MEDIA ADVISORY March 12, 1997 PA/M 97-10
MORE LIFE BENEATH EARTHÃS SURFACE THAN ABOVE, SCIENTISTS FIND
There may be more life beneath earth's surface than on its surface. There is little doubt that a "deep biosphere" exists, scientists say; at issue are its nature and extent. The recent, rapid growth of interest in the existence of microbial life in the seafloor and continental subsurface has created a need for information synthesis to guide development of research strategies and programs.
A workshop funded by the National Science Foundation and NOAA, and co-sponsored by the RIDGE Program, Ocean Drilling Program/USSAC (United States Science Advisory Committee), NOAA VENTS Program, and University of Washington Volcano Center, will bring together more than 100 scientists working in this field to critically review evidence for subsurface microbial life. They will also consider the diversity of organisms living in the subsurface; review physiological adaptations of organisms to the subsurface environment and their influence on geochemical processes; and discuss research strategies for sampling and observing the subsurface biosphere.
Workshop convenors will report on findings at the March 19th press briefing.
Who: "Deep Biosphere" Researchers
What: Media briefing on results of subsurface biosphere scientific workshop
When: Wednesday, March 19th, at 1:00 PM
Where: American Geophysical Union, 2000 Florida Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, D.C., Conference Room C
For more information, contact: Cheryl Dybas, (703) 306-1070, [email protected]
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