Science Pub presents: 

Speaker:  Kimberly Halsey
Associate Professor
Department of Microbiology
Oregon State University
 

Description: 

Gaseous organic molecules are transferred between plankton in the surface ocean at a surprisingly high rate. These gasses, including well known solvents such as benzene, toluene, and acetone, contribute up to 20% of the marine carbon cycle. Photosynthetic plankton are the major producers of these organic gasses and diverse bacterioplankton are the consumers. Efficient gas transfer between these plankton groups limits sea-air gas emissions that have wide-ranging climate impacts.

Sponsored by Oregon State University, the Old World Deli and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.