InterRidge Biweekly E-News Archive 2008

Posted August 12th, 2008 by Coordinator

Below are copies of the biweekly e-news that is sent out to the interridge-mail list. The most recent e-news is listed first, at the top.
To view any of the previous messages sent out to the interridge-mail list, see below OR go to http://mailman.whoi.edu/mailman/listinfo/interridge-mail and then click on Interridge-mail Archives in the first subheading. This will take you to all previously sent emails (since January 2007) sorted by month.

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InterRidge Email #43 (September 8, 2008)

1. InterRidge Info
- Final Call for articles for 2008 InterRidge Newsletter
2. Upcoming Meetings
- AGU Fall Meeting, 15-19 December 2008, San Francisco, California, USA
- ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting 2009, 25-30 January 2009, Nice, France
- SubSeaTECH 2009, 22-25 June 2009, St. Petersburg, Russia
3. Job and Fellowships

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1. InterRidge Info

- Final Call for articles for 2008 InterRidge Newsletter

This is our final call for articles to be included in the 17th Volume of the InterRidge News, which will be published in November 2008.
All papers must be submitted by email to the InterRidge office (interridge@whoi.edu) by this Friday, 12 September 2008.
The annual Newsletter is a great opportunity to report the preliminary results from a recent cruise, let the community know about a new instrument or online tool that you have developed, or report on a workshop or meeting in the past year. Articles involving multi-national cooperation are especially encouraged.

For more information about submitting an article:
http://www.interridge.org/node/222

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2. Upcoming Meetings

- AGU Fall Meeting 2008, 15-19 December 2008, San Francisco, California, USA

http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm08/
Abstract deadline: 10 September 2008

Additional session of interest to InterRidge:
B32: Linking Geochemistry, Geology, and Microbiology in Hydrothermal Systems
Conveners: Cristina Takacs-Vesbach and W.C. Pat Shanks
Hydrothermal features require truly interdisciplinary research approaches to understand linkages among the geochemistry, geology, and microbiology of these unique systems. This session will host presentations that are focused on collaborative investigations of terrestrial and marine hydrothermal features around the world with the goal of understanding the factors that drive geochemistry and community composition. We are especially interested in studies that synthesize large, diverse datasets that relate ecologic, molecular, and geochemical data.

Please see list of several sessions of interest to InterRidge at:
http://www.interridge.org/node/5537

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- ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting 2009, 25-30 January 2009, Nice, France

http://www.aslo.org/meetings/nice2009/
Abstract deadline: 3 October 2008

Additional session of interest to InterRidge:
061. Identifying potential model organisms from extreme marine and terrestrial aquatic environments
Organizers: Cynan Ellis Evans, jcel[at]bas.ac.uk; Ricardo Amils, ramils[at]cbm.uam.es
Model organisms are practical to study and work with and have allowed major scientific progress. A similar approach should be adopted when considering life processes in extreme environments. Some species are well adapted to their environment and may be considered as accurate representatives for understanding adaptation mechanisms and survival strategies in a given extreme environment. Such species may encompass a wide range of characteristics, and could provide new insights to life in extreme environments through studies at the molecular, cellular and organism level. Focusing and converging research on such model species at different stages of their life cycle would reveal a large amount of knowledge on the mechanisms and strategies developed to cope with extreme environments. The session would consider the issue of potential model organisms (microbes, algae, animals) evolving in extreme marine environments and extreme continental water systems (e.g. acidic rivers, hot springs, soda lakes). This session would be organised by the FP7 CAREX project (Coordination Action for Research Activities on life in Extreme Environments).

Please see list of several sessions of interest to InterRidge at:
http://www.interridge.org/node/5508

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- SubSeaTECH 2009, 22-25 June 2009, St. Petersburg, Russia

SubSeaTECH 2009
International Conference on Subsea Technologies
http://www.subseatech2009.smtu.ru

First Announcement and Pre-Registration
International conference SubSeaTECH2009 will be held in St-Petersburg from 22 through 25 June 2009 and is timed at the 4th International Maritime Defense Show. SubSeaTECH2009 is organized by St-Petersburg Branch of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (BIMarEST) with participation of St-Petersburg State Marine Technical University (SMTU) and the Scientific and Technical Society of Shipbuilders of the Russian Federation, and in association with the Society for Underwater Technology (SUT, UK).

Call for Papers
Papers are invited on the following subjects related to subsea technologies:
1. Underwater Vehicles (Concepts, Design, Construction)
2. Subsystems of Underwater Vehicles
3. Applications of Underwater Vehicles
4. Subsea Production and Transportation Systems

Deputy Chairman of the International Organizing Committee:
Professor Kirill V. Rozhdestvensky, D Sc, CEng, FIMarEST
Email: kvr[at]smtu.ru

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Meetings are also posted on the IR website (http://www.interridge.org/events).

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3. Jobs and Fellowships

One new job has been posted to the "interridge-classifieds" mailing list and our website (http://www.interridge.org/jobs):

- Junior Group Leader - Marine Geochemistry - MPI-Bremen (Germany)

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To sign up for the interridge-classifieds list, go to -
http://mailman.whoi.edu/mailman/listinfo/interridge-classifieds

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InterRidge Email #42 (August 25, 2008)

1. InterRidge Info
- InterRidge mourns the loss of Dr. Karen Von Damm

2. Upcoming Meetings
- Underwater Mining Institute Conference, 17-21 November 2008, Oxford, Mississippi, USA
- AGU Fall Meeting, 15-19 December 2008, San Francisco, California, USA

3. Job and Fellowships

4. Other
- IODP Call for Scientific Ocean Drilling Proposals
- Request from International Seabed Authority for video clips

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1. InterRidge Info

- InterRidge mourns the loss of Dr. Karen Von Damm

The InterRidge community mourns the loss of Dr. Karen Von Damm, a full professor and world-renowned researcher in marine geochemistry at the University of New Hampshire, who passed away at her home in Durham, NH, on August 15, 2008. The InterRidge Office thanks Dr. Rachel Haymon, Dr. Dan Fornari, and colleagues and friends of Dr. Von Damm for contributing the moving tribute posted at: http://www.interridge.org/node/5615.
Dr. Von Damm served on the InterRidge Steering Committee in the mid-1990's and was very active with the USA Ridge 2000 Program. She will be greatly missed in the InterRidge community.

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2. Upcoming Meetings

- Underwater Mining Institute Conference, 17-21 November 2008, Oxford, Mississippi, USA

UMI 2008: Marine Minerals: Technological Solutions and Environmental Challenges
The 38th Annual Conference of the Underwater Mining Institute
November 17-21, 2008, The University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, USA
http://www.underwatermining.org/
Registration deadline: 15 September 2008.

The Underwater Mining Institute (UMI) brings together leaders from academia, industry, and government who share a common interest in marine mining and exploration. For nearly four decades, over 25 nations have been represented at this annual forum to exchange ideas, seek expertise, and share in the excitement of this evolving industry.

Presentations by InterRidge Members include:
Georgy Cherkashov (Russia, Member of Seafloor Mineralization WG):
The Geological Setting, Morphology and Physical Properties of Massive Sulfide Deposits: Important Parameters for Future Mining Technology
Charles Fisher (USA, Co-Chair of Vent Ecology WG):
Physiological Ecology and Biodiversity of Animal Life around Hydrothermal Vents and Hydrocarbon Seeps
Cindy Lee Van Dover (USA, Member of Long-Range Exploration WG)
Variability in Environmental Characteristics of Hydrothermal-Vent Ecosystems: What’s at Risk?

Technical Program Chair: Dr. Charles L. Morgan
Technical Program Co-chair and Host: Dr. Robin C. Buchannon
Conference Coordinator: Ms. Karynne Morgan (karynnem@hawaii.edu)

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- AGU Fall Meeting 2008, 15-19 December 2008, San Francisco, California, USA

In addition to the scientific sessions, the AGU Public Information staff is offering a free workshop:
Workshop on Communicating Your Science to the Public
Sunday, 14 December 2008, 8:30AM - 4:00PM
Learn from journalists, public information officers, and others how to convey research findings and their significance to the public both clearly and simply.
http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm08/index.php/Workshop/HomePage

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Meetings are also posted on the IR website (http://www.interridge.org/events).

