Asmeret Asefaw Berhe

Berhe was born and raised in Asmara. She received her Bachelors of Science in Soil and Water Conservation at the University of Asmara, where she was one of three women in a 55-person class in the soil science department.{{Cite web|url=https://sallyridescience.ucsd.edu/new-how-a-girl-who-loved-learning-became-a-top-soil-scientist/|title=How a girl who loved learning became a top soil scientist – Sally Ride Science|website=sallyridescience.ucsd.edu|language=en-US|access-date=2018-07-23}} She later attended Michigan State University for her master's degree in Political Ecology with an emphasis on the effects of land degradation, working to understand how landmines cause land degradation.{{Cite web|url=https://eswnonline.org/spotlight/asmeret-asefaw-berhe/|title=Asmeret Asefaw Berhe – ESWN|website=eswnonline.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-07-22}}

She then performed her doctoral work at University of California, Berkeley, where she received her Ph.D. in Biogeochemistry in ecologist John Harte's laboratory, where she was also co-advised by Margaret Torn (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) and Jennifer Harden (US Geological Survey, Menlo Park).{{Cite thesis|last=Berhe|first=Asmeret Asefaw|title=Storage, replacement, stabilization, and destabilization of soil organic carbon in eroding and depositional settings|date=2006|url=http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url%20ver=Z39.88-2004&rft%20val%20fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res%20dat=xri:pqm&rft%20dat=xri:pqdiss:3253770}} Berhe's graduate work sought to understand how erosion affected the exchange of carbon between the land and the air. She found that erosion can actually cause soil to store more carbon.{{Cite web|url=http://www2.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/sabl/2007/Apr/05-erosion.html|title=Science@Berkeley Lab: Damaged Land, Buried Carbon|website=www2.lbl.gov|access-date=2018-07-23}}{{Cite journal|last1=Berhe|first1=Asmeret Asefaw|last2=Harte|first2=John|last3=Harden|first3=Jennifer W.|last4=Torn|first4=Margaret S.|date=2007-04-01|title=The Significance of the Erosion-induced Terrestrial Carbon Sink|journal=BioScience|language=en|volume=57|issue=4|pages=337–346|doi=10.1641/B570408|issn=1525-3244|doi-access=free}} She continued her postdoctoral research at UC Berkeley with the support of the President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program under the mentorship of Johan Six and Jillian Banfield, and then moved to University of California, Davis to continue her postdoctoral work.

Berhe's research interests center on the effect of changing environmental conditions—specifically fire, erosion, and climate change—on important soil processes. Her group is working to understand how perturbations in the environment affect how essential elements like carbon and nitrogen cycle through the soil system. One of her group's projects is to understand how drought and wildfire affect soil's ability to store carbon, taking her out to Yosemite National Park and the Sierra Nevada for fieldwork.{{Cite journal|last1=Araya|first1=Samuel N.|last2=Fogel|first2=Marilyn L.|author-link2=Marilyn Fogel|last3=Berhe|first3=Asmeret Asefaw|date=2017-02-06|title=Thermal alteration of soil organic matter properties: a systematic study to infer response of Sierra Nevada climosequence soils to forest fires|journal= Soil|language=English|volume=3|issue=1|pages=31–44|doi=10.5194/soil-3-31-2017|bibcode=2017SOIL....3...31A|issn=2199-398X|doi-access=free}}{{Cite journal|last1=Araya|first1=Samuel N.|last2=Meding|first2=Mercer|last3=Berhe|first3=Asmeret Asefaw|date=2016-07-22|title=Thermal alteration of soil physico-chemical properties: a systematic study to infer response of Sierra Nevada climosequence soils to forest fires|journal= Soil|language=English|volume=2|issue=3|pages=351–366|doi=10.5194/soil-2-351-2016|bibcode=2016SOIL....2..351A|issn=2199-398X|doi-access=free}}{{Cite journal|last1=Arnold|first1=Chelsea|last2=Ghezzehei|first2=Teamrat A.|last3=Berhe|first3=Asmeret Asefaw|date=2014-09-10|title=Early Spring, Severe Frost Events, and Drought Induce Rapid Carbon Loss in High Elevation Meadows|journal=PLOS ONE|language=en|volume=9|issue=9|pages=e106058|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0106058|issn=1932-6203|pmc=4160192|pmid=25207640|bibcode=2014PLoSO...9j6058A|doi-access=free}} Given the prevalence of drought in California, this work is of particular public importance, and as a result, has been highlighted by public figures like California Congressman Jerry McNerney (D-CA 9th District).{{Cite news|url=https://aaberhe.com/2014/06/28/our-research-discussed-in-the-us-congress/|title=Our research highlighted in the US Congress|date=2014-06-29|work=PI: Asmeret Asefaw Berhe|access-date=2018-07-23|language=en-US}}

