Meet the NSO Board: Bodil Ehlers
Introducing the Nordic Society Oikos Board! Representing Denmark is Bodil K. Ehlers, Senior Scientist in the Department of Bioscience at Aarhus University.
Hi, Bodil! What does your work focus on?
I am a plant evolutionary ecologist, and I focus on understanding how plants interact with and adapt to their local environment, of both neighbor plants and abiotic conditions.
Why do you like being part of NSO and our national societies?
I like the idea of a non-profit society that strives to make a platform for peers to interact. NSO is the Nordic ecological society and acts as an “umbrella” uniting the five national societies. Both NSO and the national societies arrange a number of activities for ecologists, and there has always been a focus on making this helpful for young researchers in particular. The activities are made possible via the revenues from our journals. Working in the board therefore also includes working on making these journals sustainable and thriving and as transparent as possible.
What are your aspirations as a member of the NSO Board?
We have in the last years focused a great deal of our work on making NSO much more visible and “closer” to its members. I think we are well on our way, through the new web page, the newsletters, and the closer contact among the national societies and NSO. But there is still work to be done here, where I hope I can contribute.
Can you comment on the role of our societies within global ecology (and its applications) in the 21st century?
Ecology in the 21st century is likely to have a high impact both scientifically and societally, in terms of problems such as biodiversity loss and climate change, as well as in the development of green solutions for a more sustainable future. Increasing the transfer of knowledge within and beyond the Nordic countries will be an important task, involving joint actions and activities across ecological societies in Europe and worldwide.
What's one way that your life or work has changed since the pandemic began, for better or worse?
Making me aware of how important it is that scientific knowledge and facts are transferred correctly.
What do you miss most about non-pandemic times?
Seeing friends in person.
Where are you itching to travel when it's safe?
My field work in the Mediterranean region.
Meet the other members of the NSO Board: