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Nordic Network of Astrobiology Graduate Schools |
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Towards a Nordic Research and Education Area in Astrobiology |
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Astrobiology at the University of Bergen Team Members
Prof. Ingunn H. Thorseth (Group Leader, Department of Earth Sciences) Prof. Tanja Barth (Department of Chemistry) Prof. Nils-Kåre Birkeland (Department of Biology) Dr. Jørn Einen (Department of Biology) Prof. Harald Furnes (Department of Earth Sciences) Dr. Helge Hellevang (Department of Earth Sciences) Prof. Jan Kosler (Department of Earth Sciences) Dr. Nicola McLoughlin (Department of Earth Sciences) Prof. Lise Øvreås (Department of Biology) Prof. Rolf B. Pedersen (Department of Earth Sciences) Dr. Ida H. Steen (Department of Biology) Prof. Vigdis Torsvik (Department of Biology) Research
A multidisciplinary reseach group of geologists, geochemists, microbiologists and molecular biologists at the University of Bergen has recently been awarded status as Centre of Exellence in geo-biosphere interactions entitled ”Centre for Geobiology: Deep Seafloor, Deep Biosphere, Deep Time and Roots of Life”, with Prof. Rolf B. Pedersen as centre leader. The research activity in the centre is primary focused on oceanic spreading ridges and the subseafloor environment. The research is organised around the following six themes, where five of these (in bold) are highly interrelated with astrobiology (group leders and others currently involved in brackets): Geodynamics of the Deep Seafloor (R. B. Pedersen, Jan Kosler) Water-Rock-Microbe Interactions (I.H.Thorseth, T. Barth, H.Hellevang) The Deep Biosphere (L.Øvreås, V.Torsvik, J.Einen) The Roots of Life (N-K.Birkeland, I.H.Steen) Early Earth and Biosignatures (H.Furnes, N.McLoughlin) The research groups at the centre are using a range of state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, and natural and university laboratories (e.g. ocean-going research vessels and ROVs; deep-sea hot vents and cold seeps, on-land hydrothermal springs and ultramafic rock fields). Currently we are establishing a Astro/Geobiology Laboratory, where geochemists, geomicrobiologists and organic chemists will work together to design analytical approaches and experiments necessary for the interdisciplinary research. Associated with the centre we expect at any time, to have 15-20 master students, 10-15 PhD students and around 10 postdoctoral candidates. The training of the candidates will be organised as a Research school in Geobiology and Earth System Science providing field, experimental, analytical and theoretical training. The centre will annually arrange a 2-3 days international workshop where members of the centre, partners and other international experts within the fields will be invited to present recent results or reviews of selected topics. This annual workshop will be a backbone of one week, intensive training course of the students and candidates associated with and visiting the research school. Course
Geomicrobiology (GEOL 344) The course gives an overview of main groups of microorganisms that are important in biogeochemical element cycles and how they influence on the dissolution and degradation of minerals and rocks. Analytical methods and techniques for identification of microbes in geological materials will be introduced and demonstrated. Emphasis will be on the coherence between metabolic processes and geochemical processes. Further information on the course is available here. |