UEF Environmental Ecology - EERG

🌲🔬 This week, our team has been out in the field setting up a large-scale experiment to investigate whether synthetic secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) can prime defence responses in pine seedlings.
The experiment is part of the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Anthropocenic Chemical Ecology of Forests (ACE-Forest), which explores chemically mediated intra- and interspecific interactions across spatial and temporal scales.

UEF - Environmental science & Biology, Ympäristötiede & Biologia University of Eastern Finland

Few weeks ago, two members of our research group, Agnès Brosset, PhD and Marvin.minio, attended the XIII European Congress of Entomology (ECE2026) in Tours, France, where they shared their latest research with the international entomology community.

👏 Congratulations to Agnes and Marvin for representing our group and sharing their exciting research!

University of Eastern Finland UEF - Environmental science & Biology, Ympäristötiede & Biologia

🌍💨🦋 What happens when air pollution interferes with insect “love signals”?

In our latest study, we explored how atmospheric ozone affects the s*x pheromones of the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella), a major agricultural pest worldwide.

Our research highlights how environmental pollution may silently reshape ecological interactions that are essential for ecosystem stability and sustainable pest management.

📖 Read the article here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1744-7917.70301

📰 Featured by
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1129192

Our research group members Francesco and Agnès are visiting the Portuguese Platform of Bioimaging ( ) at the .light.microscopy_i3s facility – Institute for Research and Innovation in Health.

This collaboration, developed within the AgroServ project funded by the European Union, will allow us to investigate plant responses at the cellular level to insect semiochemicals, using advanced microscopy approaches.

A great opportunity to combine expertise in chemical ecology and bioimaging to better understand plant–insect interactions. 🌱🔬

Follow us to to find out more!

🌿 Exciting fieldwork highlight from ongoing research 🌿
A few days ago, our team carried out a very special field campaign in urban sites, where we collected data from the top branches of birch trees. With the help of an elevated platform, we reached nearly 10 meters high to get the samples! 🚜
The experience was both scientifically rewarding and exciting – not only gathering important samples but also enjoying the view from above the canopy. 🌳✨
Fieldwork like this reflects the spirit of our research: hands-on, adventurous, and driven by the goal of building sustainable urban environments. 💚

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🌿🧪
Members of our group recently took part in the 1st International Symposium on Volatile Interactions in Ecosystems, hosted by the Center for Volatile Interactions (VOLT), University of Copenhagen.

It was an inspiring opportunity to connect with researchers working on chemical ecology, biogeochemistry, and ecosystem-atmosphere interactions.

A special congratulations to Sara Mashaadi, who won 2nd place in the poster competition — an outstanding achievement! 👏🎉

We’re proud to contribute to the exciting discussions and future directions of volatile research across ecosystems.

🎓✨
A huge congratulations to all the students who worked with us and have now reached this important milestone — your graduation!

👏 Special shout-out to Wendy Moya Bastos, Anniina Korhonen, Tero Nousiainen, Jonna Helli, Hannan Abid, and Benedikt Wiese.

Your dedication, perseverance, and passion for science have brought you here, and we’re excited to see what your next chapter holds.

Well done — the future is yours to shape!

🌿 Spring is waking up the birch trees and it’s waking up our fieldwork too! 🌱✨
Tiny leaves are starting to unfold across Finnish urban greenery, and we’re just as excited to get started our fieldwork under urban canopies.
With early leaf emergence above and soil preparations below, we're laying the foundation for a new season of research. 🛠️ From tilling to tagging, it’s all about careful establishment and long-term observation.
📸 Swipe to see snapshots from the field!

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🍽️✨ A special dinner to say goodbye to Prof. Xiaomao Lin from Kansas State University, who spent the last 9 months working in our labs. It’s been a true pleasure to share this scientific journey and many memorable moments together!

Thank you, Xiaomao — we wish you all the best and hope to see you again soon! 🌍🔬

🔬✨ A few months ago, UEF Ympäristö- ja biotieteet / Environmental and Biological Sciences students visited our labs at the Kuopio Campus!

It was a fantastic opportunity to discuss of and share our passion for research.

Thank you all for your curiosity and enthusiasm! 🌱🧪

Itä-Suomen yliopisto - University of Eastern Finland (UEF)