Dr. Asmeret Asefaw Berhe
@aaberhe.com
Scientist, educator, advocate for inclusive excellence in STEM. Former Director of DOE Office of Science.
Soil biogeochemistry | Climate Change |Political Ecology.
aaberhe.com
Soil biogeochemistry | Climate Change |Political Ecology.
aaberhe.com
Pinned
Dr. Asmeret Asefaw Berhe
@aaberhe.com
· May 9
New pub in @aguadvances.bsky.social: "A Soil Scientist Goes to Washington: Navigating the Path to National #ScienceLeadership" #STEM
Sharing my journey as DOE Office of Science Director, the challenges faced, and why inclusive excellence in STEM matters now more than ever.
Read: tinyurl.com/ms2nhr4f
Sharing my journey as DOE Office of Science Director, the challenges faced, and why inclusive excellence in STEM matters now more than ever.
Read: tinyurl.com/ms2nhr4f
Reposted by Dr. Asmeret Asefaw Berhe
✨ Paper spotlight ✨
(🧵 1/6) Soil organic matter dynamics under changing precipitation regimes
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
@teamrat.bsky.social @aaberhe.com
(🧵 1/6) Soil organic matter dynamics under changing precipitation regimes
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
@teamrat.bsky.social @aaberhe.com
December 22, 2025 at 6:09 PM
✨ Paper spotlight ✨
(🧵 1/6) Soil organic matter dynamics under changing precipitation regimes
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
@teamrat.bsky.social @aaberhe.com
(🧵 1/6) Soil organic matter dynamics under changing precipitation regimes
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
@teamrat.bsky.social @aaberhe.com
🌟✨New paper: Check out our New Phytologist Tansley review on how changing precipitation patterns (changes in amount, intensity, & frequency of ppt already being observed due to climate change) affect soil organic matter dynamics.
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
@ghezzehei.bsky.social
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
@ghezzehei.bsky.social
December 22, 2025 at 6:54 PM
🌟✨New paper: Check out our New Phytologist Tansley review on how changing precipitation patterns (changes in amount, intensity, & frequency of ppt already being observed due to climate change) affect soil organic matter dynamics.
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
@ghezzehei.bsky.social
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
@ghezzehei.bsky.social
The science breakthrough of 2025 is Solar Energy, not because it is new but because of how successful its deployment has been. This year renewable energy surpassed coal as a source of electricity worldwide. Hopeful sign for what’s to come.
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
December 21, 2025 at 6:59 PM
The science breakthrough of 2025 is Solar Energy, not because it is new but because of how successful its deployment has been. This year renewable energy surpassed coal as a source of electricity worldwide. Hopeful sign for what’s to come.
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
TFW your professional society, at a conference you've been attending for 20+ years, finally gets your name to appear on the badge correctly. #AGU25
December 15, 2025 at 3:27 PM
TFW your professional society, at a conference you've been attending for 20+ years, finally gets your name to appear on the badge correctly. #AGU25
Reposted by Dr. Asmeret Asefaw Berhe
If you are going to be at AGU, you don't want to miss this one. I am so looking forward to Markus' 2025 Reeburgh Lecture.
December 8, 2025 at 8:12 PM
If you are going to be at AGU, you don't want to miss this one. I am so looking forward to Markus' 2025 Reeburgh Lecture.
Grateful to MacKenzie Scott for her $38 million gift ... the largest in UC Merced's history, surpassing even her own record-setting donation to our campus in 2021.
She continues to be one of the few doing billionairing right.
news.ucmerced.edu/news/2025/uc...
She continues to be one of the few doing billionairing right.
news.ucmerced.edu/news/2025/uc...
UC Merced Receives Transformational $38 Million Gift from MacKenzie Scott | Newsroom
news.ucmerced.edu
December 8, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Grateful to MacKenzie Scott for her $38 million gift ... the largest in UC Merced's history, surpassing even her own record-setting donation to our campus in 2021.
She continues to be one of the few doing billionairing right.
news.ucmerced.edu/news/2025/uc...
She continues to be one of the few doing billionairing right.
news.ucmerced.edu/news/2025/uc...
If you are going to be at AGU, you don't want to miss this one. I am so looking forward to Markus' 2025 Reeburgh Lecture.
December 8, 2025 at 8:12 PM
If you are going to be at AGU, you don't want to miss this one. I am so looking forward to Markus' 2025 Reeburgh Lecture.
