The transformation of organic matter in freshwater environments and gender bias in limnology

Organic matter (organic carbon CO), such as dead leaves or plant residues, leaves forests and soils and ends up in rivers and lakes. Once in these aquatic environments, it degrades rapidly and releases CO₂ into the atmosphere — often faster than in soils or oceans. This transformation depends on the chemical composition of the matter, but also on factors such as climate change and human activities, which alter water flows and therefore decomposition. For example, periods of drought or flooding can change the rate at which this organic matter is transformed.

Nuria Catalan aims to better understand these processes by studying lakes from the Arctic to arid regions around the world. At the same time, she is also interested in another often overlooked aspect: gender inequality in this scientific field. She seeks to show how certain gender biases influence research and why it is essential to address them. She works to make science more inclusive through the Gender&Science AIL group, which she co-founded in 2014.

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