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3. Jobs and Fellowships

One new job has been posted to the "interridge-classifieds" mailing list and our website (http://www.interridge.org/jobs):

- 2009 SOEST Young Investigator Postdoctoral Program - Hawaii, USA

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To sign up for the interridge-classifieds list, go to -
http://mailman.whoi.edu/mailman/listinfo/interridge-classifieds

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4. Other

- IODP Call for Scientific Ocean Drilling Proposals

The Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) explores Earth's history, structure, dynamics and deep biosphere through seafloor drilling, coring and downhole measurements. Multiple drilling platforms - operated by three partners in the USA, Japan, and Europe - include riser drilling technology, and permit operations in a variety of environments. Approximately two years of drilling currently remain before the current phase of IODP ends in 2013. Truly innovative and mature proposals can still be incorporated into the current drilling program. Proposals submitted but not implemented before the end of the current program will form an important basis for program renewal (2013-2023) and will be carried forward. Proposals may target themes and initiatives outlined in the IODP Initial Science Plan (ISP): the deep biosphere and the subseafloor ocean; environmental change, processes, and effects; and solid Earth cycles and geodynamics. See the ISP at http://www.iodp.org/isp.

Preliminary proposals for new and innovative projects that can influence the program beyond its renewal are encouraged, as are ancillary project letters that may take advantage of drilling platform transit interims (between expeditions). Full proposals are also welcome. The next submission deadline is 1 October 2008. Submissions will be evaluated by the IODP Science Advisory Structure. Further details are posted at http://www.iodp.org/drilling-proposals. Email questions to science@iodp-mi-sapporo.org.

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- Request from International Seabed Authority for video clips

One of the priorities of the International Seabed Authority (ISA, http://www.isa.org.jm/) is to promote and encourage marine scientific research in the international seabed area beyond the limits of national jurisdiction. The ISA is currently preparing a DVD to highlight their workshop and research activities. For research activities, they are interested in including video of seabed resources such as polymetallic nodules, polymetallic sulphides, and cobalt-rich crusts. If you are interested in submitting video clips of your research at the abyssal plain, hydrothermal vents, or seamounts, please contact Dr. Adam Cook, Scientific Affairs Officer at the ISA, at ACook@isa.org.jm. The DVD will be freely distributed from the ISA.

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InterRidge Email #41 (August 11, 2008)
1. InterRidge Info
- InterRidge featured in Marine Scientist magazine
- Call for papers for the InterRidge News 2008
2. Upcoming Meetings
- AGU Fall Meeting 2008, 15-19 December 2008, San Francisco, CA (USA)
- ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting 2009, 25-30 January 2009, Nice, France
- AGU Joint Assembly 2009, 24–27 May 2009, Toronto, Canada
3. Job and Fellowships
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1. InterRidge Info
- InterRidge featured in Marine Scientist magazine
InterRidge is featured in an upcoming issue of Marine Scientist magazine. A preview of the article is posted as a PDF on the InterRidge website at: http://www.interridge.org/files/interridge/InterRidge_interview_Marine_S...
Marine Scientist (http://www.imarest.org/scientist/) is a publication of IMarEST, an international membership organization for marine science, engineering and technology professionals.
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- Call for papers for the InterRidge News 2008
We are requesting article submissions for the 17th Volume of the InterRidge News, which will be published in November 2008. All papers must be submitted by email to the InterRidge office (interridge@whoi.edu) by Friday, 12 September 2008 (one month from now).
For more information and formatting guidelines, please see: http://www.interridge.org/en/node/222.
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2. Upcoming Meetings
- AGU Fall Meeting 2008, 15-19 December 2008, San Francisco, CA (USA)
2008 AGU Fall Meeting, 15-19 December 2008, San Francisco, California, USA
http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm08/
Abstract deadline: 10 September 2008.
Additional sessions of interest to InterRidge Members (updated from InterRidge Email #40):
B15: Life in the Deep Subsurface: A Decade of Peeking at the Unseen Majority
V07: Abyssal Mantle: Origin and Surface Exposure Processes of Ultramafic Rocks
V42: Geochemical Heterogeneities in OIB and MORB Sources: Implications for Melting Processes and Mantle Dynamics
(Session abstracts on InterRidge website at: http://www.interridge.org/node/5537)
Contact Information:
AGU Meetings Department
2000 Florida Avenue, NW
Washington DC 20009 USA
Phone: +1 202 462 6900
N. America: (800) 966-2481
E-mail: fm-help@agu.org (Subject: 2008 Fall Meeting)
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- ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting 2009, 25-30 January 2009, Nice, France
2009 ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting, 25-30 January 2009, Nice, France
http://www.aslo.org/meetings/nice2009/
Call for Papers: due 3 October 2008.
With this third international ASLO Meeting in Europe and the only ASLO meeting in 2009, the picturesque coasts and towns of Southern France invite you to share and exchange your scientific findings and viewpoints with colleagues from all over the world with a touch of Mediterranean life style.
Session co-sponsored by InterRidge:
032. From molecules to organisms: Chemoautotrophic pathways and mechanisms of energy transfer in extreme marine environments
Organizers: Nadine Le Bris, nlebris[at]ifremer.fr; Michail Yakimov, michail.yakimov[at]iamc.cnr.it; Stefan Sievert, ssievert[at]whoi.edu
Extreme environments in the deep-sea, such as hydrothermal vents, hydrocarbon seeps, brine lakes or massive organic falls are characterised by steep chemical gradients at the interface between reducing fluids and seawater. Lower pH, high concentration of toxic gases (e.g., H2S, CO2) and dissolved metals constraint the ability of organisms to live at these interfaces. These environments however harbour some of the most productive marine communities. Chemolithoautotrophy and symbioses have been identified as key processes sustaining high biomass production in some particular contexts, but much remains to be known about the mechanisms of energy transfer from molecules to organisms in a wide range of oceanic settings and their role in ocean biogeochemistry. The aim of this session is to bring together microbiology, biochemistry, geochemistry and symbiosis biology to provide a more comprehensive view of the diverse mechanisms sustaining high biological activity at redox chemical interfaces in the deep ocean. Availability of chemical substrates, diversity of pathways related to carbon fixation and energy generation, metabolic preferences of prokaryotes, adaptability of symbioses and their interactions with biogeochemical processes, as well as the potential large-scale impacts of these processes will be considered. Submissions describing interdisciplinary work and/or new analytical capabilities will be particularly welcome.
Additional session of interest to InterRidge members:
034. Life in extreme environments: deep-sea chemosynthetic ecosystems
Organizers: François H. Lallier, lallier[at]sb-roscoff.fr; Charles R. Fisher, cfisher[at]psu.edu
In some deep-sea spots where sufficient and appropriate chemicals are available, chemotrophy may develop into a primary production comparable to phototrophy and sustain complex ecosystems. Hot vents, cold seeps, whale falls or mud volcanoes share a number of characteristics that support similar microbial and faunal assemblages. Exploration of the functional biodiversity of prokaryotic micro-organisms is rapidly developing and allows for an improved understanding of the symbiotic associations and biogeochemical interactions which dominate in these extreme environments.
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- AGU Joint Assembly 2009, 24–27 May 2009, Toronto, Canada
The Meeting of the Americas - AGU 2009 Joint Assembly
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 24–27 May 2009
http://www.agu.org/meetings/ja09/
Session Proposal Submissions Open - Deadline: 5 November 2008
The 2009 Joint Assembly is being held 24-27 May 2009 at the Toronto Convention Centre, located at 255 Front Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Program Committee is developing a Union-wide science program that will cover topics in all areas of geophysical sciences. With its diverse attractions, character, and international spirit, Toronto is the perfect setting for a productive meeting!
Contact Information:
AGU Meetings Department
2000 Florida Avenue, NW
Washington DC 20009 USA
Phone: +1 202 462 6900
N. America: (800) 966-2481
Fax: +1 202 328 0566
E-mail: ja-help@agu.org (Subject: 2009 Joint Assembly)
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Meetings are also posted on the IR website (http://www.interridge.org/events).
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3. Jobs and Fellowships
Two new jobs have been posted to the "interridge-classifieds" mailing list and our website (http://www.interridge.org/jobs):
- Research Geoscientist - Seabed Ore Systems - CSIRO (Australia)
- Postdoc and PhD student - Geobiology - Goettingen University (Germany)
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To sign up for the interridge-classifieds list, go to -
http://mailman.whoi.edu/mailman/listinfo/interridge-classifieds
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InterRidge Email #40 (July 28, 2008)

