About me

I am currently a researcher at the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research NINA, with an academic foundation in geography and physics. My research expertise lies at the intersection of remote sensing, geoinformatics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, land system science, and landscape ecology. I focus on unraveling the intricate dynamics of land cover and land use change, biodiversity transformations, climate change impacts, human-environment interactions, and carbon cycling (both blue and green). My work is particularly centered on the sensitive ecosystems of mountainous and polar regions, where these complex processes are most acutely observed.

My work is deeply rooted in the principles of sustainable development and nature-based solutions, aligning closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I am dedicated to advancing climate action (SDG 13), preserving life on land (SDG 15), and fostering sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11). As an ardent advocate for open science and reproducible research, I am committed to enhancing scientific understanding and promoting sustainable environmental practices.

In addition to my research pursuits, I am passionate about education and mentorship, guiding and inspiring the next generation of scientists in these crucial fields. My goal is to contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future through rigorous research, innovative solutions, and dedicated teaching.

My employment history is available here

Education

Academic Degrees

• 2007: PhD in the Earth Science within Geography
  Faculty of Biology and Earth Science, Jagiellonian University (Poland)
  Thesis: Spatiotemporal simulation of land cover change dynamics
  Institute of Geography and Spatial Management at the Jagiellonian University Award for outstanding PhD thesis within Geography defended between 2005 and 2007
• 2004: MSc in Physics (specialization: Nuclear Physics)
  Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Applied Computer Science, Jagiellonian University (Poland)
  Thesis: Cross-sections of nucleus-proton fragmentation reactions
• 2002: MSc in Physical Geography within Environmental and Mathematical Studies (specialization: Geographic Information Systems)
  Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Faculty of Biology and Earth Science, Jagiellonian University (Poland)
  Thesis: Spatial distribution of forests in the Western Beskidy Mountains
  Polish Geographical Society Award for outstanding MSc thesis

Certificates

• 2018: UAVO qualification certificate
  Civil Aviation Authority, Poland
• 2001-2002: Pedagogical training
  Teacher Training Center, Jagiellonian University (Poland)

Research projects

Principal Investigator (PI)

• Research Council of Norway (RCN), POLARSIF Project: Assessing Vegetation Phenological Changes in Polar Regions Using Solar Induced Fluorescence Data, 2024, Partners: NO, FI, US, NINA basic funding, no. 160022/F40/24-17 (NINA, Norway)
• National Science Centre Poland (NCN), (contributing project to Global Land Programme), TRACE project: Trajectories, causes and consequences of land cover and land use changes in Central Europe, 2019-2023, Partners: PL, US, DE, OPUS call, no. 2018/29/B/ST10/02979 (Jagiellonian University, Poland)
• Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA), SOCPIX project: Socialising the pixel: detecting and a better understanding of changing land systems with remote sensing and social sciences, 2019-2021, Partners: PL, US, no. PPN/BEK/2018/1/00310 (University of California, Berkeley, USA)
• National Science Centre Poland (NCN), RS4FOR project: Forest change detection and monitoring using passive and active remote sensing data, 2012-2016, Partners: PL, US, DE, OPUS call, No. 2015/19/B/ST10/02127 (Jagiellonian University, Poland)
• National Science Centre Poland (NCN), LIM project: Integration of categorical- and gradient-based approaches in landscape fragmentation and connectivity modelling using GIS&T SONATA call, 2012-2015, Partners: PL, US, DE, No. 2011/03/D/ST10/05568 (Jagiellonian University, Poland)
• Polish Ministry of Science and Education, Project: Land use change in period of political transformation and their relationship with natural and socio-economic conditions in the western part of the Beskidy Mountains, 2004-2007, No. 2 P04G 071 27 (PhD project, Jagiellonian University, Poland)

