Georg von Arx

Georg von Arx is a Group Leader at the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) in Birmensdorf, Switzerland. His research focuses on tree growth dynamics, xylem anatomy, and their responses to environmental changes. He leads the Dendrosciences Research Group, investigating anatomical properties of woody tissues and their links to tree physiology, particularly in relation to water and carbon relations. He is also affiliated with ETH Zurich, where he teaches courses on dendroecology and wood structure.

Key research interests include dendroecology (tree growth analysis over centuries), dendroclimatology (reconstructing past climates), and plant community responses to climate variability. He develops tools like ROXAS for quantifying xylem cell features, enabling high-throughput anatomical data collection. His work bridges ecology, climatology, and applied forest science, addressing topics such as climate sensitivity of European beech, impacts of extreme droughts, and isotopic tracing of water sources in trees.

Notable projects include the ROXAS-X software upgrade, continental-scale climate studies on beech provenances, and assessments of tree-water relations through laser-ablation isotope analysis. He collaborates widely, with contributions to initiatives like GenTree (forest genetic resources) and Caldera (volcanic climate impacts).

Education includes a Habilitation (2021) from the University of Bern and a PhD (2005) from ETH Zurich. He has held postdoctoral and research roles since 2006, including at the University of Arizona (2007–2008). Teaching roles at ETH Zurich include courses on wood anatomy and climate sciences.