1. InterRidge Info
- Qingdao Ocean Sciences Summer School 2008
- New Working Group proposals posted to InterRidge website
- OSPAR Commission adapts InterRidge "Code of Conduct"
2. News from the Ridge Crest
- (Corrected) Discovery of world’s most northerly black smokers at 73°N
3. Upcoming Meetings
- AGU Fall Meeting 2008, 15-19 December 2008, San Francisco, CA (USA)
4. Job and Fellowships

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1. InterRidge Info

- Qingdao Ocean Sciences Summer School 2008

Hosted by the Ocean University of China from 14 - 20 July 2008, the Qingdao Ocean Sciences Summer School was one of the largest gatherings ever held for graduate students in biogeosciences and oceanography in China. Approximately 200 students and 40 speakers participated in the event, entitled “International Advances in Deep-Sea Geo-Bioscience Research.” The Summer School was organized by the National Laboratory for Marine Science & Technology (MNL) in Qingdao and the International Professionals for Advancement of Chinese Earth Sciences (IPACES) and was sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Ministry of Science and Technology, Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), China Ocean Mineral Resources R&D Association (COMRA), and other research institutions and universities. Dr. Zuosheng Yang, Distinguished Professor and Honorary Director of the Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Studies at the Ocean University of China, led the Organizing Committee. InterRidge Chair, Jian Lin (WHOI), was also involved in organizing the event, coordinating the international participation.
For a brief article and photos of the event, please link to: http://interridge.whoi.edu/en/node/5580.

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- New Working Group proposals posted to InterRidge website

All 8 Active Working Groups are now listed in the right-hand menu of the InterRidge website (http://www.interridge.org).
You can now read the proposals for the 4 new Working Groups that were approved by the Steering Committee in 2008. Some of these new Working Groups are still recruiting members. If you are interested in being involved with a Working Group, please contact the respective Working Group Chair.

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- OSPAR Commission adapts InterRidge "Code of Conduct"

OSPAR, the inter-governmental body protecting the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic (http://www.ospar.org), recently released a Code of Conduct for Responsible Marine Research in the Deep Seas and High Seas of the OSPAR Maritime Area. Their Code of Conduct is based on the InterRidge Statement of Responsible Research Practices at Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vents (http://www.interridge.org/IRstatement). You can sign onto the InterRidge Statement at: http://www.interridge.org/node/add/signstatement.

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2. News from the Ridge Crest

- (Corrected) Discovery of world’s most northerly black smokers at 73°N

The InterRidge Office has just received news that the world's most northerly black smoker hydrothermal vent field was discovered at 2400m in the North Atlantic at 73°N. The discovery occurred on July 12, 2008, during a cruise led by Rolf B. Pedersen, Professor of Geology and leader of the Centre for Geobiology at the University of Bergen, Norway. The cruise included PIs from Norway, Portugal, Switzerland, and USA.
For more information, including a photo and press release, please link to: http://interridge.whoi.edu/en/node/5581.

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3. Upcoming Meetings

- AGU Fall Meeting 2008, 15-19 December 2008, San Francisco, CA (USA)

2008 AGU Fall Meeting, 15-19 December 2008, San Francisco, California, USA
http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm08/
Abstract deadline: 10 September 2008.

Sessions of interest to InterRidge Members:
B11: Developing Integrated Models for Mid-ocean Ridge Processes at the Ridge 2000 East Pacific Rise Integrated Study Site
T05: Magmatic, Tectonic, and Hydrothermal Interactions at (Ultra-) Slow Spreading Mid-Ocean Ridges
V16: Oceanic Spreading Centers and Volcanic Rift Systems: Tracking Fluxes and the Interplay Between Processes from Mantle to Microbe
V25: New Insights on the Formation and Evolution of Fast-Spreading Ocean Crust from IODP Site 1256, Pito and Hess Deeps, and Active Ridges
V32: Hydrology of Marine Hydrothermal Systems

Contact Information:
AGU Meetings Department
2000 Florida Avenue, NW
Washington DC 20009 USA
Phone: +1 202 462 6900
N. America: (800) 966-2481
E-mail: fm-help@agu.org (Subject: 2008 Fall Meeting)

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Meetings are also posted on the IR website (http://www.interridge.org/events).

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4. Jobs and Fellowships

Two new jobs have been posted to the "interridge-classifieds" mailing list and our website (http://www.interridge.org/jobs):

- Researcher / Postdoctoral Researcher - Extremobiosphere Research Center - JAMSTEC (Japan)
- Faculty Position - Geochronology, Petrology, and Geodynamics - Stanford University (USA)

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To sign up for the interridge-classifieds list, go to -
http://mailman.whoi.edu/mailman/listinfo/interridge-classifieds

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InterRidge Email #39 (July 14, 2008)

1. InterRidge Info
- Call for papers for the InterRidge News 2008
2. News from the Ridge Crest
- Daily dispatches from multi-disciplinary cruise to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
3. Job and Fellowships
4. Other
- New book: Magma to Microbe: Modeling Hydrothermal Processes at Oceanic Spreading Centers

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1. InterRidge Info

- Call for papers for the InterRidge News 2008

The InterRidge Office is requesting article submissions for the 17th Volume of the InterRidge News, which will be published in November 2008.
InterRidge News is published annually by the InterRidge Office. The newsletter contains brief research articles, the world ridge cruise schedule, updates from the InterRidge Working Groups and from our National Correspondents, and a calendar of upcoming meetings of interest to the InterRidge community. InterRidge News is intended for the rapid publication of preliminary results and cruise reports that do not appear in other publications.
All papers must be submitted by email to the InterRidge office
(interridge@whoi.edu) by Friday, 12 September 2008.
Please see the following webpage for formatting guidelines:
http://www.interridge.org/IRNewsletter/formatting

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2. News from the Ridge Crest

- Daily dispatches from multi-disciplinary cruise to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

A multi-disciplinary cruise aboard the R/V Revelle with ROV Jason II is underway at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge from 9 July - 8 August 2008. The cruise includes three science teams, led by scientists Anna-Louise Reysenbach, Jeff Seewald, and Bill Seyfried and Kang Ding from the USA. Participants also come from China, Portugal, Russia, and The Netherlands. They will study the geochemistry, geology, microbiology, and biology of the Rainbow, Lucky Strike, Lost City, and Snake Pit vent sites.
Tune into the cruise website for daily dispatches:
http://www.deepseavoyage.research.pdx.edu/.
In preparation for the cruise, InterRidge Working Group Chair Javier Escartin uploaded new information including GIS files for the MoMAR region to the MoMAR website: http://www.momar.org. The MoMAR'08 cruise onboard NO l'Atalante will take place in August and September, with a first Leg at Lucky Strike (PI: J. Escartin) and a second Leg at Rainbow (PI: J. Dyment).
The SISMOMAR'08 Cruise onboard NO Suroit (PI: W. Crawford) will also take place in August at the Lucky Strike segment.

