We study nonlinear, spatially extended complex systems with a current focus on dryland ecosystems. Our goal is to understand ecosystem response to climate change across different levels of ecological organization, and how can informed human intervention prevent ecosystem degradation. Our ‘lab’ consists of a platform of mathematical models for dryland ecosystems, which we study numerically and analytically using state-of-the-art methods of pattern formation theory. We further collaborate with ecology groups to test model predictions empirically.