Her research extends to political ecology, working to understand the contribution of armed conflict to land degradation and how people interact with their environment.{{Cite journal|last=Berhe|first=Asmeret Asefaw|date=2005-09-01|title=Politicizing Indiscriminate Terror: Imagining an Inclusive Framework for the Anti-Landmines Movement|journal=The Journal of Environment & Development|language=en|volume=14|issue=3|pages=375–393|doi=10.1177/1070496505280186|issn=1070-4965|citeseerx=10.1.1.547.3346|s2cid=42495438}}{{Cite journal|last=Berhe|first=A. A.|date=January 2007|title=The contribution of landmines to land degradation|journal=Land Degradation & Development|language=en|volume=18|issue=1|pages=1–15|doi=10.1002/ldr.754|bibcode=2007LDeDe..18....1B |s2cid=5848182 |issn=1085-3278}} Berhe has co-authored a review taking stock of the relationship between global change, soil, and human security (including food security and water quality) in the 21st century, citing possible interventions and solutions for sustainable soil management.{{Cite journal|last1=Amundson|first1=Ronald|last2=Berhe|first2=Asmeret Asefaw|last3=Hopmans|first3=Jan W.|last4=Olson|first4=Carolyn|last5=Sztein|first5=A. Ester|last6=Sparks|first6=Donald L.|date=2015-05-08|title=Soil and human security in the 21st century|journal=Science|language=en|volume=348|issue=6235|pages=1261071|doi=10.1126/science.1261071|issn=0036-8075|pmid=25954014|bibcode=2015Sci...34861071A |s2cid=206562728|url=https://cloudfront.escholarship.org/dist/prd/content/qt8f42m6w4/qt8f42m6w4.pdf?t=o1fdmm}}{{Cite news|url=https://grist.org/food/the-next-big-war-might-be-over-phosphorus/|title=The next big war might be over phosphorus|date=2015-05-11|work=Grist|access-date=2018-07-22|language=en-US}}

Berhe's work has garnered support from a number of funding sources, including the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, the University of California President's Research Catalyst Awards, the United States Department of Energy, and more.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ucmerced.edu/news/2015/uc-merced-shares-three-four-uc-catalyst-grants|title=UC Merced Shares in Three of Four UC Catalyst Grants {{!}} UC Merced|website=ucmerced.edu|language=en|access-date=2018-07-22}}{{Cite web|url=https://pamspublic.science.energy.gov/WebPAMSExternal/Interface/Common/ViewPublicAbstract.aspx?rv=c1ef3f31-4c6e-4b8f-958a-4cb6baadd8f4&rtc=24&PRoleId=10|title=Experimental and modeling investigation of the impact of atmospherically deposited phosphorus on terrestrial soil nutrient and carbon cycling, and ecosystem productivity|last=|first=|date=|website=pamspublic.science.energy.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-07-22}}