Happy world SOIL day all!
Soil is life! Soil is beautiful!
Soil is life! Soil is beautiful!
December 5, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Happy world SOIL day all!
Soil is life! Soil is beautiful!
Soil is life! Soil is beautiful!
Please nominate your self and/or others to review the the United by Nature Assessment (formerly the US National Nature Assessment).
Spread the word.
Spread the word.
The National Academies is inviting nominations for experts to review the draft United by Nature assessment. Ecology, climate, conservation, social science, sci-comm + more. If someone comes to mind—maybe you—please nominate & please the word!
www.nationalacademies.org/projects/DEL...
www.nationalacademies.org/projects/DEL...
Review of the draft United by Nature assessment
The United by Nature Assessment is designed to be “a holistic assessment of U.S. lands, waters, and wildlife, and the benefits they provide.
www.nationalacademies.org
December 5, 2025 at 5:40 AM
Please nominate your self and/or others to review the the United by Nature Assessment (formerly the US National Nature Assessment).
Spread the word.
Spread the word.
On this #GivingTuesday, if you are able, please support local scientists working to address some of the most pressing environmental, climate, and related challenges at the @snriucmerced.bsky.social
Make a gift today: lnkd.in/girEEWra
Learn more at snri.ucmerced.edu
Follow us on social media.
Make a gift today: lnkd.in/girEEWra
Learn more at snri.ucmerced.edu
Follow us on social media.
December 2, 2025 at 5:31 PM
On this #GivingTuesday, if you are able, please support local scientists working to address some of the most pressing environmental, climate, and related challenges at the @snriucmerced.bsky.social
Make a gift today: lnkd.in/girEEWra
Learn more at snri.ucmerced.edu
Follow us on social media.
Make a gift today: lnkd.in/girEEWra
Learn more at snri.ucmerced.edu
Follow us on social media.
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you've seen in the wild:
Lion
Giraffe
Hippopotamus
Wildebeest
African Elephant
Lion
Giraffe
Hippopotamus
Wildebeest
African Elephant
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you've seen in the wild:
Caribou
Ravens
Seals
Kea
Turkeys
Caribou
Ravens
Seals
Kea
Turkeys
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you've seen in the wild:
Moose
Humpback whales
Giraffes
African Elephants
West African or Nile monitor lizard
Moose
Humpback whales
Giraffes
African Elephants
West African or Nile monitor lizard
November 28, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you've seen in the wild:
Lion
Giraffe
Hippopotamus
Wildebeest
African Elephant
Lion
Giraffe
Hippopotamus
Wildebeest
African Elephant
Honored to be featured in this piece celebrating 30 yrs of the Hellman Fellowship program! This early support was instrumental in setting my lab for success. Grateful to the Hellman family for their vision in supporting junior faculty across the UC. www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/society...
The Society of Hellman Fellows celebrates 30 years of transformative faculty support
The fellowships, made possibly by a $125M endowment from the Hellman family, have provided vital support to more than 2,000 junior faculty, many of whom now lead in their fields.
www.universityofcalifornia.edu
November 25, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Honored to be featured in this piece celebrating 30 yrs of the Hellman Fellowship program! This early support was instrumental in setting my lab for success. Grateful to the Hellman family for their vision in supporting junior faculty across the UC. www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/society...
The fervor around college sports in the US will always fascinate me. And, when my child is excitedly rooting for his school's team, I can't help but cheer as they crush the visitors today.
November 22, 2025 at 8:27 PM
The fervor around college sports in the US will always fascinate me. And, when my child is excitedly rooting for his school's team, I can't help but cheer as they crush the visitors today.
Reposted by Dr. Asmeret Asefaw Berhe
How Soil Collection Honors Lynching Victims.
My article on the Soil Collection at the Memorial for Peace & Justice in Montgomery, AL, which honors victims of racial terror, is published in CSA News.
As a soil scientist, I was struck by the profound symbolism when I learned about this collection. www.sciencesocieties.org/publications...
As a soil scientist, I was struck by the profound symbolism when I learned about this collection. www.sciencesocieties.org/publications...
As soil is our witness | Science Societies
In Montgomery, AL, there is a moving exhibit with rows of glass jars lining the walls of the Memorial for Peace and Justice. Each jar contains soil collected from some of the sites where more than 4,4...
www.sciencesocieties.org
November 4, 2025 at 4:28 PM
How Soil Collection Honors Lynching Victims.
