Bridging Ecology and Industry: Dr. Flurin Babst's Vision for Sustainable Mining and Climate Solutions

Flurin Babst holds an MS from the University of Basel, Switzerland, and a Ph.D. from Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Germany. Dr. Babst studies ecosystem processes in forests, woodlands, and shrublands to advance the scientific basis of nature-based climate solutions. His work integrates observations and models to develop a cross-scale understanding of carbon allocation in a warming world. His teaching interests include ecosystem ecology, global change, natural climate solutions, terrestrial biogeochemistry, and disturbance dynamics. He has taught courses in climate change and dryland ecosystem ecology and natural resources ecology.

• What drew you to join the School of Mining & Mineral Resources?

As an ecologist who studies ecosystem processes in forests, woodlands, and shrublands, I see the School of Mining and Mineral Resources as a unique framework to integrate my environmental expertise with the future-focused needs of sustainable mining in Arizona and the U.S. Southwest. I don’t do science just for the sake of doing science. I wish for my research output to have practical relevance, and the School of Mining and Mineral Resources has the potential to connect my work on climate resilience and carbon cycling in dryland ecosystems directly with real-world challenges—and with people who tackle them.  

The School of Mining and Mineral Resources is set to educate a new generation of workforce that is skilled in sustainable industry practices and ready to address Arizona’s economic needs as we enter the fourth industrial revolution. The interdisciplinary nature of the program will hopefully allow me to bring valuable ecological insights into the mining sector, specifically to the reclamation of mining-impacted lands in a way that can support decarbonization and climate change mitigation. In this spirit, I welcome the chance to become part of larger initiatives that blend academic goals with practical industry applications. SMMR seems like the perfect platform for that.

• What feeds your passion for research and teaching?

I guess I was one of those kids who asked “why” questions all the time. And now, some decades later, I still remain curious about and fascinated by how everything in the natural world around us is connected. “Panta rhei,” as the ancient Hellenes would have said. It is this curiosity that has inspired my journey into ecosystem ecology and climate science, where I strive to understand the dynamic processes that continuously shape our environment. Importantly, textbook knowledge has never been enough for me.  

Anyone can pull out a cellphone these days and look up some facts that others have written. But that will not satisfy me, and I know for a fact that it also won’t satisfy my students. In teaching, I aim to pass on the spirit to explore and to encourage students to ask ever more questions, engage with their surroundings, and think both systematically and critically. My goal as an educator is not only to prepare students for academic careers but for a diverse set of roles in society. A well-educated workforce that understands the complexities of our coupled natural and human systems will benefit everyone. And if a small number of students end up continuing my environmental research path, that will make me happy.

• What drew you to study ecosystem processes?

We are experiencing environmental changes at a rate that is unprecedented and alarming. These changes are affecting all the vital ecosystem services that we humans depend on. This may sound a little bit sensational, but understanding the interactions between climate, ecosystem functioning, and human activities is crucial for our survival in the long term. By studying vegetation processes in an increasingly variable climate, I hope to contribute a small part to the scientific basis needed to understand and sustainably manage natural systems. Specifically, I aim to support the development of nature-based solutions to our environmental challenges by examining how dryland vegetation allocates and stores carbon and how it responds to aridification and climate extremes.  

On a more personal note, I love the outdoors and I deeply care about the flora and fauna in our corner of the world. It must be possible for society and the economy to thrive and still preserve ecosystems for future generations. I am convinced that understanding how these ecosystems work is the only way to ensure that our legacy won’t be a degenerated planet that cannot properly sustain human life anymore. So, here I am, trying to create this knowledge.

• What advice would you give to students interested in pursuing a career in the mining and minerals industry?

In the mining and minerals industry, like in any other industry, there is a danger of becoming too specialized and too focused on a given set of tasks. I would advise students to seek a diverse education, maintain a broad perspective, keep an open mind, and understand how your role fits into the larger industrial, societal, and environmental context. This may not be a requirement in a specific job description, but it keeps you versatile and adaptable across various future roles that you may occupy.  

You never know where your career path will lead you, and the more diverse and transferable your skill set is, the more doors stay open. I would also advise students to prioritize sustainability and environmental stewardship whenever possible. The mining industry is on a quest to reduce its environmental impact and decarbonize its operations. For this to be successful, every new generation of workers, practitioners, and leaders needs to uphold a responsibility towards affected communities and the environment.

• What role do you see your field and the School of Mining & Mineral Resources playing in addressing global challenges such as population growth and climate change?

Virtually all major mining corporations have prepared roadmaps towards the decarbonization of their operations. Some of them are more ambitious than others, but there is a broad consensus on trying to achieve carbon neutrality for scope 1 and 2 emissions by about 2050. Problematically, the indirect scope 3 emissions, which are by far the largest and the hardest to control, are not consistently part of these climate goals.  

With my research on nature-based climate solutions, I aim to create opportunities for the mining industry to foster negative CO2 emissions and offset parts of their scope 3 emissions through targeted ecosystem management. This can be done during the revegetation process after mine closure, or it can be done through the afforestation of land elsewhere. Regardless of the location, enhanced carbon sequestration in woody vegetation will only be successful and lasting if it is fine-tuned based on local environmental conditions and robust towards emerging climatic and disturbance challenges. To achieve this, we need to study the growth and carbon dynamics of different kinds of vegetation on short and long time scales, as well as along environmental gradients. This is what my research program is focused on and where the SMMR community can take a leading role in helping the mining industry ameliorate its carbon footprint.