YOU WOOD NOT BELIEVE IT. UW-Eau Claire recently planted nearly 100 trees at Bollinger Field. (Submitted photo)

Bollinger Field at UW-Eau Claire is now home to nearly 100 trees, as the university pursues climate change-related research in collaboration with the National Science Foundation. UWEC is among 18 gardens and arboretums across the nation involved in the project. Originally proposed by transnational gardening partners North Dakota State University and ArbNet, the project seeks to understand how tree species adapt in varied climates – specifically, how their gene adaptation affects climate change across the nation.

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Being able to harness all these research questions ... is really powerful.

Nora Mitchell

Assistant professor of biology AT UWEC

“This (study) provides a really great opportunity for students to get involved in even more hands-on research and see the collaborative nature of science,” said Nora Mitchell,  assistant professor of biology and gardens leader. “This is a collaboration at multiple levels. We have multiple institutions across the United States working together. Being able to harness all of these research questions, using all these different gardens, is really powerful.”

The plant genome research project will continue over the next five years by UW-Eau Claire faculty, facilities staff, and student volunteers.