Aveliina Helm, a member of the Macroecology workgroup at the University of Tartu, belongs to the top one per cent of the world’s most cited ecologists. Her summers are typically busy with fieldwork. This one was no exception – Aveliina spent most of it on the extremely species-rich grasslands of Estonia, observing the whole ecosystem from soil biota to birds.
Aveliina Helm’s perfect summer moment looks like sitting on the terrace, reading, watching children playing, dragonflies flying over pond and sheep grazing in the distance. Her top summer read was a book by the winner of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics Daniel Kahneman: ‘Thinking, fast and slow‘. Our interview happened on Twitter. Enjoy!
@TartuUniversity Summer has been busy and mostly filled with #fieldworks on Estonian species rich grasslands. Typical summer of ecologist 🙂
— Aveliina Helm (@aveliina) August 26, 2015
@TartuUniversity For the 1st time ever, we observe the whole #ecosystem of alvar #grasslands simultaneously, from soil biota to birds. — Aveliina Helm (@aveliina) August 26, 2015
@TartuUniversity Alvar #grasslands are species rich and very valuable habitats, that are unfortunately almost disappearing.
— Aveliina Helm (@aveliina) August 26, 2015
@TartuUniversity We now try to describe everything there is in alvars: mycorrhiza, plants, lichens, spiders, bumblebees, birds… — Aveliina Helm (@aveliina) August 26, 2015
@TartuUniversity The data is still accumulating, but we are expecting even some new species for #Estonia, for example in #spider fauna…
— Aveliina Helm (@aveliina) August 26, 2015
@TartuUniversity Observing #bumblebees and #butterflies has been real challenge, but #plants and #researchers are OK with rough weather 🙂 — Aveliina Helm (@aveliina) August 26, 2015
@TartuUniversity We have been more challenged by shrubs in our grasslands. Here, a mycorrhiza expert takes a sample. pic.twitter.com/A9PU93cT49
— Aveliina Helm (@aveliina) August 26, 2015
@TartuUniversity Yes, the most important thing is to increase the #grassland #habitat area. This will help to avoid #species #extinctions. — Aveliina Helm (@aveliina) August 26, 2015
@TartuUniversity Currently, a restoration project #LIFEtoAlvars has been launched, aiming to #restore 2500 hectares of alvars. Great thing!
— Aveliina Helm (@aveliina) August 26, 2015
@TartuUniversity During 1st year, 400 ha of #grasslands have been #restored. Like this site in #Muhu @LIFE_Programme pic.twitter.com/AhmWIIepcz — Aveliina Helm (@aveliina) August 26, 2015
@TartuUniversity There has been some days for resting as well. But indeed, people in our field often take their vacations in winter 🙂
— Aveliina Helm (@aveliina) August 26, 2015
@TartuUniversity Sitting on the terrace, reading, watching children playing, dragonflies flying over pond and sheep grazing in the distance. — Aveliina Helm (@aveliina) August 26, 2015
@TartuUniversity I absolutely LOVED Kahneman’s #ThinkingFastAndSlow. A book where every sentence is solid gold and not a word is wasted.
— Aveliina Helm (@aveliina) August 26, 2015
@TartuUniversity It was comparable to the amazement I had when studying animal #ethology. Causing a shift in a way of looking at things — Aveliina Helm (@aveliina) August 26, 2015
@TartuUniversity Personally, the most inspiring event has been the Opinion Festival in Paide #arvamusfestival So many smart people!
— Aveliina Helm (@aveliina) August 26, 2015
@TartuUniversity Professionally, I am hugely inspired by the enthusiasm of wonderful people doing #restoration works. They are amazing. — Aveliina Helm (@aveliina) August 26, 2015
@TartuUniversity Yes, all the farmers and local people who have been surprisingly welcoming towards grassland restoration.
— Aveliina Helm (@aveliina) August 26, 2015
@TartuUniversity Lot’s of bright students, interesting and important results from the fieldwork data, wonderful collaborations. — Aveliina Helm (@aveliina) August 26, 2015
@TartuUniversity Thank you! I wish inspiring and successful new academic year to everybody.
— Aveliina Helm (@aveliina) August 26, 2015
See also a recent story on Aveliina Helm by ERR Novaator in Estonian.
Inga Külmoja is an author and the editor of the UT Blog.