Co-PI or Contributor

• Research Council of Norway (RCN), BioAntIX Project: Biological darkening and melt of Antarctic ice under extreme summer temperatures, 2024, Partners: NO, UK, NINA basic funding, no. 160022/F40/24-30 (Role: Researcher; NINA, Norway)
• European Commission - Horizon 2020 (H2020): Research and Innovations Programme, CHARTER project: Drivers and Feedbacks of Changes in Arctic Terrestrial Biodiversity, 2019-2024, partners: FI, NO, DE, UK, DK, RO, CN, IS, CH, no. 869471 (Role: Researcher; NINA, Norway)
• Visegrad Funds, CON@SK.PL project: Transboundary ecological connectivity – modelling landscapes and ecological flows, 2018-2019, Partners: PL, US, DE, No. 21640051 (Role: Co-PI; Jagiellonian University, Poland)
• European Environment Agency (EEA), Copernicus land services pan-European component: calculation of complementary HRL layers comprising spatial pattern characteristics, 2016, Partners: DK, DE, PL, (Role: Co-PI; Jagiellonian University, Poland)
• Swiss Contribution, FORECOM project: Forest cover changes in mountainous regions - drivers, trajectories and implications, 2012-2016, partners: PL, CH, No. PSPB 008/2010 (Role: WP leader; Jagiellonian University, Poland)
• NASA, Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science (ROSES-2009), Program Element A.2 LCLUC, 200 years of land use and land cover changes and their driving forces in the Carpathian basin in Central Europe, 2011-2014, (partners: US, DE, PL, SK, CZ, HU, RO) (Role: Senior researcher; Jagiellonian University, Poland)
• European Commission - Seventh Framework Programme (FP7): Environment (including Climate Change), Mountain.TRIP project: Mountain Sustainability: Transforming Research into Practice, 2009-2011, partners: UK, CH, DE, AU, PL, No. FP7-ENV-2009-5.1.0.2 (Role: WP co-leader; Jagiellonian University, Poland)
• Polish Ministry of Science and Education, 2008-2010, Project: Land cover and land use change in the Polish Carpathians, No. 0500/B/P01/2008/34 (Role: Co-PI; Jagiellonian University, Poland)

Publications

Selected peer-reviewed papers

• Hoffmann M.T., Ostapowicz, K., Bartoń K., Ibisch P.L., Selva N., 2024, Mapping roadless areas in regions with contrasting human footprint, Scientific Reports, 14, 4722
• Szczęch M., Kania M., Loch J., Ostapowicz K., Struś P., 2024, Mapping grasslands' preservation potential: A case study from the northern Carpathians, Land Degradation & Development, 35, 2, 633 - 646
• Kudrenko, S., Fenchuk, V., Vollering, J., Zedrosser, A., Selva, N., Ostapowicz K., Beasley J.C., Heurich M., 2023, Walking on the dark side: Anthropogenic factors limit suitable habitat for gray wolf (Canis lupus) in a large natural area covering Belarus and Ukraine, Global Ecology and Conservation, 46
• Tømmervik H., Julitta T., Nilsen L.; Park T., Burkart A., Ostapowicz K., Karlsen S.R., Parmentier F., Pirk N., Bjerke J.W., 2023, The northernmost hyperspectral FLoX sensor dataset for monitoring of high-Arctic tundra vegetation phenology and Sun-Induced Fluorescence (SIF), Data in Brief, 50, 109581
• Grabska E., Frantz D., Ostapowicz K., 2020, Evaluation of machine learning algorithms for forest stand species mapping using Sentinel-2 imagery and environmental data in the Polish Carpathians, Remote Sensing of Environment, 251, 112103
• Grabska E., Hostert P., Pflugmacher D., Ostapowicz K., 2019, Forest Stand Species Mapping Using the Sentinel-2 Time Series, Remote Sensing, 11, 10, 1197
• Bolliger J., Schmatz D.R., Pazúr R., Ostapowicz K., Psomas A., 2017, Reconstructing forest-cover change in the Swiss Alps between 1880 and 2010 using ensemble modelling, Regional Environmental Change, 17, 8, 2265–2277
• Munteanu C., Kuemmerle T., Boltiziar M., Lieskovský J., Mojses M., Kaim D., Konkoly-Gyuró E., Mackovčin P., Műller D., Ostapowicz K., Radeloff V.C., 2017, Nineteenth-century land-use legacies affect contemporary land abandonment in the Carpathians, Regional Environmental Change, 17, 8, 2209-2222
• Price B., Kaim D., Szwagrzyk M., Ostapowicz K., Kolecka N., Schmatz D.R., Wypych A., Kozak J., 2017, Legacies, socio-economic and biophysical processes and drivers: the case of future forest cover expansion in the Polish Carpathians and Swiss Alps, Regional Environmental Change, 17, 8, 2279-2291
• Ziółkowska E., Ostapowicz K., Radeloff V.C., Selva N., Kuemmerle T., Śmietana W., 2016, Assessing differences in connectivity based on habitat versus movement models for brown bears in the Carpathians, Landscape Ecology, 31, 1863-1882
• Ziółkowska E., Perzanowski K., Bleyhl B., Ostapowicz K., Kuemmerle T., 2016, Understanding unexpected reintroduction outcomes: Why aren't European bison colonizing suitable habitat in the Carpathians? Biological Conservation, 195, 106-117
• Griffiths P., Kuemmerle T., Baumann M., Radeloff V.C., Abrudan I.V., Lieskovsky J., Munteanu C., Ostapowicz K., Hostert P., 2014, Forest disturbances, forest recovery, and changes in forest types across the Carpathian ecoregion from 1985 to 2010 based on Landsat image composites, Remote Sensing of Environment, 151, 72-88

More publications:

Contact

Email: katarzyna.anna.ostapowicz(a)gmail.com