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3. Jobs and Fellowships

Two new jobs have been posted to the "interridge-classifieds" mailing list and our website (http://www.interridge.org/jobs):

- Group Leaders - Marine Organismal Biology - University of Bergen (Norway)
- Lecturer - Tectonics or Structural Geology - University of Leeds (UK)

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To sign up for the interridge-classifieds list, go to - http://mailman.whoi.edu/mailman/listinfo/interridge-classifieds

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4. Other

- New book: Magma to Microbe: Modeling Hydrothermal Processes at Oceanic Spreading Centers

The American Geophysical Union (AGU) has published a new book, "Magma to
Microbe: Modeling Hydrothermal Processes at Oceanic Spreading Centers,"
edited by R.P. Lowell, M. Perfit, J. Seewald, and A. Metaxas.
For more details and information about ordering the book, please go to the AGU website:
http://www.agu.org/cgi-bin/agubooks?book=SEGM1784436

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InterRidge Email #38 (June 30, 2008)

1. InterRidge Info
- Awards at the MATE International Student ROV Competition

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1. InterRidge Info

- Awards at the MATE International Student ROV Competition

Dear InterRidge community,

I am writing you from the Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) International Student ROV Competition in San Diego, California. This year, the theme was "Discovering the Mysteries of Mid-Ocean Ridges," sponsored in part by the USA Ridge 2000 Program. Student teams built ROVs for missions that simulated work at hydrothermal vents, such as measuring temperature at a black smoker, collecting sulfide and basalt samples, collecting vent crabs, and recovering an ocean bottom seismometer. A total of 51 teams from 5 countries (Canada, China, Russia, UK, USA) competed in the event. The competition was organized in two groups: "Ranger" teams, which consisted mainly of high school students, and "Explorer" teams which included college and university students.

In addition to building the ROVs, the students prepared technical reports and poster displays to describe their work. Donna Blackman (InterRidge Steering Committee member and Ridge 2000 Chair) and I judged these reports and posters to give awards from InterRidge to these very deserving students. Specifically, we were looking to see how the students compared their ROV and mission tasks to the real science that is conducted at hydrothermal vents. We also looked for their discussion of the importance of teamwork and cooperation and gave an extra bonus when they included an international component in their description of research at mid-ocean ridges.

For the Explorers, the InterRidge Award for Hottest Hydrothermal Vent Team went to Flower Mound High School, Flower Mound, Texas (USA). Team members include Collin Cragin, Luke Cragin, Nathan Georges and Sung Ho Park. The Flower Mound High School team compared their ROV, "Petsuchos", to the French ROV Victor 6000 working at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. In particular, they pointed to the use of ROV Victor 6000 in multi-disciplinary studies of the Rainbow hydrothermal site. To quote their report, "... we can see how the use of the unmanned ROV can help with the scientific exploration in extreme environmental conditions."

For the Rangers, the InterRidge Award for Hottest Hydrothermal Vent Team went to a group of students sponsored by the New York City Home Educators Alliance (USA). Team members include Raph Hubbard, Joshua Rosenthal, Aviv Crowell Lang, Spencer Yamada, and Cole Houston. They compared their ROV, "gROVer", to the Canadian ROV ROPOS working at the Juan de Fuca Ridge. They met with Dr. Ed Mathez, curator at the American Museum of Natural History, to learn about the collection of the black smoker chimney on display at the museum. To quote their report, "In the process of preparing for the competition, we researched a team that brought black smokers to the surface. We learned that, while our missions are very different, the challenges and obstacles we face are very similar."

We also awarded an overall Honorable Mention to the Ranger team from Edgewater High School, Orlando, Florida (USA). This team's poster was the most effective in conveying to a general audience the importance of research at mid-ocean ridges. They compared their ROV, "Caprimulgus", to MBARI's ROV Tiburon working at the Juan de Fuca Ridge. As part of their fundraising and outreach, they set up a booth at a local farmer's market at which they practiced presenting and answering questions about their ROV and educated visitors about ROVs and mid-ocean ridges.

I am honored to have taken part as a judge in this very exciting event, and I was greatly impressed by the students and the capabilities of their ROVs. I posted the teams' reports on the IR website at:
http://www.interridge.org/node/4902.

Best regards,
Stace

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InterRidge Email #37 (June 16, 2008)

1. InterRidge Info
- Signing onto the InterRidge "Code of Conduct"
2. National Program Info
- USA Ridge 2000 Mid-Atlantic Ridge Workshop Report now available
3. Upcoming Meetings
- SCOR General Meeting, 22-24 October 2008, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA
- 7th International Symposium for Subsurface Microbiology, 16-21 November 2008, Shizuoka, Japan
4. Job and Fellowships

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1. InterRidge Info

- Signing onto the InterRidge "Code of Conduct"

As we mentioned in the previous biweekly news email, InterRidge Members now have the opportunity to sign onto the InterRidge "Statement of Commitment to Responsible Research Practices at Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vents" at:
http://www.interridge.org/node/add/signstatement.
Jian Lin, our InterRidge Chair, will give a presentation on these six guidelines at the Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (AOGS) Conference this week in Busan, Korea. The guidelines have previously been presented in North America (AAAS 2006), Europe (ESOF 2006), and South America (Brazilian Geophysical Society 2007) and at the UN Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (2007).

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2. National Program Info

- USA Ridge 2000 Mid-Atlantic Ridge Workshop Report now available

The workshop report from the Ridge 2000 Mid-Atlantic Ridge ~35°-37.5°N Workshop held in Portland, Oregon, 27-28 March 2008 is now available on the R2K website at: http://www.ridge2000.org/science/meetings/index.php.

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3. Upcoming Meetings

- SCOR General Meeting, 22-24 October 2008, Woods Hole, Massachusetts (USA)

XXIXth SCOR General Meeting 2008
22-24 October 2008, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA
To be held at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, following the SCOR 50th Anniversary Symposium.
http://www.scor-int.org/2008GM/2008GM.htm

One of the proposals for a new SCOR Working Group is an outcome of the 2007 InterRidge IRTI on Biogeochemical Interactions at Hydrothermal Vents. The proposal, titled "Hydrothermal energy transfer and its impact on the ocean carbon cycles," was submitted by Nadine Le Bris (France) and Chris German (USA) as co-chairs of a diverse group of proposed members. If you are interested in more information, you can view the proposal online at the SCOR website (URL above) or contact Nadine (Nadine.Le.Bris@ifremer.fr) or Chris (cgerman@whoi.edu). Each proposal will be evaluated by national SCOR committees in terms of scientific merit and quality, timeliness, and achievability of the proposed terms of reference. SCOR tentatively plans to start two new working groups in 2009, pending availability of adequate funding.

Contact: Ed Urban (secretariat@scor-int.org)

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- 7th International Symposium for Subsurface Microbiology, 16-21 November 2008, Shizuoka, Japan

7th International Symposium for Subsurface Microbiology
16-21 November 2008, Shizuoka, Japan
http://www.issm2008.com/
Abstract submission deadline for oral presentation REVISED: 30 June 2008.
Abstract submission deadline for poster REVISED: 16 July 2008.

The application of molecular approaches to the study of subsurface microbial ecology has been most encouraging in the past decade. As would naturally be expected - the deeper we delve the more diverse the discoveries.

Scientific Sessions (status of 30 May 2008):
1. Microbes in aquifer: nature, contamination and its biotechnological alteration.
2. Evolution of geochemical and microbiological systems (Convener: Ken Takai, Member of InterRidge Working Group on Biogeochemical Interaction at Deep-Sea Vents).
3. Search for life in Mars and other environments (Convener: Takeshi Naganuma, InterRidge Member).
4. Interaction between surface and subsurface in terrestrial and marine systems.
5. Meta-genomics and its future in geobiology.
6. Geological radioactive waste disposal and subsurface microbiology.
7. Subseafloor microbial life and biosphere.
8. Petroleum and gas hydrate.
9. Technology for subsurface sciences (Convener: Hiroyuki Yamamoto, InterRidge Member).

------------------------------------------
Meetings are also posted on the IR website (http://www.interridge.org/events).

