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Project Progress

2nd Workshop on Dark Energy Biosphere Institute

The theme of the conference is Subseafloor Observatories and Exploration of the Deep Biosphere. The conference will comprise a series of keynote speakers covering aspects of CORK subseafloor observatory history and design, technical specifications and options for future modifications, drilling and other operational considerations, monitoring and contamination concerns, key results from earlier subseafloor experiments using observatories, and future directions for subseafloor biosphere science involving observatories. In addition to oral presentations, all participants will be asked to present during a series of poster sessions (to be scheduled throughout the day in association with coffee and meal breaks) highlighting work completed or in progress involving subseafloor observatories and/or the deep biosphere, or conceptual proposals describing how to move the science forward through novel application of observatory technology for passive (monitoring) or active experiments. Our intent is to mix lecture and poster/discussion formats so as to encourage engagement and development of collaborative opportunities between individuals and groups that have not previously worked together or have had difficulty understanding each other’s science.

The training component of this workshop will focus on crossing over between microbiological sampling and monitoring and marine hydrogeology, with the primary goal of on developing a basic level of understanding among two disparate groups: those involved in development and use of CORK systems for marine hydrogeological studies, and microbiologists working in the deep biosphere or in other settings. It is important to note that this is a technologically challenging area of research and one that is extremely new to science and in particular microbiology. The workshop will comprise a series of linked discussion and practical calculations, introducing basic concepts in biogeochemistry, fluid flow, and solute fate and transport. Workshop leaders will develop a series of presentations and exercises that provide a mechanism for non-specialists to gain a basic grasp of one or more key concepts.