Berhe's work at the intersection of soil, climate change, and political ecology lends itself well to a number of global issues. During her graduate career, she was a member of the working group that produced the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, which was called for by the United Nations Secretary Kofi Annan to assess the impact of humans on the environment. She was one of the lead authors on the 2005 report's chapter on "Drivers of Change in Ecosystem Condition and Services."{{Citation|last1=Nelson|first1=Gerald|title=Drivers of Change in Ecosystem Condition and Services|date=2005-01-01|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258882891|volume=2|access-date=2018-07-22|authorlink2=Elena Bennett|last2=Bennett|first2=Elena|last3=Berhe|first3=Asmeret|last4=Cassman|first4=Kenneth|last5=Defries|first5=Ruth|last6=Dietz|first6=Thomas|last7=Dobson|first7=Andy|last8=Dobermann|first8=Achim|last9=Janetos|first9=Anthony}} The Assessment received the Zayed International Prize for the Environment in 2005.{{Cite web|url=http://zayedprize.org.ae/press--releases5|title=Zayed International Prize for the Environment|website=zayedprize.org.ae|access-date=2018-07-22}}

In 2018, Berhe was selected as part of the inaugural National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine New Voices in Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine cohort, as an early career leader working to advance the conversation around key emerging global issues and communicate the evidence base around those challenges.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nationalacademies.org/newvoices/?_ga=2.7273586.1912896543.1528738515-1586386820.1528400605|title=New Voices in Sciences, Engineering and Medicine {{!}} National-Academies.org {{!}} National Research Council {{!}} Where the Nation Turns for Independent, Expert Advice|website=nationalacademies.org|access-date=2018-07-22}}

An advocate for women in science, Berhe was a co-Principal Investigator of ADVANCEGeo, which is working to transform the workplace climate of the geosciences to increase retention of women in the field and develop a sustainable model that can be transferred to other scientific domains. Currently, the Earth Science Women's Network (ESWN), the Association for Women Geoscientists, and the American Geophysical Union (AGU) have partnered to address the issue of sexual harassment in the earth, space and environmental sciences.{{Cite web|url=https://serc.carleton.edu/advancegeo/index.html|title=ADVANCEGeo Partnership|website=ADVANCEGeo|language=en-US|access-date=2018-07-22}} The program led by Erika Marín-Spiotta was run with support from a four-year $1.1 million grant from the National Science Foundation,{{Cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1725650&HistoricalAwards=false|title=NSF Award Search: Award#1725650 - ADVANCE Partnership: From the Classroom to the Field: Improving the Workplace in the Geosciences|website=nsf.gov|access-date=2018-07-22}} and has continued with support from NSF.

She previously served as an advisory board member of 500 Women Scientists, a grassroots organization working to make science open, inclusive, and accessible, and is on the leadership board of the Earth Science Women's Network.

Berhe has delivered 200+ invited talks worldwide, including two TED Talks,{{Cite web|url=https://www.ted.com/talks/asmeret_asefaw_berhe_a_climate_change_solution_that_s_right_under_our_feet|title=A climate change solution that's right under our foot|website=ted.com|date=3 September 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-09-06}}{{cite web |title=We actually have a shot at stopping the climate crisis | date=12 October 2023 |url=https://www.ted.com/talks/asmeret_asefaw_berhe_we_actually_have_a_shot_at_stopping_the_climate_crisis?subtitle=en}} related to soil science, biogeochemistry and nature-based climate change solutions at the White House, Congressional hearings, and more. Her work has been covered by a variety of national and international media outlets, including the BBC,{{cite web |title=Understanding the impact of climate change on women |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct1p9c}} NPR,{{cite web |title=This World Soil Day, take a look at the surprising science of soil | website=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1198908762?ft=nprml&f=1198908762}} the Washington Post,{{cite web|url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2021/04/22/earth-day-biodiversity/}} ABC News,{{cite web |title=Meet some of the women who are fighting against climate change | website=ABC News |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/meet-women-fighting-climate-change/story?id=77030351}} Science,{{cite web |date=1 April 2024 |title=Meet some of the women who are fighting against climate change |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/just-departed-head-doe-science-wing-discusses-successes-and-barriers}} Nature,{{cite journal |title=A down-to-earth approach to climate change |date=2022 |doi=10.1038/d41586-022-01500-w |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-01500-w |last1=Gewin |first1=Virginia |journal=Nature |volume=606 |issue=7912 |page=218 |pmid=35641672 |bibcode=2022Natur.606..218G }} and Teen Vogue.{{cite web |title=The Dust Bowl Offers Key Climate Change Lessons for the U.S. |date=15 July 2021 |url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/dust-bowl-climate-change}}

