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NSF PA/M 02-41 - September 19,
2002
NSF Invites Science Journalists to Workshop Exploring
Microbial Life on Earth
Science journalists are invited to attend a Principal
Investigator's Workshop for researchers exploring
the diversity of microbial life on Earth at the National
Science Foundation in Arlington, Va., Sept. 23-24.
The workshop will start each day at 8:30 a.m. Dr. Mary
Ann Moran of the University of Georgia and Dr. Sherry
Cady of Portland State University organized the workshop
for researchers funded through the National Science
Foundation Microbial Observatory and Life in Extreme
Environments Programs.
Attending the workshop sessions will be scientists
discovering and characterizing new forms of microbial
life from a variety of natural environments that range
from the extreme and unusual - such as hydrothermal
vents, hypersaline lakes and the guts of insects -
to the familiar, like coastal ocean waters and agricultural
soils.
Their discovery toolkits include using genome sequencing
on complex environmental samples, and "gene chips"
to study novel microbial communities and their properties.
A two-hour poster session will start at 3:45 p.m. Monday
and will profile the Microbial Observatory, the Life
in Extreme Environments program, and other NSF microbial
biology projects.
Journalists who plan to attend must call Manny Van
Pelt, the National Science Foundation's biosciences
public affairs officer, at (703) 292-8070 before arriving
to be included on the access list for a particular
day's workshop sessions. A security access pass is
required.
Attached is the schedule of the workshop sessions.
What: |
Microbial Observatory and Life in Extreme
Environments Programs Workshop |
When: |
Monday and Tuesday Sept. 23-24, 2002
8:00 a.m. |
Where: |
National Science Foundation, Stafford II
Building, 5th Floor
4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Va. (Ballston
Metro stop) |
For more information contact:
Ronald Weiner, (703) 292-7144/rweiner@nsf.gov
Matthew Kane, (703) 292-7186/mkane@nsf.gov
Gary Toranzos, (703) 292-8442/gtoranzo@nsf.gov
Manny Van Pelt, (703) 292-8070/mvanpelt@nsf.gov
For directions to NSF, see: http://www.nsf.gov/home/visit/visitjump.htm
Attachment: Workshop Schedule
Attachment
Workshop Schedule
National Science Foundation
Microbial Observatory Program and Life in Extreme
Environments Programs
Monday, Sept. 23
7:30
a.m |
Pick up National Science Foundation
Security ID at the Main National Science
Foundation Desk in Stafford I. Security
pass is required for access to the 5th
floor of Stafford II. |
8:00
- 8:30 a.m |
Set up Posters - National
Science Foundation Bldg - Stafford II,
5th Floor |
8:30
- 8:45 a.m. |
Welcome (Cady, Moran, National
Science Foundation) |
8:45
- 10:30 a.m. |
Session I: New Applications
of Molecular Tools (environmental genomics;
microarrays in microbial ecology; mRNAs
as functional indicators) |
10:30
- 10:45 a.m. |
Coffee Break |
10:45
a.m. - 12:30 p.m. |
Session II: Novel Culturing
Approaches (high-throughput; geochemical
constraints on media; gleaning strategies
from environmental microarrays) |
12:30
- 1:45 p.m. |
Hosted Lunch at National Science
Foundation (Workshop participants only) |
1:45
- 2:00 p.m. |
Organize Ecotype Discussion
Groups for evening session |
2:00
- 3:45 p.m. |
Session III: New Applications
of Molecular Tools (ecosystem characterization
and constraints; biofilm composition;
quorum sensing; metabolic activity in
situ; molecular and structural tags; functional
molecules in addition to genes) |
3:45
- 5:45 p.m. |
Poster Session: MO, LExEn,
BSI, Microbial Biology project profiles |
6:00
- 7:30 p.m. |
Hosted Dinner (Workshop participants
only) |
7:30
- 9:00 p.m. |
Session IV: Ecotype Breakout
Groups at Hilton Arlington & Towers
- Planktonic marine
- Shallow marine
- Freshwater lakes, streams, groundwater
- Hydrothermal freshwater/marine
- Soils and freshwater sediments
- Hypersaline
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Tuesday, Sept. 24
National Science Foundation - Stafford II, 5th
Floor
8:30
- 9:30 a.m. |
Summary Presentations of Ecotype Groups |
9:30
- 11:30 a.m. |
Session V: National Science
Foundation Programs (adequacy of existing
programs/need for new funding opportunities)
|
Noon
- 1:00 p.m. |
Hosted Lunch at National Science
Foundation (Workshop participants only)
|
1:00
- 2:30 p.m. |
Session VI: The Environmental
Sequence Database (taxonomic and functional
genes; linking sequences to ecosystem
parameters; centralized vs. standardized
approaches) |
2:30
- 2:45 p.m. |
Coffee Break - Early Departure
|
2:45
- 3:15 p.m. |
Session VII: National Science
Foundation MO/LExEn Workshop Publication
(scientific impact of MO/LExEn programs;
recommendations for future directions)
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