Murals of orange candleflower, Callery pear, kudzu and other plants dot the sides of buildings in the Wicker Park, North Center and other North and West Side neighborhoods. Viewers may be surprised to learn that researchers are behind these paintings, and the plants they depict can have damaging effects on the environment.

University of Illinois Chicago’s Gabriela Nuñez-Mir receives award to fund invasive plant research.

Invasive plants can dramatically change an ecosystem, outcompeting native species and harming animal life, agriculture and human health. Now, a new study led by University of Illinois Chicago researcher Gabriela Nunez-Mir finds that these negative effects reach underground, too. 

CHICAGO, IL – May 7, 2024–Today, the Walder Foundation announced five 2024 Biota Award recipients. Now in its third year, the Biota Awards continue to advance early-career researchers who are working to understand, protect, and restore the unique and diverse ecosystems in Chicago and around the world.