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At the Department of Energy (DOE), after nomination by President Joseph R. Biden{{cite web |title=President Biden Announces 12 Key Climate and Infrastructure Administration Nominations |date=22 April 2021 |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/04/22/president-biden-announces-12-key-climate-and-infrastructure-administration-nominations/}} and confirmation by the US Senate,{{cite web |title=Senate confirms Biden's DOE science nominee |date=10 May 2022 |url=https://www.eenews.net/articles/senate-confirms-bidens-doe-science-nominee/}}{{Cite web |title=Statement by Secretary Granholm on U.S. Senate Confirmation of Dr. Asmeret Berhe |url=https://www.energy.gov/articles/statement-secretary-granholm-us-senate-confirmation-dr-asmeret-berhe |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Energy.gov |language=en}} she served as the Director of the Office of Science. The Office of Science (SC) is the largest supporter of basic research in physical sciences in the US.{{cite web|title= Office of Science Funding |url=https://www.energy.gov/science/office-science-funding}} The mission of SC is "to deliver scientific discoveries and major scientific tools to transform our understanding of nature and advance the energy, economic, and national security of the United States".{{cite web |title= Office of Science |url= https://www.energy.gov/science/office-science}} The Director of SC oversees the management of eight programs (Advanced Scientific Computing Research, Basic Energy Sciences, Biological and Environmental Research, Fusion Energy Sciences, High Energy Physics, Nuclear Physics, Accelerator R&D and Production, and Isotope R&D and Production) and related federal research initiatives along with the grant-making process to hundreds of academic institutions, all 17 of the Department of Energy national labs, industry partners, and the management of ten national laboratories and 28 national scientific user facilities. As Director of SC her responsibilities also included budget advocacy for physical sciences and overseeing the work ten national laboratories and 28 national scientific user facilities and much more.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-02 |title=Office of Science |url=https://www.energy.gov/science/office-science |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=Energy.gov |language=en}} Accomplishments under her tenure include:

• The SC budget grew annually (three fiscal years) every year she served in the position, resulting in the largest SC budget since the office opened.{{cite web |title=FYI: Science Policy News |url=https://ww2.aip.org/fyi/fy2024-doe-office-of-science}}
• Launching of two new programs to increase federal support of Emerging Research Institutions (ERIs): Reaching a New Energy Sciences Workforce (RENEW, a training program) and Funding for Accelerated, Inclusive Research (FAIR, a capacity-building program).{{cite web |title=FYI: Science Policy News from AIP |url=https://ww2.aip.org/fyi/week-of-march-18-2024}}
• Implementation of the first-ever requirement for submission of a plan for Promoting Inclusive and Equitable Research (PIER plan){{cite web |title=Department of Energy requires plans to promote diversity from grant applicants |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/department-energy-requires-plans-promote-diversity-grant-applicants}} for all funding requests to SC.
• Increased funding available to early career researchers: international travel/collaboration allowance for early career researchers awarded funding via the Early Career Research Program (ECP) and the Office of Science Graduate Student Research program (SSCGSR); increase in graduate student support across SC Awards; and an increase in award size for DOE Early Career Research Program awards.{{cite web |title=Applications Now Open for Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship |url=https://www.energy.gov/science/articles/applications-now-open-department-energy-computational-science-graduate-fellowship}}

