Frank, Steven D

Professor and Extension Specialist Entomology and Plant Pathology
steven_frank@ncsu.edu
919-515-8880

Most people in the US and around the world live in and around cities. This means the environment in cities will directly affect the health of most people. It also means cities are where most people experience nature – where most kids will climb trees or find their first bug. Our goal is to contribute knowledge and outreach to help cities serve human health, conservation, and recreation functions.

To achieve this we study a lot about trees. Trees contribute to all these functions by providing cool, clean air for people and food and habitat for animals. We study the ecology of tree pests to understand why they become so abundant and damaging on urban trees. We use this knowledge to develop tree planting and maintenance recommendations for urban foresters, landscape architects, and others who manage urban forests.

We also study how to sustain biodiversity and ecosystem services, such as pollination and decomposition, in cities and how cities can serve as experimental surrogates to predict the effects of climate change.

The plants we install in urban landscapes or put in a vase in our home come from nurseries and greenhouses. We conduct research to improve integrated pest management and biological control in these systems to reduce pesticide use. When insecticide are necessary our research and extension helps growers reduce their risk to the environment, non-target organisms, and people.

Country(s) of experience:
France | Portugal | United Kingdom |

Type(s) of International Experience:
Researcher in an international project | Speaker at an international conference | Other international activities | Advisor for international students

Research Focus:

how to sustain biodiversity and ecosystem services, such as pollination and decomposition, in cities and how cities can serve as experimental surrogates to predict the effects of climate change.

Projects:
PHENEC: A French national project on the role of phenology in species distribution and in their management in a changing climate. Research project
01/01/2020 - 04/01/2024
Funding Agency/Sponsor: French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA)
Institutional Partner:

PHENEC: Role of phenology in species distribution and in their management in a changing climate Research project
01/01/2020 - 12/31/2023
Funding Agency/Sponsor:
Institutional Partner: National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), France

Effects of climate and urbanization on pine processionary moth range expansion Research project
07/01/2017 - 05/31/2023
Funding Agency/Sponsor: French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) | National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institutional Partner:

CALS International Programs

Faculty Overview

Frank, Steven D