Mike Blatt is committed to expanding our awareness of plants and their importance in every aspect of our existence on this planet. He has researched in the plant sciences for more than three decades and is recognised globally for his studies of stomatal guard cells and their contribution to photosynthesis and water use by plants. Mike’s research interests centre around the biophysics and physiology of membranes, including the interactions between trafficking and ion transport proteins that coordinate plant cell expansion. In recent years, his attention has evolved to questions around how leaves regulate gas exchange to maximise CO2 uptake for photosynthesis while minimising water loss by evaporation through stomata. To this end, he developed the first mechanistic and quantitative modelling platform that describes stomata and spans dimensions from molecule to the field. Mike is convinced that the information incorporated in this platform will help us to understand plants and their importance to our world.
