Awarded the 9th Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Ecology and Conservation Biology, ecologist Marten Scheffer explains in this interview how ecosystems can reach tipping points that trigger abrupt and, sometimes, irreversible changes. Drawing on his pioneering work in ecological resilience and critical transitions, Scheffer details how early warning signs can anticipate collapses in lakes, meadows, reefs, or climate systems, and why the decisions we make today will influence the ecological stability of future generations. His reflections integrate science, sustainability, and collective responsibility, highlighting the urgency of acting to prevent ecological transformations that compromise human well-being and future biodiversity.
The BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in the Ecology and Conservation Biology category goes, in this ninth edition, to ecologists Gene E. Like
Awarded the 9th Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Ecology and Conservation Biology, ecologist Marten Scheffer explains in this interview how ecosystems can reach tipping points that trigger abrupt and, sometimes, irreversible changes. Drawing on his pioneering work in ecological resilience and critical transitions, Scheffer details how early warning signs can anticipate collapses in lakes, meadows, reefs, or climate systems, and why the decisions we make today will influence the ecological stability of future generations. His reflections integrate science, sustainability, and collective responsibility, highlighting the urgency of acting to prevent ecological transformations that compromise human well-being and future biodiversity.
The BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in the Ecology and Conservation Biology category goes, in this ninth edition, to ecologists Gene E. Likens and Marten Scheffer, for contributing in major and complementary ways to developing the theoretical underpinnings for a scientific understanding of gradual, abrupt and potentially irreversible ecosystem change in response to pollution and other ecological problems.
00:00 Introduction
00:05 Could you explain, in the simplest possible terms for a general audience, your contribution to understanding the impacts of human activity on the environment, particularly through the study of “tipping points” in lake ecosystems caused by nutrient pollution?
01:00 Some of your research has examined the impact of pollutants and environmental degradation in the Doñana wetlands in Spain. Could you talk about your findings in this area and what should be done to prevent the deterioration of this ecosystem?
01:51 What are the most dangerous “tipping points” currently threatening the global environment, and do you believe today’s policymakers are doing enough to minimize these potential impacts?
