The 2025 The Rolf Buchdahl Symposium will feature Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, a professor of soil biogeochemistry and the Falasco Chair in Earth Sciences and Geology at the University of California, Merced. Berhe is the former director of the Office of Science at the U.S. Department of Energy. Berhe's lecture is titled "Soils, Climate Change, & Inclusive Excellence in STEM." 

Infusing the perspective an of earth system scientist into the realm science policy, Berhe's presentation will delve into how the Department of Energy's Office of Science works to drive the frontiers of science across disciplines, enable solutions to some of the grand challenges of our time and expand the particpation of folk from all walks of life in science.