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4. Jobs and Fellowships

One new job has been posted to the "interridge-classifieds" mailing list and our website (http://www.interridge.org/jobs):

- Tenure track - Geomicrobiologist - NIOZ (The Netherlands)

----------------------------------------------
To sign up for the interridge-classifieds list, go to -
http://mailman.whoi.edu/mailman/listinfo/interridge-classifieds

===============================================

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InterRidge Email #36 (June 2, 2008)

1. InterRidge Info
- Signing onto the InterRidge Statement of Commitment to Responsible Research Practices
- InterRidge website homepage in Russian
2. News from the Ridge Crest
- Cruise underway at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 45 degrees 30' N
3. Upcoming Meetings
- AGU Fall Meeting 2008, 15-19 December 2008, San Francisco, CA (USA)
4. Job and Fellowships

===============================================
1. InterRidge Info

- Signing onto the InterRidge Statement of Commitment to Responsible Research Practices

In 2006 InterRidge published a "Statement of Commitment to Responsible Research Practices at Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vents" which established six guidelines for responsible research activity at hydrothermal vents.
This statement has been signed by the InterRidge Steering Committee and Working Group Chairs. We now would like to offer you the opportunity, as an individual member scientist of InterRidge, to sign onto the statement and agree to abide by the six guidelines.
We created a simple sign-in form at:
http://www.interridge.org/node/add/signstatement.
This page also offers access to the complete statement (http://www.interridge.org/IRstatement) from InterRidge News, Vol. 15, 2006, as well as to a one-page flier that Members can post during their research cruises.
When you sign onto the statement, your name, title, and institution will be added to a list of "Who has signed the statement" that will be available online to InterRidge Members (you will need to log into your InterRidge Member Account to access the list) or by direct request to the InterRidge Coordinator at .

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- InterRidge website homepage in Russian

You may have noticed another language option on the InterRidge website homepage (http://www.interridge.org)! The InterRidge Office would like to thank Dr. Alexey Novoselov (Vernadsky Institute, Moscow) and Dr. Natasha Novoselova (Russian Academy of Sciences) for translating the InterRidge website homepage into Russian. In addition, we are very pleased to acknowledge that they also translated the InterRidge "Statement of Commitment to Responsible Research Practices at Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vents" into Russian.
We welcome volunteers from the InterRidge community to translate the homepage and "Statement of Commitment" into other languages. If you are interested in helping this effort, please contact the InterRidge Coordinator at .

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2. News from the Ridge Crest

- Cruise underway at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 45 degrees 30' N

Daily dispatches are posted from 23 May to 28 June 2008 for Cruise JC24 of RRS James Cook, at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 45 degrees 30' N.
Log on to watch the action as the scientific team, led by Dr. Roger Searle (Durham University, UK), uses the ROV Isis for a detailed study of the geology and geochemistry of the axial volcanic ridge.
Website (aimed mainly at schools and the general public): http://www.classroomatsea.net.

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3. Upcoming Meetings

- AGU Fall Meeting 2008, 15-19 December 2008, San Francisco, CA (USA)

2008 AGU Fall Meeting, 15-19 December 2008, San Francisco, California, USA
http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm08/
Session proposal deadline: 13 June 2008.

The Fall Meeting is expected to draw a crowd of over 15,000 geophysicists from around the world. The Fall Meeting provides an opportunity for researchers, teachers, students, and consultants to present and review the latest issues affecting the Earth, the planets, and their environments in space. This meeting will cover topics in all areas of Earth and space sciences.

Contact Information:
AGU Meetings Department
2000 Florida Avenue, NW
Washington DC 20009 USA
Phone: +1 202 462 6900
N. America: (800) 966-2481
E-mail: fm-help@agu.org (Subject: 2008 Fall Meeting)

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Meetings are also posted on the IR website (http://www.interridge.org/events).

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4. Jobs and Fellowships

Four new jobs have been posted to the "interridge-classifieds" mailing list and our website (http://www.interridge.org/jobs):

- Lecturer - Geophysics - National Oceanography Centre (UK)
- MARUM Fellowship - University of Bremen, Germany
- Associate Professors - Geophysics - Peking University
- Professor - Submarine Geophysics - University of Tokyo

----------------------------------------------
To sign up for the interridge-classifieds list, go to -
http://mailman.whoi.edu/mailman/listinfo/interridge-classifieds

===============================================

InterRidge Email #35 (May 19, 2008)

1. InterRidge Info
- Announcement of awards for 2008 InterRidge Student Fellowships

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1. InterRidge Info

- Announcement of awards for 2008 InterRidge Student Fellowships

The InterRidge Steering Committee is very pleased to announce the awards for the 2008 InterRidge Student Fellowship Program. The awards go to Michelle Harris, a Ph.D. candidate at the National Oceanography Centre (NOC), UK, to work at a laboratory in Canada, and to Kerry Howard, a Ph.D. candidate at Cardiff University, UK, to conduct research in France.

The title of Harris's project is "An oxygen isotope investigation of an intact section of upper ocean crust." Harris will analyze samples obtained at ODP/IODP Hole 1256D on the flank of the East Pacific Rise. These data will supplement existing whole rock oxygen data and be combined with strontium isotope data from the same samples to quantify fluid flow in the Site 1256 upper crust. Harris is advised by Dr. Damon Teagle and Dr. Tim Henstock at NOC, and the fellowship will be conducted with Dr. Neil Banerjee at University of Western Ontario, Canada.

The title of Howard's proposal is "Accretion of fast-spread lower oceanic crust at Hess Deep." On the walls of the Hess Deep rift valley, a section of crust from the East Pacific Rise is exposed. Howard will conduct petrographic analyses, including electron backscatter diffraction measurements of crystal lattice-preferred orientations, for samples obtained with ROV Isis in 2008. Howard is advised by Dr. Chris MacLeod at Cardiff University, and the fellowship will be conducted with Dr. Benoit Ildefonse at Universite Montpellier II, France.

Later this year, we will profile our two fellows on the InterRidge website and in our annual Newsletter. Congratulations to both!

The competition was very strong for these two awards. All applicant proposals were reviewed by two topical science reviewers (one a native and the other a non-native English speaker). The Steering Committee then ranked the proposals, using criteria ranging from the quality and expected significance of the work to whether the fellowship would provide benefits to the student beyond just an addition to their thesis research (e.g., establish new collaboration, provide experience in communicating science outside of their native language). There was much discussion about the review process itself, and we learned a lot in this first year and will continue to improve the Fellowship Program in the years ahead. We are grateful to the major efforts of all student applicants and their advisors and sponsors, as well as the thorough evaluations by all reviewers.

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InterRidge Email #34 (May 5, 2008)

1. News from the Ridge Crest
- Australian cruise SS07-2008 in the northern Lau Back-arc Basin
2. Jobs and Fellowships

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1. News from the Ridge Crest

- Australian cruise SS07-2008 in the northern Lau Back-arc Basin

The InterRidge Office would like to highlight an Australian research cruise currently underway in the northern Lau Back-arc Basin (NLB). The SS07-2008 cruise, led by Chief Scientist Richard Arculus from Australian National University, will be in two legs from 30 April - 7 June 2008 on R/V Southern Surveyor. The objective of the first leg will be to survey the bathymetry, magnetic characteristics, petrology, hydrothermal activity, and hence origins and evolution of two of four spreading centers within this region (Northwest Lau [NWLSC] and Niuafo’ou [NSC]), which are essentially unstudied. This first leg will build on the efforts from the NoToVE cruise in 2004 in which the other two spreading centers within this region (Fonualei Rifts and Futuna) were surveyed. The objective of the second leg is to extend the area of exploration to the Peggy Ridge, a leaky transform linking spreading centers in the southeastern Lau Basin with the NWLSC and Futuna SC to the north of Fiji.
Questions to be addressed include:
1. How does the plate tectonics of the rapidly extending NLB work?
2. What are the nature and source characteristics of the magmatism accompanying the different crustal accretion variables in the NLB?
3. Does the Samoan mantle plume penetrate beneath the NLB?
4. What are the characteristics of volatile distribution in the mantle sources of NLB basalts?
5. What are the hydrothermal characteristics of the NLB?
Participants from several Australian universities, government agencies, and industry are involved. The cruise also involves collaboration with scientists from the USA, including Katherine Kelley (University of Rhode Island), Ron Greene (NOAA), and graduate student Michael Chandler (University of Hawaii).

