Dag Olav Hessen

Roles and Affiliations: Dag Olav Hessen is a Professor and Head of the Center for Biogeochemistry in the Anthropocene (CBA) at the University of Oslo. CBA is an interdisciplinary center spanning the Departments of Biosciences, Geosciences, and Chemistry. His research focuses on climate, carbon cycling, and ecosystem interactions in northern latitudes.

Research Interests: Hessen’s work addresses climate change impacts on ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles, lake dynamics, and Arctic environmental processes. Key areas include permafrost thaw, greenhouse gas emissions, ecological stoichiometry, and tipping points in lake and marine systems. He emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to understand feedback mechanisms between climate and ecosystems.

Recent Research Trends: His articles highlight studies on permafrost peat greenhouse gas dynamics, Arctic char vulnerability, and DOM’s role in contaminant uptake. Collaborative projects like PEAT-THAW investigate permafrost peatlands as carbon sources/sinks. He also explores governance frameworks for climate tipping points and public risk perception challenges.

Labs/Teams: Leads the CBA, collaborating with researchers across disciplines to address Anthropocene-era environmental challenges. Active in projects like GreenBlue, BioGov, and ECODISTURB, focusing on biodiversity, climate policy, and ecosystem disturbance.