Reposted by Dr. Asmeret Asefaw Berhe
October 30, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Reposted by Dr. Asmeret Asefaw Berhe
🧪🍎⚒️ Hey @sacnas.bsky.social
What a fantastic keynote from @aaberhe.com ! She talked about soil science, weathering, and erosion as a metaphor for overcoming challenges.
Every rock has a Story!
youtube.com/@everyrockha...
What a fantastic keynote from @aaberhe.com ! She talked about soil science, weathering, and erosion as a metaphor for overcoming challenges.
Every rock has a Story!
youtube.com/@everyrockha...
October 30, 2025 at 2:36 PM
🧪🍎⚒️ Hey @sacnas.bsky.social
What a fantastic keynote from @aaberhe.com ! She talked about soil science, weathering, and erosion as a metaphor for overcoming challenges.
Every rock has a Story!
youtube.com/@everyrockha...
What a fantastic keynote from @aaberhe.com ! She talked about soil science, weathering, and erosion as a metaphor for overcoming challenges.
Every rock has a Story!
youtube.com/@everyrockha...
this is a relief.
But more advocacy will clearly be needed going forward.
The PPFP is an exemplary program. I’m a proud former President’s postdoc fellow, and always a supporter of this critical program.
But more advocacy will clearly be needed going forward.
The PPFP is an exemplary program. I’m a proud former President’s postdoc fellow, and always a supporter of this critical program.
WE JUST KEEP WINNING. (UC President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program RESTORED!!!!)
![On official UC letterhead:
UNIVERSITY
OF
CALIFORNIA
James B. Milliken President
Office of the President
1111 Franklin Street Oakland, CA 94607
universityofcalifornia.edu
CAMPUSES Berkeley
Davis
Irvine
UCLA
Merced
Riverside San Diego San Francisco
Santa Barbara Santa Cruz
MEDICAL CENTERS
Davis
Irvine
UCLA
San Diego
San Francisco
NATIONAL LABORATORIES Lawrence Berkeley Lawrence Livermore Los Alamos
DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
November 18, 2025
Dear Chancellors:
I'm writing with regard to the President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (PPFP) and the program's associated faculty hiring incentive.
As you know, for more than 40 years, PPFP has provided postdoctoral research fellowships, professional development, and faculty mentoring to scholars in all fields whose research, teaching, and service advance the academic and research missions of the University of California.
Since 2003, UC campuses that hire current and former PPFP fellows into ladder-rank positions have been eligible for a hiring incentive funded by the University that provides support for newly hired fellows for five years. Since the creation of the incentive, more than $162 million has been invested by the University to support PPFP faculty hires. This commitment has enabled our campuses to successfully recruit and retain outstanding faculty across a range of disciplines.
Given the myriad challenges currently facing UC - including disruptions to billions of dollars in annual federal support, as well as uncertainty around the state budget- reasonable questions were raised in recent months about whether the University could maintain the commitment to current levels of incentive funding. After considering a recommendation to sunset the incentive program due to these significant fiscal constraints, I consulted with all of you as well as faculty and campus academic administrators and systemwide Academic Senate leadership.
[continued on next image]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:rzn6yramffebefeitqifiqqz/bafkreigiwq5ongzwpj4wqmgjam3yfvhyjnv5e3dbq6cnrrbwblqvs624gq@jpeg)
November 18, 2025 at 11:08 PM
this is a relief.
But more advocacy will clearly be needed going forward.
The PPFP is an exemplary program. I’m a proud former President’s postdoc fellow, and always a supporter of this critical program.
But more advocacy will clearly be needed going forward.
The PPFP is an exemplary program. I’m a proud former President’s postdoc fellow, and always a supporter of this critical program.
Land degradation remains one of the most serious and persistent global challenges. This deserves to be a global priority for science, policy, and more.
www.fao.org/newsroom/det...
www.fao.org/newsroom/det...
FAO report: 1.7 billion people experience lower crop yields due to land degradation
The State of Food and Agriculture 2025 report focuses on land degradation caused by human activities
www.fao.org
November 16, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Land degradation remains one of the most serious and persistent global challenges. This deserves to be a global priority for science, policy, and more.
www.fao.org/newsroom/det...
www.fao.org/newsroom/det...
