Owen Atkin

Owen Atkin is a Fellow at The Australian National University (ANU), affiliated with the Research School of Biology. His research focuses on plant metabolic responses to environmental gradients, particularly how leaf respiration varies across biomes. He collaborates with climate modeling groups in the UK and USA to enhance terrestrial biosphere models using field survey data. Atkin's work also involves molecular, biochemical, and physiological studies to understand factors influencing respiration rates in crops and natural ecosystems. He has held leadership roles, including Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurial Agri-Technology (CEAT) and Director of the ANU Agrifood Innovation Institute. His research emphasizes the impact of environmental gradients on plant physiological processes, especially respiration.

Owen Atkin is a Professor of Plant Ecophysiology at the Australian National University, specializing in plant physiology, with a focus on forests, respiration, photosynthesis, and cereals. His research explores the physiological responses of plants to environmental changes, particularly in the context of climate change. Atkin's work investigates how plants adapt to temperature fluctuations, including thermal acclimation and the role of mitochondria in drought tolerance. He has contributed significantly to understanding the interplay between chloroplasts and mitochondria, as well as the variability in leaf respiration across biomes and plant functional types. His research also addresses the resilience of tropical rainforests to CO2-induced climate change and the impact of temperature on root respiration.