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For more News from the Ridge Crest, please go to our website: http://www.interridge.org/RidgeCrestNews

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2. Jobs and Fellowships

Three new jobs have been posted to the "interridge-classifieds" mailing list and our website (http://www.interridge.org/jobs):

- Lecturer - Geology - Macquarie University (Australia)
- Associate Professor - Ocean Floor Geoscience - University of Tokyo
- Lecturer - Structural Geology / Tectonics - University of Melbourne

------------------------------------------
To sign up for the interridge-classifieds list, go to -
http://mailman.whoi.edu/mailman/listinfo/interridge-classifieds

===============================================

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InterRidge Email #33 (April 21, 2008)

1. InterRidge Info
- Highlighting your cruise in "News from the Ridge Crest"
2. Upcoming Meetings
- Ocean Drilling Consortium workshop, 15-17 June 2008, Houston, TX, USA
- SCOR 50th Anniversary Symposium, 20-21 October 2008, Woods Hole, MA, USA
- Underwater Mining Institute, 17-22 November 2008, Oxford, MS, USA
3. Jobs and Fellowships

===============================================
1. InterRidge Info

- Highlighting your cruise in "News from the Ridge Crest"

InterRidge would like to highlight recent and upcoming cruises to the mid-ocean ridge, back-arc spreading centers, and submarine volcanoes. On our website (http://www.interridge.org) under “Cruise Information", we provide links to "Cruise Dispatches" and "News from the Ridge Crest". For "Cruise Dispatches", we link to daily logs that are posted from sea from cruise websites. For "News from the Ridge Crest", we feature brief summaries of recent cruise activities. We are particularly interested in highlighting the international collaboration on research cruises.

===============================================
2. Upcoming Meetings

- Ocean Drilling Consortium workshop, 15-17 June 2008, Houston, TX, USA

Ocean Drilling Consortium workshop
http://www.iodp.org/ODC
Deadline for application for participation in the workshop: Wednesday, May 7, 2008.

To develop a proposal for an Ocean Drilling Consortium that would address research challenges common to the academic community and industry, it was proposed at a recent meeting attended by academic and industry representatives that a workshop be held in June 2008. This workshop is planned for June 15-17 at Rice University in Houston, Texas, USA. Support for the workshop will be provided by several energy companies.

Funding is not available from government agencies for year-round operations on the U.S.-sponsored IODP drillship. Funding is only available for an average of seven months per year, from 2009-2013. The merits of utilizing the drillship for the entire year are obvious, both for maintaining the scientific and technical infrastructure on the ship and ashore, and for maintaining the scope of scientific activities for the full year. You also may be aware of an avenue that IODP-MI and the USIO have explored together over the last six months or more, with a number of energy companies: an industry-sponsored ocean-drilling program that would be funded by a consortium of energy companies and that would utilize the JOIDES Resolution for an average of five months each year. This initiative would not replace or displace IODP. Instead, it would provide an independent program to support IODP and help maintain its viability.

The workshop will be organized around three major themes:
I. Genesis and evolution of extensional margins and basin architecture
II. De-risking uncertainty in shelf margin and deep water reservoirs
III. Distribution and genesis of Mesozoic through Paleogene marine source rocks on passive margins.

Participants will be divided into three working groups to address each theme. Each group will be charged with developing specific objectives that can be achieved by drilling. Each group should also consider the possibility of high-scientific-value, single-site targets. These could include, for example, areas with a lack of stratigraphic control and/or structural control, areas where imaging is difficult (sub-basalt, sub-salt, etc.), or high-latitude/near Arctic regions and other poorly sampled areas.

The main outcome of the workshop will be an outline of a proposal for a four-year drilling program. This will include well defined targets that are drillable within the first one to two years, as well as an outline for longer-term drilling plans.

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- SCOR 50th Anniversary Symposium, 20-21 October 2008, Woods Hole, MA, USA

SCOR 50th Anniversary Symposium
20-21 October 2008
Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA
http://www.scor-int.org/2008GM/SCOR_50th_Anniversary.htm

SCOR Turns 50! - SCOR's first annual meeting ended on 26 August 1957. SCOR will continue its work in promoting international cooperation in ocean science through its 50th year, culminating in a symposium to celebrate SCOR's history and launch its future. This symposium - The Changing Ocean: From Past to Future - will bring together scientists who contributed to SCOR's history, as well as the new generation that will be entrusted with the field's future.

Questions or Comments?
Please contact SCOR (secretariat@scor-int.org),
Robinson Hall, College of Marine and Earth Studies, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
Tel: +1-302-831-7011

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- Underwater Mining Institute, 17-22 November 2008, Oxford, MS, USA

UMI 2008:
Marine Minerals: Technological Solutions and Environmental Challenges
The 38th Annual Conference of the Underwater Mining Institute
November 17-22, 2008, The University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, USA
http://www.underwatermining.org/
Abstract submission deadline: May 30, 2008.

UMI 2008 Call for Presentations
The Underwater Mining Institute is seeking presentations focused on the following topics:
- Technological Developments Relevant to Marine Mineral Exploration and Commercial Recovery,
- The Environmental Impact Issues of Marine Mineral Developments,
- Other Related Topics of Timely Interest.

Technical Program Chair: Dr. Charles L. Morgan,
Technical Program Co-chair and Host: Dr. Robin C. Buchannon,
Conference Coordinator: Ms. Karynne Morgan (karynnem@hawaii.edu)

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Meetings are also posted on the IR website (http://www.interridge.org/events).

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3. Jobs and Fellowships

One new fellowship has been posted to the "interridge-classifieds" mailing list and our website (http://www.interridge.org/jobs):

- 2008/9 TAWNI fellowships - ChEss Census of Marine Life

------------------------------------------
To sign up for the interridge-classifieds list, go to -
http://mailman.whoi.edu/mailman/listinfo/interridge-classifieds

===============================================

InterRidge Email #32 (April 7, 2008)

1. InterRidge Info
- InterRidge website homepage in multiple languages
- 2007 InterRidge Steering Committee report available online
2. Upcoming Meetings
- International Ocean Stewardship Forum, 17-18 June 2008, Southampton, UK
- 7th International Symposium for Subsurface Microbiology, 16-21 November 2008, Shizuoka, Japan
3. Jobs and Fellowships

===============================================

1. InterRidge Info

- InterRidge website homepage in multiple languages

Last week, we launched the homepage of the InterRidge website (http://www.interridge.org) in the languages of all 6 Principal Member Nations. Now, you can navigate the website in Chinese, English, French, German, and Japanese. At present, these language pages are limited only to the "home pages," and we hope to expand the language capacities over time. We welcome volunteers from the InterRidge community to work with the InterRidge Office to develop similar home pages for other languages. If you are interested in helping this effort, please contact the InterRidge Coordinator at .

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- 2007 InterRidge Steering Committee report available online

The 2007 InterRidge Steering Committee (StCOM) meeting was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The StCOM meeting report is now available online at: http://www.interridge.org/stcom/reports. The report has updates from the InterRidge Office, Member Nations, and Working Groups, and an Action List for 2008.

===============================================

2. Upcoming Meetings

- International Ocean Stewardship Forum, 17-18 June 2008, Southampton, UK

The National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK, will host the first International Ocean Stewardship Forum from 17-18 June 2008, with the aim of facilitating the effective integration of marine science, policy and law within ocean governance.
http://www.oceanstewardship.com/

World-leading experts in these disciplines together with principal users of ocean space represented by governments, industry and academia, will meet to assess the development of a sustainable operational strategy for marine policy.

In just two days, delegates will have an opportunity to attend keynote presentations from internationally recognized authorities addressing current and emerging issues facing the marine community; join a series of structured working/discussion groups; and participate in user-driven presentation sessions where representatives of the community express their contributions, needs, challenges and offer solutions. Coupled with this formal side, there will be ample opportunity to take advantage of more focused discussion at working lunches, refreshment periods and break-out sessions.

For more information: info@oceanstewardship.com.

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- 7th International Symposium for Subsurface Microbiology, 16-21 November 2008, Shizuoka, Japan

7th International Symposium for Subsurface Microbiology
16-21 November 2008, Shizuoka, Japan
http://www.issm2008.com/
Abstract submission deadline: 16 June 2008.

