معرفی
Lucy Hutyra is the Chair and Distinguished Professor in the Department of Earth & Environment at Boston University, where she also directs the Biogeoscience Program and serves as Associate Director of the BU URBAN Program. She holds a PhD in Earth and Planetary Sciences from Harvard University (2007) and a BS in Forest Ecology from the University of Washington (1998). Her research focuses on urban carbon cycles, integrating remote sensing, atmospheric data, and field measurements to study how urbanization affects vegetation, emissions, and climate resilience. She leads NASA-funded projects and collaborates with policymakers to develop tools like the 'Right Place, Right Tree—Boston' app, optimizing urban tree planting for carbon sequestration and heat mitigation. A 2023 MacArthur Fellow, her work bridges ecological science and actionable climate solutions.
Education: PhD, Harvard University, 2007; BS, University of Washington, 1998.
Research emphasizes urban carbon dynamics, including forest edge effects, soil respiration, and heat island mitigation. She explores how fragmented forests and urbanization alter carbon fluxes, with findings showing faster growth in edge trees and reduced soil emissions in urban forests. Her lab’s tools include satellite imagery, sensor networks, and biogeochemical models to inform climate policy.
Recent work highlights disparities in urban heat exposure and the efficacy of green infrastructure. She advises city planners on cooling strategies using tree canopies and reflective surfaces, balancing ecological and human health outcomes. Her interdisciplinary approach fosters collaborations with Harvard’s Arnold Arboretum and the Earth and Planetary Sciences department.
- Lab Members: Sarah Garvey, Ian Smith, Luca Morreale (recent PhD graduates), Taylor Jones (Georgetown professor), and others.
- Grants: Multiple NASA projects, urban carbon monitoring initiatives, and climate policy collaborations.
Labs/Teams: Hutyra Research Lab (focusing on carbon cycle science, urbanization impacts, and ecosystem ecology).
