October 2025 Awards and Accolades

Arianne Cease

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Locust swarms are among the most dramatic natural phenomena on Earth and some of the most destructive. When conditions align, grasshoppers can transform into vast, mobile swarms that consume crops and threaten food security for millions of people. While scientists have long known that environmental conditions can trigger outbreaks, the deeper biological and ecological mechanisms behind this transformation are still being uncovered.

This National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a grant to Arianne Cease, associate professor in SOLS and the School of Sustainability, and the director of the Global Locust Initiative, to pursue a project, titled "MCA: Leveraging Nutritional Ecophysiology and Modeling to Improve Understanding of How Environmental Nutrients Mediate the Impacts of Global Change on Locust Swarms," which aims to connect two critical areas of research: how insects use nutrients and how nitrogen moves through ecosystems. The research team will examine how changes in soil and plant nitrogen, often caused by land-use practices such as overgrazing, influence locust behavior and swarm formation.

Using advanced computer modeling and agent-based simulations, the project will link data on locust feeding behavior, nutrient cycling and land use to create a new framework for predicting when and where swarms might occur. This integrated approach could help farmers, governments and organizations better anticipate and respond to locust outbreaks before they become widespread, helping to protect crops and livelihoods across vulnerable regions.

Beyond its scientific goals, this Mid-Career Advancement (MCA) award represents an investment in people and partnerships. The principal investigator, a scientist experienced in connecting ecology, agriculture and human livelihoods, will receive specialized training in landscape-scale modeling and data analysis. The project will also involve university students and collaboration with plant protection organizations to ensure the research has practical, real-world impact.

Ultimately, this work seeks not only to understand the factors that drive locust swarming but also to reveal the deeper connections between land health, human practices and the resilience of global food systems. By bridging scientific disciplines and connecting theory to action, the project demonstrates how research can both advance knowledge and serve society.