Ingibjörg Svala Jónsdóttir

Ingibjörg Svala Jónsdóttir serves as a Professor of Ecology at the University of Iceland's Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, where she has established herself as a leading expert in tundra ecosystems and climate change impacts. Her extensive research career, which began with a PhD in Plant Ecology from Lund University, Sweden, focuses on understanding biotic interactions, ecosystem processes, and biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems, with particular emphasis on the rapidly changing Arctic region. Her work spans across multiple Arctic locations including the Icelandic highlands, northern Scandinavia, Svalbard, Arctic Canada, and Siberia, where she investigates plant life history, population dynamics, and critical interactions between vascular plants, bryophytes, and herbivores. As a founding member of the International Tundra Experiment (ITEX) since 1990, she has made significant contributions to understanding climate change impacts on Arctic ecosystems. Her research methodology combines field observations with experimental approaches, both in natural settings and laboratory conditions. Beyond her research, she actively participates in international scientific networks, serves as Vice-Chair of the Nordic Society Oikos, and maintains a passion for cross-country skiing and watercolor painting. Her work has garnered significant recognition in the scientific community, with her publications receiving over 13,000 citations, establishing her as a prominent voice in Arctic ecological research and climate change studies.