Biosphere 2

Applied Mathematics & Biosphere 2 Partnership

Biosphere 2 and the University of Arizona’s Applied Mathematics GIDP Department are seeking collaborators to address the next generation of Earth systems challenges through data, models, and AI. As Biosphere 2 expands its research into digital twins, real-time system modeling, and large-scale environmental data integration, there is a growing need for applied mathematicians who can help formalize, scale, and validate these efforts. For more information contact Rebekah A. Saucier at rsaucier1@arizona.edu

Active research interest include:

Mathematical modeling of complex, coupled ecological and environmental systems
Dynamical systems, control, and data assimilation
Statistical inference, uncertainty quantification, and sensitivity analysis
Machine learning and AI methods grounded in physical and biological constraints
Scalable algorithms for high-dimensional, streaming, and heterogeneous datasets

These partnerships support the development of digital twins of Biosphere 2, enabling simulation-based experimentation, scenario testing, and AI-assisted discovery across climate, hydrology, biogeochemistry, and ecosystem dynamics.We invite students, faculty, and research groups in applied mathematics, data science, and related quantitative fields to engage with Biosphere 2 as a living laboratory for AI-enabled Earth systems science. Together, we aim to foster collaborations that advance both mathematical innovation and environmental understanding, while training the next generation of researchers to work at the intersection of computation, experimentation, and sustainability.

List of Faculty & Personel

Joost Van Haren- Rainforest
Saleska Scott -Landscape Evolutionary Observatory (LEO)
Ash Black- Biosphere 3 Digital Twins initiative
Jeff Larsen -Biosphere 3 Digital Twins initiative
Ildar Gabitov-Applied Math
Marek Rychlik-Applied Math

Upcomming Events

Spring Computing Workshop

The University of Arizona Applied Mathematics program in conjunction with The University of Arizona Fusion Initiative and Professor Misha Chertkov's NSF Innovations in Graduate Education Grant is organizing a spring workshop for UA STEM Graduate Students on scientific computing with a focus on problems and techniques relevant to fusion science, semiconductors, ecology/environmental modeling, space sciences, and astrobiology. The workshop will consist of a mixture of talks, tutorials and the start of short/longer term hackathon projects. Talks/projects related to AI for science, biological/biomedical, research at Biosphere 2, l applications of AI, defense and space broadly are also welcome.

Computational Methods for Biosphere 2, Friday, April 3rd

9-9:30 AM - Development of the Ecology of Intelligences (Biosphere 3). John Adams, Biosphere 2

9:30-10:30 AM - Biosphere 2 Big Data and techniques for modeling with thousands of time series, Marek Rychlik, UA

10:30-11:30 AM - Be the Algorithm: Controlling a Biome with Data, Ilya Kuk & Ildar Gabitov, UA

Helpful Resources & Opportunities:

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