• Member National Academy of Engineering {{cite web |title=National Academy of Engineering Elects 106 Members and 18 International Members |url=https://www.nae.edu/289843/NAENewClass2023}}
• Fellow & [https://www.agu.org/honors/simpson#:~:text=The%20Joanne%20Simpson%20Medal%20is,Earth%20and%20space%20science%20discipline. Joanne Simpson Medal], American Geophysical Union {{cite web |title=Berhe Honored with Prestigious AGU Medal and Fellowship |url=https://news.ucmerced.edu/news/2020/berhe-honored-prestigious-agu-medal-and-fellowship}}
• Fellow & [https://www.geosociety.org/GSA/About/awards/About_Awards/GSA/Awards/About_GSA_Awards.aspx Bromery Award], The Geological Society of America {{cite web |title=Berhe Honored for Geology Contributions |url=https://news.ucmerced.edu/content/berhe-honored-geology-contributions}}
• [https://www.geochemsoc.org/honors/ogd-awards/hayes-award John Hayes Award], Geochemical Society {{cite web |title=Asmeret Asefaw Berhe Receives 2023 John Hayes Award |url=https://www.geochemsoc.org/news/2023/07/13/asmeret-asefaw-berhe-receives-2023-john-hayes-award}}
• University of California, Berkeley's President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Awardee, 2006{{Cite web|url=https://ppfp.ucop.edu/info/fellowship-recipients/fellows-2006/fellows-2006-name/index.html|title=Fellows 2006 {{!}} President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program|last=|first=|date=|website=ppfp.ucop.edu|language=en|access-date=2018-07-22}}
• Hellman Family Foundation Fellow, 2011{{Cite web|url=http://www.hellmanfellows.org/fellows/18182/|title=Hellman Fellows|website=hellmanfellows.org|language=en|access-date=2018-07-22}}
• NSF CAREER Award, 2014{{Cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1352627&HistoricalAwards=false|title=NSF Award Search: Award#1352627 - CAREER: Persistence of soil organic matter in dynamic landscapes: interactive effects of fire and erosion|website=nsf.gov|access-date=2018-07-22}}
• Young Investigator Award, Sigma Xi, 2014{{Cite web|url=https://research.ucmerced.edu/departments/operations/sigma-xi/chapter-awards|title=Chapter Awards {{!}} Office of Research and Economic Development|website=research.ucmerced.edu|language=en|access-date=2018-07-22}}
• New Voices in Science, Engineering, and Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, 2018{{Cite web|url=http://www.nationalacademies.org/newvoices/|title=New Voices in Sciences, Engineering and Medicine|website=nationalacademies.org|language=en|access-date=2019-09-06}}
• Randolph W. "Bill" and Cecile T. Bromery Award, Geological Society of America, 2019{{Cite web|url=https://www.geosociety.org/GSA/About/awards/GSA/Awards/GSA.aspx|title=GSA Honors & Awards|website=geosociety.org/gsa|language=en|access-date=2019-09-06}}
• Great Immigrants Award, Carnegie Corporation of New York, 2020{{Cite web|last=York|first=Carnegie Corporation of New|title=2020 Great Immigrants|url=https://www.carnegie.org/awards/great-immigrants/2020-great-immigrants/|access-date=2020-07-02|website=Carnegie Corporation of New York|language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Professor and Falasco Chair Berhe Recognized as a Carnegie Corporation Distinguished Immigrant {{!}} Newsroom |url=https://news.ucmerced.edu/news/2020/professor-and-falasco-chair-berhe-recognized-carnegie-corporation-distinguished-immigrant |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=news.ucmerced.edu |language=en}}

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• TED Talk - [https://www.ted.com/talks/asmeret_asefaw_berhe_a_climate_change_solution_that_s_right_under_our_feet?language=en "A climate change solution that's just under our feet"]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Berhe, Asmeret Asefaw}}

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Living people

Category:Eritrean expatriates in the United States

Category:Eritrean women scientists

Category:21st-century Eritrean women

Category:21st-century Eritrean people

Category:Eritrean chemists

Category:University of California, Merced faculty

Category:Soil scientists

Category:Political ecologists

Category:UC Berkeley College of Letters and Science alumni

Category:Michigan State University alumni

Category:21st-century African-American scientists

Category:21st-century African-American academics

Category:21st-century American academics

Category:United States Department of Energy officials

Category:Biden administration personnel

Category:American people of Eritrean descent

Category:Women soil scientists