postdoctoral work at Dartmouth College and earned her PhD in Ecology from the University of Georgia's Odum School of Ecology (2007) and a B.A. in Biology (Honors) from Goucher College (2002).

• Key Affiliations:
  • Senior Global Futures Scientist, Global Futures Laboratory
  • Affiliated Faculty, Center for Biodiversity Outcomes
  • Global Drylands Center

Research Interests: Becky Ball specializes in soil biogeochemistry and ecosystem ecology, focusing on nutrient cycling and decomposition in extreme ecosystems. Her work examines how human-induced environmental changes (climate change, urbanization, land-use shifts) impact soil communities and processes in the Sonoran Desert and Antarctic polar deserts. She investigates cross-system comparisons (terrestrial-aquatic, aboveground-belowground) and the role of soil biodiversity in ecosystem resilience.

Publications: Her recent articles explore soil microbial responses to climate change in polar ecosystems, habitat severity structuring Antarctic soil communities, and stoichiometric drivers of nematode evolution. Trends show a focus on global change impacts across biomes and interdisciplinary educational initiatives.

• Scientific Awards:
  • 2024 Excellence in Teaching Lectures
  • 2021–2025 Fulbright Specialist Roster
  • 2019 Outstanding Commitment to Innovation Award
  • 2018 Outstanding Undergraduate Mentor
  • 2011–present Senior Sustainability Scientist

Service & Leadership: Ball holds leadership roles in the CAP LTER Executive Committee, Global Drylands Center, and Soil Ecology Society. She contributes to educational outreach through blogs (Polar Soils, Desert Soils), public engagement (Ecology Explorers program), and NSF-funded projects on urban sustainability and Antarctic plant succession.