The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $252,739 project grant under its Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) to the University of Tennessee to study how pine trees adapt to manage water on their needles. This collaborative research project aims to decipher the interplay between needle shape, surface properties, and elasticity in their ability to passively shed water. The project will combine experiments, ecological data analysis, and predictive modeling to enhance understanding of how pine trees adapt to different environments and improve knowledge of ecosystem resilience in the face of climate change. The findings will provide novel insights into the physics of fluid interaction with flexible biological structures and have implications for industries relying on pine lumber and pulp. The award period runs from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2027.