Reposted by Dr. Asmeret Asefaw Berhe
Merced and SJV folx, join us for the Sierra Nevada Research Institute's inaugural Distinguished Climate Speaker Series event featuring @michaelemann.bsky.social
@ucmerced.bsky.social
@ucmerced.bsky.social
SNRI presents its Distinguished Climate Speaker Series event: a keynote talk from renowned climate scientist and author, Dr. Michael E. Mann, followed by a presentation by UC Merced climatologist Dr. John Abatzoglou.
Mon, Nov 17, 2–4 PM UC Merced Conference Center
Register: tinyurl.com/yc74v23y
Mon, Nov 17, 2–4 PM UC Merced Conference Center
Register: tinyurl.com/yc74v23y
October 16, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Merced and SJV folx, join us for the Sierra Nevada Research Institute's inaugural Distinguished Climate Speaker Series event featuring @michaelemann.bsky.social
@ucmerced.bsky.social
@ucmerced.bsky.social
Bonus, got to attend a performance at the Salt Lake Tabernacle, the historical home of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
November 11, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Bonus, got to attend a performance at the Salt Lake Tabernacle, the historical home of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
#CANVAS2025 (ASA,CSSA, SSSA) at Salt Lake. I love the new format of the opening ceremony & our keynote panel. It was fun to imagine the next 40 years of research undertaken by our scientific societies and how we are doing in preparing the next generation of scholars and thought leaders.
November 11, 2025 at 7:57 PM
#CANVAS2025 (ASA,CSSA, SSSA) at Salt Lake. I love the new format of the opening ceremony & our keynote panel. It was fun to imagine the next 40 years of research undertaken by our scientific societies and how we are doing in preparing the next generation of scholars and thought leaders.
My article on the Soil Collection at the Memorial for Peace & Justice in Montgomery, AL, which honors victims of racial terror, is published in CSA News.
As a soil scientist, I was struck by the profound symbolism when I learned about this collection. www.sciencesocieties.org/publications...
As a soil scientist, I was struck by the profound symbolism when I learned about this collection. www.sciencesocieties.org/publications...
As soil is our witness | Science Societies
In Montgomery, AL, there is a moving exhibit with rows of glass jars lining the walls of the Memorial for Peace and Justice. Each jar contains soil collected from some of the sites where more than 4,4...
www.sciencesocieties.org
November 4, 2025 at 4:22 PM
My article on the Soil Collection at the Memorial for Peace & Justice in Montgomery, AL, which honors victims of racial terror, is published in CSA News.
As a soil scientist, I was struck by the profound symbolism when I learned about this collection. www.sciencesocieties.org/publications...
As a soil scientist, I was struck by the profound symbolism when I learned about this collection. www.sciencesocieties.org/publications...
As always, SACNAS @sacnas.bsky.social continues to be vibrant, brilliant, and healing. I’m so grateful for all the love showered on me yesterday.
October 31, 2025 at 6:09 PM
As always, SACNAS @sacnas.bsky.social continues to be vibrant, brilliant, and healing. I’m so grateful for all the love showered on me yesterday.
Merced and SJV folx, join us for the Sierra Nevada Research Institute's inaugural Distinguished Climate Speaker Series event featuring @michaelemann.bsky.social
@ucmerced.bsky.social
@ucmerced.bsky.social
SNRI presents its Distinguished Climate Speaker Series event: a keynote talk from renowned climate scientist and author, Dr. Michael E. Mann, followed by a presentation by UC Merced climatologist Dr. John Abatzoglou.
Mon, Nov 17, 2–4 PM UC Merced Conference Center
Register: tinyurl.com/yc74v23y
Mon, Nov 17, 2–4 PM UC Merced Conference Center
Register: tinyurl.com/yc74v23y
October 16, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Merced and SJV folx, join us for the Sierra Nevada Research Institute's inaugural Distinguished Climate Speaker Series event featuring @michaelemann.bsky.social
@ucmerced.bsky.social
@ucmerced.bsky.social
Energized and hopeful after attending the annual meeting of the @uc-ppfp.bsky.social with a new fellow in our department & my wonderful @ucmerced.bsky.social colleagues.
September 20, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Energized and hopeful after attending the annual meeting of the @uc-ppfp.bsky.social with a new fellow in our department & my wonderful @ucmerced.bsky.social colleagues.