Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Washington State University received $687,835 in funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Environmental Biology under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) for the collaborative research project SCALE-UP (Understanding VPD Impacts on Forests Across Scales to Advance the Next Generation of Earth-System Models). The award, initiated August 1, 2026, and extending through July 31, 2030, supports an international partnership between U.S. and Swiss researchers to investigate the effects of rising vapor pressure deficit (VPD) on forest ecosystems. The research deliverables include experimental studies, observational data collection, and computational modeling that will elucidate how increasing atmospheric dryness affects tree photosynthesis, growth, mortality, and water use across multiple spatial and temporal scales.

The project advances fundamental scientific knowledge while delivering practical outputs for forest resource management and prediction capabilities for both the United States and Switzerland. Key deliverables encompass integration of artificial intelligence approaches in Earth-system models, training materials and next-generation researcher development in AI techniques, and improved modeling and management frameworks for forest resources. The international collaboration provides access to unique research infrastructure, including a Swiss forest experiment that manipulates atmospheric conditions and soil moisture, thereby enabling the translation of leaf-level physiological processes to whole-forest ecological outcomes and enhanced climate adaptation strategies.