Recently, Wiebke Mareile Heinze successfully defended her thesis. We took the opportunity to ask some questions about her research and future plans.
Hi Wiebke, who are you, and what is your research about?
“My name is Wiebke Mareile Heinze, and I have recently defended my PhD in soil science. I have always been fascinated by the complexity of processes within soil systems. My doctoral research focuses on how microplastics are spread to agricultural soils and how they can be transported within the soil which helps us to understand their current spatial distribution in the environment. Microplastics are very persistent, and it is therefore essential to understand the potential exposure of different ecosystems to these persistent particles. The exposure of agricultural soils depends not only on how much microplastics enters the soil but also whether they remain in the topsoil or are transported away by the moving water or burrowing soil biota such as earthworms.”
How does your research align with the One Health concept, and in what ways can it contribute to a more sustainable and socially impactful world?
“My research contributes to a better understanding of the exposure of agricultural soils to microplastics, tackling the questions of how much microplastic is where and for how long, but also what processes drive their spatial distribution. Current and long-term exposure levels determine the effects of microplastics on ecosystem services that soils provide, including agricultural food production. Soil functions can be affected by microplastic pollution in various ways. By improving our knowledge of the primary inputs of microplastics to soil and the transport within and between ecosystems, my research contributes to the One Health concept regarding soil health as integral to human health.”
What are your plans now after your PhD?
“Even though it is a winding path of successes and failures, I would like to stay in research. There is still a lot we don’t fully understand about soil processes. So, for the next couple of months, I will continue working on a different project at the Department of Soil and Environment here at SLU. During that time, I will also apply for funding and look for possible postdoc projects that interest me.”
We wish Wiebke the best of luck in her future career!
Wiebke Mareile Heinze
Doctoral Student in Soil Chemistry at the Department of Soil and Environment
+4618673148, +46730710608
wiebkemareile.heinze@slu.se
Read more about Wiebke's research in this article (in Swedish): Ny kunskap om hur mikroplaster sprids i jordbruksmark - ett första steg mot bättre riskbedömningar.