USC's Edwards to discuss life beneath the ocean floor

In 1986, scientists with the Ocean Drilling Program made an astonishing discovery while sailing on the Pacific Ocean. In sediments collected from 850 meters (approximately 2,800 feet) below the seafloor, they identified that microbes were living and thriving in an environment not previously known or even thought by many to contain life.

That discovery and those that have accumulated in the 24 years since will be the subject of a T. Mylan Stout Lecture April 16 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Katrina Edwards, professor of biological and earth sciences at the University of Southern California, will describe "Intraterrestrial Microbial Life Below the Bottom of the Ocean" at 3:30 p.m. in the auditorium of Bessey Hall, 12th and U streets [map]. The lecture is free and open to the public

The 1986 discovery spawned a new field of research on the "deep biosphere" with researchers exploring how life persists and evolves at hostile temperatures and pressures. An active researcher in this area, Edwards will address current research focused on this formerly unknown world.

Edwards' appearance is part of the Consortium for Ocean Leadership's 2009-10 Distinguished Lecturer Series.

In its 20th year, the Stout lecture series is presented by the UNL Department of Geosciences and is the department's primary means for expanding educational opportunities for students. It is named for the late T. Mylan Stout (1914-2009), former professor of geology at UNL who was associated with the University of Nebraska for 77 years.

The Consortium for Ocean Leadership is a Washington, D.C.,-based nonprofit organization that represents 94 of the leading public and private ocean research and education institutions, aquaria and industry with the mission to advance research, education and sound ocean policy.

WRITER: Tom Simons, University Communications, (402) 472-8514