Stephen Long, Stanley O. Ikenberry Endowed Chair Emeritus of Plant Biology and Crop Sciences, and faculty affiliate in Informatics, passed away on Sept. 9, 2025. His passing marked the loss of one of the world's most influential plant scientists, whose research transformed our understanding of photosynthesis, crop productivity, and the impacts of climate change on agriculture.
While Long's scientific influence extended around the world, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign became the home of many of his most significant achievements. As a professor in the Departments of Plant Biology and Crop Sciences, he built a world-renowned research program dedicated to understanding how plants respond to changing environments and how photosynthesis could be improved to produce more food for a growing global population. His work combined molecular biology, ecology, engineering, and computational modeling to tackle one of humanity's greatest challenges: feeding the world sustainably.
Read the full article on the School of Integrative Biology News Feed.