New Perspectives in Karst Geomicrobiology and Redox Geochemistry
Dates: From 07 Nov, 2004 till 10 Nov, 2004
Location: USA, 2004 GCA Meeting
Announcement & call for abstracts
New Perspectives in Karst Geomicrobiology and Redox Geochemistry
A Topical Session to be held at the 2004 National Meeting of the Geological Society of America
(November 7-10)
Topical Session #28
Sponsored by the Karst Waters Institute, the GSA Hydrogeology Division, and the GSA Geobiology and Geomicrobiology Division.
Description: In the ten years since the Karst Waters Institute-sponsored conference, "Breakthroughs in karst geomicrobiology & redox geochemistry" there has been considerable progress in understanding microbial systems, geochemical processes,
and the interactions between them in cave and karst settings. We welcome contributions that highlight these major achievements and
latest advances, and we encourage interdisciplinary participation from related hydrogeologic and biogeochemical settings.
There will be both ORAL and POSTER sessions.
Session Rationale: In 1994 the Karst Waters Institute sponsored the symposium "Breakthroughs in Karst Geomicrobiology and Redox Geochemistry" in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This conference was attended by numerous karst and non-karst scientists, presenting papers and posters that included many descriptions of active microbial communities in caves and subsurface habitats, important geomicrobiological, biogeochemical, and redox processes that result in mineral precipitation (carbonate biosynthesis) or dissolution (cave formation), as well as the possibility of carbonates (and caves) on Mars. The KWI Karst Breakthroughs meeting inspired
tremendous discoveries and major achievements regarding understanding
the geomicrobiology and redox geochemistry of caves and karst settings in the subsequent decade. The GSA Topical Session will again
bring together geomicrobiologists to highlight their research and to stimulate further collaborations.
How to submit an abstract: The deadline for electronic abstract submission is July 13, 2004. The submission forms are available April
1 - July 13, through the GSA's web site
(http://www.geosociety.org/meetings/2004/). GSA requires that a speaker present only one abstract. If an author submits more than one
volunteered abstract with the same person as speaker, all abstracts listing that speaker may be rejected. The abstracts are maintained
and archived on the GSA's website.
If there are any questions regarding the session, please contact Annette Summers Engel, University of Texas at Austin
(aengel@mail.utexas.edu); Diana Northup, University of New Mexico (dnorthup@unm.edu); Toby Dogwiler, Winona State University (tdogwiler@winona.edu).