Dear Colleagues,
The US BioGeoSCAPES Planning Workshop, funded by the US Ocean Carbon & Biogeochemistry (OCB) program will take place November 2021 (rescheduled). The proposed BioGeoSCAPES program aims to improve our understanding of the functioning and regulation of ocean metabolism and its interactions with nutrient cycling, within the context of a hierarchical seascape perspective. This workshop will bring US scientists together to present data, discuss the opportunities and challenges involved in such a global scale effort, and to develop a plan for coordinating US interests and objectives with the international momentum towards this initiative.
The workshop will take place November 10-12, 2021 at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (hybrid format). We encourage applications from all career stages and experience levels ranging from senior graduate students to well-established researchers in all related fields. Based on the current COVID scenario and protocols, in-person participation will be limited to ~80 people, complemented by remote (virtual) participation. Efforts will be made to balance meeting composition in terms of disciplinary focus, career stage, diversity, and geographic location. Local accommodations and meals will be provided for in-person participants. OCB also has limited funds for travel support – if you require a travel stipend in order to attend the workshop, please indicate that in the application. Applications were due by 11:59 pm (EDT) on August 31, 2021.
Workshop Goals include:
- Identify key scientific questions for a coordinated microbial biogeochemistry program
- Discuss current technical capabilities and obstacles, including updates on current ‘omics intercalibration activities
- Develop a strategic plan for US contributions to BioGeoSCAPES
Applications will be evaluated by the workshop planning committee. Evaluation criteria will include applicants’ range of expertise; past contributions to advancing research in the fields of molecular omics, microbial ecology, inorganic and organic biogeochemistry, and biogeochemical modeling; and diversity (career stage, gender, institution, geographic, race, ethnicity, etc.).
For more information on this activity, please visit the workshop website. To apply to participate, please fill out the application here. For more information and updates about the international BioGeoSCAPES effort and other national meetings, see www.biogeoscapes.org. Non-US scientists interested in BioGeoSCAPES are encouraged to contact their national representatives for updates on program activities in their home countries.
Best wishes,
The US BioGeoSCAPES workshop organizing committee
Ben Twining (Bigelow Laboratory), Naomi Levine (Univ. Southern California), Adrian Marchetti (Univ. North Carolina, Chapel Hill), Mak Saito (Woods Hole Oceanographic Inst.), and Alyson Santoro (Univ. California, Santa Barbara)
