9. July 2007 14:16
LEE (formerly LESC)’s Ceulemans among the most cited Plant Science authors in Europe
Professor Reinhart Ceulemans, the Vice-dean of the Faculty of Sciences and the head of Research Group of Plant and Vegetation Ecology at the Universiteit Antwerpen, has been named one of the 30 most cited European authors in Plant Science during 1999-2005 by Lab Times. Professor Ceulemans also serves as a core group member for the European Science Foundation’s Life, Earth and Environmental Standing Committee (LEE (formerly LESC)).
Click here for details about the Lab Times’ publication analysis
1) You were among the 30 most-cited European authors from 1999 – 2005 according to Lab News in Plant Science . How does it feel to know your research is among the most read or in some ways, under most heavy scrutiny, by your peer and the media?
I was highly surprised by the news but was also very pleased with it. It was a former post-doc of mine who sent me the article. Although I feel very flattered and happy I also want to relativise its importance and in particular, my own role in all this. For most of my papers I have been more of a co-author or last author rather than the leading or first author. So this acknowledgement represents more of a collaborative accomplishment of the many hard-working colleagues and co-workers in the research group of Plant and Vegetation Ecology that I’m leading at the University of Antwerpen and the various international collaborations that we have with different groups all over the world. As the top-30 list is primarily dominated by plant bio-technologists, molecular biologists and biochemists, I feel very honoured to be in their company.
2) Why is plant science important to Europe or the world?
Plants are the most important living organisms on earth. Without plants life would be impossible on our planet. Today I see four important aspects and highly relevant applications of plant science worldwide.
First biotechnology provides us with better insights in the plant genome and allows us to improve plants and crops for food production, for industry or for the environment.
Secondly within the frame of the worldwide energy problem, the enhanced production of biomass in bio-energy crops can provide a renewable and durable energy source.
Thirdly ecosystems -- and plant communities in particular -- play a key role in the interactions between the atmosphere and the biosphere. So their impact and their response to the global carbon balance are crucial in the light of global climatic changes.
Finally the research of plant science is of great importance to the research for biodiversity, or rather the loss of biodiversity that the world is facing. Biodiversity is a crucial resource on earth, both for ecosystems and for mankind.
3) Do you think plant science research is getting the attention and respect that it deserves in Europe? Why or Why not? If not, what needs to be done?
It is understandable that (bio-)medical and human genetic research is getting most attention, together with research that is directly linked to the improvement of the living environment of humans (e.g. electronics, communication sciences). But I do believe that plant science deserves more attention and respect, in particular the more holistic disciplines of plant science as ecology, whole plant physiology and the more traditional aspects of plant science. Among the most 30 most cited plant scientists there were only 5 (plant) ecologists. A more integrated approach of plant science including all aspects of plants and plant communities is needed. We should not forget neither the entire plant nor plants as parts of the ecosystem. The impact of the (living and non-living) environment on plant communities as entities of ecosystems deserves more respect in Europe and abroad.
4) Could you share with us your involvement with the European Science Foundation’s Life, Earth and Environmental Standing Committee (LEE (formerly LESC))?
I enjoy being an active member of LEE (formerly LESC) since 2003. In 2006 I also became a Core Group member for LEE (formerly LESC). As the ESF is representing the majority of the science funding agencies in Europe, I think it plays a pivotal role in identifying key research areas and novel directions of science in Europe. The LEE (formerly LESC) standing committee and the Core Group are both very active committees, and I like the very open atmosphere and stimulating discussions. The Chair of LEE (formerly LESC), the Head of Unit and the staff have also created an optimal working environment for the committee and the core group.
5) Any future initiatives you are working on with LEE (formerly LESC) that you can share with us?
To study the impact of global environmental changes as elevated CO2 and increased ozone concentrations, scientists have been using FACE (Free Atmospheric CO2 Enrichment) technology over the last two decades. FACE implies the application of increased carbon levels at the ecosystem level. Within LEE (formerly LESC) and PEN (formerly PESC) – and in synergy with a couple of COST domain committees – we think it is important that the scientific community plans the next generation of elevated CO2 experiments on crops and ecosystems. We are now launching an Interdisciplinary New Initiative (INIF) to prepare a science policy briefing document about which technology or infrastructure needs to be developed in the future to study the response of multi-species (and multi-genotype) ecosystems under field conditions to multiple drivers of global climatic changes as increased CO2 concentrations, warming, enhanced ozone levels, changing biodiversity levels. So we would like to explore which directions we should go with future large-scale infrastructures for this type of ecosystem studies.
6) Any motto you could share with us on how to do your job? And what are you passions in life?
If you do what you like to do and if you go for it full-swing, you will do your job well. My job has become the passion in my life, but it has also given me many diverse opportunities: teaching young students, managing a research group and a research center of excellence with top-level research, travelling abroad, working with fine Ph.D. students and motivated post-docs, popularising scientific findings to the public, taking-up administrative duties at the faculty and university levels, and so on. My family also motivates me in life. I am very grateful that my wife and children understand my passion, and they have given me all the time and freedom to fully devote myself to the job. But on the other hand I also understand how difficult it might be for them. So they try slow me down sometimes.
Career
01.10.2006 - ...
Ordinary professor (01.01.2006), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp
Vice-dean, Faculty of Sciences
Responsible spokesman, Research Group of Plant and Vegetation Ecology
Scientific director, Research Center of Excellence ECO
01.10.2000 - 30.09.2006
Professor, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp
Chairman (2004-2006), Department of Biology
Vice-chairman (2001-2004), Department of Biology
Responsible spokesman, Research Group of Plant and Vegetation Ecology
01.10.1999 - 2000
Professor, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp
Responsible spokesman, Research Group of Plant and Vegetation Ecology
01.10.1990 - 30.09.1999
Research Director of the Fund for Scientific Research - Flanders (Belgium)
25.06.1990
Higher Education Teaching Degree (Aggregaat Hoger Onderwijs/Habilitation), University of Antwerp
01.07.1989 - 30.09.1990
Senior Research Associate, University of Antwerp
01.02.1989 - 31-05.1989
Visiting Professor, Université Paris XI, France
01.09.1988 - 31-05-1989
Research Associate, Government Poplar Research Station, Geraardsbergen, Belgium
01.01.1987 - 31.08.1988
Visiting Professor and Fulbright grantee, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
26.03.1980
Ph.D. in Science - Biology, University of Antwerp
01.10.1976 - 31.12.1986
Research Assistant and Research Associate, University of Antwerp
Media contact:
- Professor Reinhart CeulemansE-Mail
