Microorganisms like bacteria and fungi provide many key opportunities for a more sustainable future. They can help take carbon out of the atmosphere and store it in the soil, protect plants from diseases and droughts, break down environmental pollutants, and limit the spread of infectious diseases.

The ASCEND Initiative focuses on those ecological interactions and on developing actionable solutions by analyzing and applying microbial-based and ecosystem dynamics in collaboration with the Nashville community.

“Soil Microbes and Climate Change” Project

Soil microbes affect climate change and opportunities exist to better understand their influence on how  is carbon absorbed and stored in the soil and how they are in turn influenced by different environmental factors (Cavicchioli et al., Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2019).

We will focus this pilot project on: (1) Developing a soil health sampling and analysis kits, (2) building a knowledge base and tools to aid citizens in improving the carbon sequestration potential in their backyards and communities; and (3) developing at-home science kits to demonstrate soil and microbial processes important to the project.​

Participate in our “Soil Your Undies” Challenge Learn about soil health Learn about climate change

“Nashville Biodiversity” Project

Biological diversity and abundance is important for a variety of ecosystem functions. We want to quantify and raise awareness of the effects of mammal biodiversity in the Nashville area, and investigate a possible association of wild mammals, soil microbial diversity, and carbon sequestration, as has been shown in research in tropical forests (Sobral et al., Nature Ecology & Evolution, 2017). For this pilot project, we intend to collect data on five fronts: (1) camera-traps placed in Nashville parks and citizen scientist’s backyards to determine and quantify wild mammals; (2) mappings of Nashville land-use and -cover, human density, tree cover density, water etc. to associate with camera trap data; (3) sampling, testing kits and protocols for soil and animal droppings analyses; (4) surveys of distinct Nashville neighborhoods to assess how they value native wild mammals; and (5) educational resources about Nashville mammals and their importance.​

Science Kits

“Environmental Chemicals” Project

We have established connections with a rural Tennessee community that is facing multiple health challenges. To support this community, we are currently: (1) assembling environmental data sources, (2) building surveys, and (3) developing informational resources for the community. ​

We will design experiments and sampling protocols for high-confidence testing of hypotheses that may explain environmental exposures in order to help the community find ways in which they can make their environment healthier together.

“Chemicals in the Garden” Project

Urban pesticide use has significant negative effects on human, watershed, and environmental health. It also poses significant risks to insect populations whose health is essential for ensuring vital ecological functions like pollination, supporting other species via interdependent food webs, and who are already under increased threat by climate change (Sánchez-Bayo et al., Biological Conservation, 2019). ​

This pilot project will develop: (1) A survey, focus group tools, and interview protocols for assessing pesticide use practices by Nashville residents; (2) citizen science tools for monitoring and recording insect diversity in backyards and home gardens; (3) insect sampling kits and protocols to collect information on insect health and chemicals found; (4) informational resources on urban pesticide alternatives; and (5) community collaborations to test, educate, and implement alternatives. ​