Scientific Sessions to include:
1. Microbes in aquifer: nature, contamination and its biotechnological alteration.
2. Evolution of geochemical and microbiological systems (Convener: Ken Takai, Member of InterRidge Working Group on Biogeochemical Interaction at Deep-Sea Vents).
3. Search for life in Mars and other environments (Convener: Takeshi Naganuma, InterRidge Member).
4. Interaction between surface and subsurface in terrestrial and marine systems.
5. Meta-genomics and its future in geobiology.
6. Geological radioactive waste disposal and subsurface microbiology.
7. Subseafloor microbial life and biosphere.
8. Petroleum and gas hydrate.
9. Technology for subsurface sciences (Convener: Hiroyuki Yamamoto, InterRidge Member).
10. Other topics.

Some travel awards are available for students and young researchers (http://secure1.gakkai-web.net/gakkai/knt/issm_reg/award.html): application deadline 30 April 2008.

===============================================

3. Jobs and Fellowships

One new job has been posted to the "interridge-classifieds" mailing list and our website (http://www.interridge.org/jobs):

- Research scientist - seafloor imaging - University of Bremen

------------------------------------------

To sign up for the interridge-classifieds list, go to -
http://mailman.whoi.edu/mailman/listinfo/interridge-classifieds

===============================================

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InterRidge Email #31 (March 24, 2008)

1. InterRidge Info
- Final Reminder: Proposals to InterRidge Student Fellowship Program
2. National Program Info
- Abstract volume for Ridge 2000 Community Meeting now available
- Endorsement of Ridge 2000 Program through 2012
3. Jobs and Fellowships

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1. InterRidge Info

- Final Reminder: Proposals to InterRidge Student Fellowship Program

Application deadline: 31 March 2008
For details, please see: http://www.interridge.org/node/5362.

===============================================
2. National Program Info

- Abstract volume for Ridge 2000 Community Meeting now available

The Ridge 2000 "Mantle to Microbe: Integrated Studies at Oceanic Spreading Centers" meeting is taking place this week in Portland, Oregon, USA. For information about this meeting and a list of talks, please see: http://www.ridge2000.org/science/meetings/WorkshopInfo.php?workshopID=sp....
The abstract volume of posters to be presented is now available on the R2K website at: http://www.ridge2000.org/science/downloads/meetings/reports/spring08.pdf.

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- Endorsement of Ridge 2000 Program through 2012

The following is an announcement from the USA’s Ridge 2000 Program, which may be of interest to InterRidge Members, as well:
“The Program Review panel has endorsed a second phase for the Ridge 2000 Program (R2K). The main recommendation for the second phase is for a shift toward dominant emphasis on integration of results and synthesis that is guided by evolving models of (parts of) the spreading/hydrothermal geo-bio-chemical system(s). … The Panel Report is available on the R2K website (follow the 'program review' link in the sidebar at http://ridge2000.org/science/info/index.php) as is an accompanying NSF Cover Letter, which indicates agency endorsement of the recommendations. You may also find it useful to look through the summary of Program activities and progress to date that was prepared for the panel by the R2K Office, with significant Steering Committee input.”

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3. Jobs and Fellowships

One new job and one fellowship have been posted to the "interridge-classifieds" mailing list and our website (http://www.interridge.org/jobs):

- Assistant Professor - Marine Microbial Ecology - University of Delaware (USA)
- Special POGO-SCOR Fellowship - Atlantic Meridional Transect Cruise

------------------------------------------
To sign up for the interridge-classifieds list, go to -
http://mailman.whoi.edu/mailman/listinfo/interridge-classifieds

===============================================

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InterRidge Email #30 (March 10, 2008)
1. InterRidge Info
- Reminder: Proposals to InterRidge Student Fellowship Program
2. News from the Ridge Crest
- Preliminary report on the Hakuho-maru Cruise KH-07-4 Leg 2, Southwest Indian Ridge
3. Upcoming Meetings
- SCOR General Meeting 2008 and call for new working groups
4. Jobs and Fellowships
===============================================
1. InterRidge Info
- Reminder: Proposals to InterRidge Student Fellowship Program
Application deadline: 31 March 2008
For details, please see: http://www.interridge.org/node/5362.
===============================================
2. News from the Ridge Crest
- Preliminary report on the Hakuho-maru Cruise KH-07-4 Leg 2, Southwest Indian Ridge
The InterRidge Office has just received news from a January 2008 cruise on board R/V Hakuho-maru to the Southwest Indian Ridge near the Marion hotspot. We thank Dr. Nobukazu Seama, InterRidge Steering Committee Member from Japan, for providing a summary of the cruise objectives and sampling.
Please visit the InterRidge website for the cruise summary:
http://www.interridge.org/node/5452.
For ship track and sampling locations, please visit the InterRidge-Japan webpage:
http://ofgs.ori.u-tokyo.ac.jp/~intridgej/report_html/KH07-4-2/KH07-4-2.h....
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3. Upcoming Meetings
- SCOR General Meeting 2008 and call for new working groups
XXIXth SCOR General Meeting 2008
22-24 October 2008, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA
To be held at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, following the SCOR 50th Anniversary Symposium.
http://www.scor-int.org/2008GM/2008GM.htm
The SCOR Secretariat will accept proposals for new working groups from now until 31 May 2008. Model proposals and other information about working groups can be found at http://www.scor-int.org/wkgrpinfo.htm.
SCOR tentatively plans to start two new working groups in 2009, pending availability of adequate funding. Please contact Ed Urban (secretariat@scor-int.org) if you have questions about the process for working group proposals.
------------------------------------------
Meetings are also posted on the IR website (http://www.interridge.org/events).
===============================================
4. Jobs and Fellowships
One new job has been posted to the "interridge-classifieds" mailing list and our website (http://www.interridge.org/jobs):
- Director - University of Texas Institute for Geophysics - Jackson School of Geosciences
------------------------------------------
To sign up for the interridge-classifieds list, go to -
http://mailman.whoi.edu/mailman/listinfo/interridge-classifieds
===============================================

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InterRidge Email #29 (February 25th, 2008)

1. Upcoming Meetings
- OceanSensors08, Warnemunde, Germany, 31 Mar - 4 Apr 2008
- AGU 2008 Joint Assembly, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA, 27-30 May 2008
- OCEANS'08 MTS/IEEE, Quebec City, Canada, 15-18 Sep 2008
2. Jobs and Fellowships

===============================================
1. Upcoming Meetings
- OceanSensors08, Warnemunde, Germany, 31 Mar - 4 Apr 2008
http://www.oceansensors08.org/
*Registration deadline: March 10th 2008

OceanSensors08 is a workshop for marine scientists, sensor developers and technologists with an interest in determining and shaping the future of ocean sensing.
The workshop is divided in four areas:
Climate - observation techniques and instruments for air/sea fluxes, carbon measurements,
Ecosystems - observation techniques and instruments for ocean-omics, nutrient environment, ecosystem status, ground truthing of space-based observations,
Hazards - observation techniques and instruments for geohazards, hydrometeorological hazards, pollution hazards and extreme events,
Cross-cutting issues and emerging technologies.

Convened by: Tommy Dickey (UCSB, USA), Gwyn Griffiths (NOCS, UK), Ralf Prien (IOW, Germany).
Contact: Ralf Prien, Baltic Sea Research Institute Warnemünde, Marine Chemistry, E-mail: ralf.prien@io-warnemuende.de

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- AGU 2008 Joint Assembly, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA, 27-30 May 2008
The 2008 Joint Assembly - a partnership among AGU, AAGG, CIGMEX, GS, MSA, SBGf, SEG, SPD/AAS and UMEC.
http://www.agu.org/meetings/ja08/index.html
*Abstract deadline: 5 March 2008

A session of interest to InterRidge:
T02 Thermo-tectonic Models of Oceanic Lithosphere and the problem of Hydrothermal Circulation - A New Look
Conveners: Anne Hofmeister (Washington University, hofmeist@wustl.edu) and Valiya M. Hamza (Observatório Nacional - Brazil, hamza@on.br)
Understanding the thermophysical process of forming oceanic lithosphere at mid-ocean ridge pertains to plate tectonics and mantle convection, as well as to mechanisms of heat loss by the Earth. For the last 40 years, formation of the ocean lithosphere has been described using 1-dimensional vertical cooling models and such results are used to provide estimates of the global power. The diverse problems and large uncertainties associated with force-fitting these 1-d models to the 3-d lithosphere have recently been discussed in the literature, and have lead to new, substantially reduced estimates for the overall heat loss by the Earth. This session calls for papers on alternative models or measurements describing the heat flux, bathymetry, and temperature profiles of the oceanic lithosphere, locally and globally, as well as for papers that explore the implications of low global power for the Earth.

