2019 Applied & Environmental Microbiology Gordon Research Conference & Seminar
Abstract
Established in 1950, the Gordon Research Conference on Applied and Environmental Microbiology (GRC-AEM) is one of the longest running of the Gordon Conferences. The success and resilience of the GRC-AEM is because of the profound influence that microbes have on life on planet Earth, sustaining our environment, influencing our health and driving many industrial biotechnology processes. Research areas which are central to this GRC include terrestrial, marine and freshwater biogeochemical cycles, transformation of contaminants on land and in water, consumption and production of greenhouse gases, production of biofuels and use as biocatalysts, the importance of microbes in human health, interactions of microbes with animals and plants. Areas of microbiological research covered by the GRC-AEM have an immense societal impact on the environment and mankind and thus this GRC remains highly topical and a very vibrant research field. The main goals of the GRC-AEM are to provide an open forum for the presentation and discussion of the latest research findings on industrial and applied applications of microorganisms from the single cell to ecosystem level. The 2019 Conference subtitled Shaping the Earth«s Microverse will address one of the most urgent questions in microbiology: How can we employ what we have learned from the co-evolution of Earth with microbial life to address current challenges of the Anthropocene? The Conference has a great track record in stimulating cutting edge and innovative research by scientists in academia, research institutes/foundations and government and industrial laboratories. The nine session topics: Origin of life, Co-evolution of the geosphere and biosphere, Viral ecology, Ecology and evolution of superorganisms, Advances and applications of human microbiome research, Insights into microbial species interactions, Linking microbial physiology to ecosystem functions, The microverse of the Anthropocene, Concepts to understand the Earth s microverse reflect exciting new developments the field and will ensure that talks, poster pitches and presentations at the GRC-AEM will be innovative and world leading. Microbes are ubiquitous in the environment, forming biofilms on soil or built-environment surfaces as well as suspended in water or air. Biodegradation mediated by indigenous microbial communities is the ultimate fate of the majority of natural as well as human-derived chemical compounds. Advances in next generation DNA sequencing and metagenomics approaches have the potential to advance the ability to interrogate mechanisms of microbially-mediated chemical transformation, the detection/ characterization of chemical fingerprints, and to develop new methods to neutralize energetic materials. Microbial data must be parameterized for linkage to models of environmental impacts as well as biogeochemical models to predict the attenuation of contaminants. For example, one exciting opportunity is to couple environmental metabolomics to metagenomics data to construct metabolic models of chemical metabolism. In addition, microbial signatures can be employed as bioindicators specific to a chemical species and the point-of-origin of chemical release. An equally important function of the GRC AEM is to help to train the future workforce. The number of young scientists attending GRC-AEM has increased recently. For the third time we will have a Gordon Research Seminar (GRS-AEM) associated with the GRC-AEM entitled Microbial language: microbes, molecules, and metabolites will be exclusively for PhD students and postdocs. The GRC-AEM program will also have several Poster Talks by young researchers chosen from poster abstract submissions, and for the first time two poster pitches. To ensure that high numbers of young scientists attend both the GRS and the GRC, we seek support from ARO to assist with Registration costs for PhD students, postdocs and young faculty members to participate in the GRS and GRC, respectively.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2019
- Source ID
- W911NF1910145
Entities
People
- Joel Kostka
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Gordon Research Conferences
- United States Army