Katharina Stein

Prof. Dr. Katharina Stein is Professor of Botany, Dendrology and Plant Ecology at Eberswalde University of Sustainable Development (HNEE) since 2024. Her academic career spans multiple institutions including the University of Potsdam (2023-2024), TU Dresden (2020-2023), and previous postdoctoral positions at Universities of Würzburg and Rostock (2013-2018). Her research has taken her to diverse ecosystems across West Africa (particularly Burkina Faso), Brazil, and southern Africa.

Dr. Stein's research focuses on plant ecology with special emphasis on pollination systems, plant-animal interactions, and ecosystem services. Her work examines how land use changes affect pollinator communities and how these changes impact agricultural productivity and biodiversity conservation. She has conducted extensive field studies in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly investigating the relationships between plant diversity, pollinator behavior, and crop production systems. Her research has important implications for sustainable agriculture and biodiversity conservation in the face of climate change.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on pollination ecology across different ecosystems, with particular attention to West African savannas. Her work demonstrates how pollinator communities respond to land use changes, how these changes affect crop yields, and how ecosystem services can be measured and valued. She has increasingly incorporated interdisciplinary approaches, combining ecological field studies with economic analyses of ecosystem services.

• Member of Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC)
• Member of European Society for Tropical Ecology (GTÖ)
• Member of NABU (Nature And Biodiversity Conservation Union)
• Member of International Commission for Plant Pollinator Relationships (ICPPR)
• Member of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net)
• IUCN Wild Bee Specialist Groups participant
• Commission member of Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes since 2007

Dr. Stein has been actively involved in science communication, delivering numerous talks at international conferences and participating in public outreach through media appearances, webinars, and lectures. Her research has direct applications for sustainable agricultural practices and biodiversity conservation policies, particularly in tropical regions facing significant land use changes.