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- OCEANS'08 MTS/IEEE, Quebec City, Canada, 15-18 Sep 2008
http://www.oceans08mtsieeequebec.org/
Abstract submission deadline: 15 May 2008

In September 2008, the prestigious Oceans conference and exhibition comes to Quebec City, Canada. Oceans ’08 will coincide with the 400th anniversary of Quebec, a jewel of the World Heritage famous for its gastronomy and joie de vivre. Oceans ’08 will also happen at the pinnacle of the 4th International Polar Year (2007-2009) that focuses on the rapidly changing Polar Oceans. Thus the stars are aligning for a landmark edition of Oceans, the world’s leading conference and exhibition in ocean science, engineering, technology and management. At a time when the Northern Hemisphere is poised to shift to a new climate, our theme ‘Oceans, Poles and Climate: Technological Challenges’ will enable scientists and engineers from all over the world to discuss and debate the technological challenges raised by the study of the on-going transformation of Polar and non-polar oceans.

------------------------------------------
Meetings are also posted on the IR website (http://www.interridge.org/events).
===============================================
2. Jobs and Fellowships
One new job and one postgraduate program have been posted to the "interridge-classifieds" mailing list and our website (http://www.interridge.org/jobs):

- Assistant Professor - Oceanography - Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (USA)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Ocean Bathymetry - Univ. New Hampshire (USA)

------------------------------------------
To sign up for the interridge-classifieds list, go to -
http://mailman.whoi.edu/mailman/listinfo/interridge-classifieds
===============================================

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InterRidge Email #28 (February 11th, 2008)

1. Upcoming Meetings
- 5th Asia Oceania Geosciences Society Conference, Busan, Korea, 16-20 June 2008
- Goldschmidt Conference, Vancouver, Canada, 13-18 July 2008
- 33rd International Geological Congress, Oslo, Norway, 6-14 Aug. 2008
- 6th International Conference on Asian Marine Geology, Kochi, Japan, 29 Aug.-1 Sep. 2008
2. Jobs and Fellowships
3. Other
- Future of Marine Heat Flow workshop report available

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1. Upcoming Meetings

- 5th Asia Oceania Geosciences Society Conference, Busan, Korea, 16-20 June 2008

AOGS 2008
http://www.asiaoceania.org/aogs2008

As of last week [7 Feb. 2008], 25 abstracts have been submitted to the special session sponsored by InterRidge at AOGS 2008, “SE72: Recent multidisciplinary studies of mid-ocean ridges and ophiolites.” Scientists from eight InterRidge Member Regions and Nations are involved: China, France, Germany, India, Japan, South Korea, UK, and USA. Seven of the abstracts involve scientists from India, with studies at the Carlsberg Ridge, Andaman Back-Arc Basin, and Northern Lau Back-Arc. In particular, we would like to highlight an abstract, “Multidisciplinary Investigations Over the Carlsberg Ridge, Indian Ocean” to be presented by IR Steering Committee Member Dr. K.A. Kamesh Raju. Dr. Raju will be presenting results from a recent cruise in Oct.-Nov. 2007 in which a 600-km segment of the Carlsberg Ridge was surveyed using IMI-30 deep-tow, CTD and seabed sampling. This cruise was part of a multidisciplinary program sponsored by India’s Council of Scientific and Industrial Research to investigate the ridge systems of the Indian Ocean. This work follows from the successful InterRidge Workshop “Tectonic and Oceanic Processes along the Indian Ridge System” held at the National Institute of Oceanography in Goa, India, in 2005.

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- Goldschmidt Conference, Vancouver, Canada, 13-18 July 2008

There are two additional sessions of interest to InterRidge at the upcoming Goldschmidt Conference (http://www.goldschmidt2008.org/).
For a list of all four sessions highlighted on the InterRidge website, please see: http://www.interridge.org/node/5430.

Abstract deadline: March 1st.

Session 6a: Ridges and Geochemical Mapping of the Mantle
Conveners: David Graham, Emily Klein
This session will highlight the use of state-of-the-art chemical and isotopic measurements in rocks from mid-ocean ridge environments to investigate the length scales and origins of geochemical variability in the sub-ridge mantle. Pertinent topics include, but are not restricted to, multple isotopic tracer studies (Pb, Sr, Nd, Hf, Os, noble gases), major and trace element geochemistry, similarities and differences in the geochemical signatures of basalt, gabbro and peridotite, U-series measurements, melt inclusion studies, and modeling of melt generation, mantle flow and heterogeneity in the upper mantle beneath ocean ridges.

Session 10e: Mechanisms and time scales of crustal assimilation
Conveners: David W. Peate & Michael Rowe (University of Iowa), Wendy Bohrson (Central Washington University)
Exciting progress has been made recently in documenting the nature of interactions between mantle-derived mafic magmas and the overlying crust (continental and oceanic). Key advances have included development of quantitative models of assimilation, improved micro-analytical methods that allow measurement of elemental and isotopic variations within single crystals and melt inclusions, and new approaches for documenting assimilation time scales. For this symposium, we solicit submissions that illuminate the mechanisms and time scales of crustal assimilation through integrated geochemical and petrological studies. Contributions from the macro- to micro-scale are encouraged, including detailed stratigraphic studies that provide insight into the evolution of melt-crust interaction, quantitative elemental and isotopic modelling, in situ studies of crystals and melt inclusions, diffusion modelling, and kinetics of mineral dissolution. Examples from continental and oceanic settings are welcome. Keynote speaker will be: John Wolff (Washington State University).

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- 33rd International Geological Congress, Oslo, Norway, 6-14 Aug. 2008

Geoscience World Congress 2008 (http://www.33igc.org)
Abstract submission deadline EXTENDED to 29 February 2008.

An additional session of interest to InterRidge has been posted at: http://www.interridge.org/meeting/geocongress2008.

Symposium MRD-03: Recent Developments on Marine Mineral Deposits
Co-conveners: David S. Cronan (d.cronan@ic.ac.uk), Peter A. Rona (rona@imcs.rutgers.edu) and Akira Usui (a-usui@cc.kochi-u.ac.jp)
This is an exciting and pivotal time for marine minerals. Industry is gearing up for initial mining of seafloor volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits in volcanic island arcs of the western Pacific. Mining of offshore diamond placers is a sustainable industry offshore southwest Africa. Marine aggregates for beach nourishment and construction materials continues as the global mainstay of marine mining. Pioneer Investors are positioned with the International Seabed Authority for exploration and eventual mining of manganese nodules in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the eastern equatorial Pacific and in the Indian Ocean. Exploration and assessment continues on cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts on oceanic seamounts, and for various types of placer deposits and phosphorites on continental margins.

The Session will attempt to encapsulate the current 'state of the art' in research on all of these marine minerals, and serve as a snapshot of the present situation in this field. It will be supported by two pillars, hydrothermal minerals and placers/aggregates, the two most active areas of research and development at the present time, with other marine minerals topics between. The relative importance of these respective topics can be estimated from the fact that marine aggregate and placer mining is well established, with mining of marine hydrothermal deposits projected for the end of the present decade.

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- 6th International Conference on Asian Marine Geology, Kochi, Japan, 29 Aug.-1 Sep. 2008

6th International Conference on Asian Marine Geology
"Asian Waters explored by advanced research of 21st Century"
http://ofgs.ori.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ICAMG6/
Abstract submission deadline EXTENDED to 10 April 2008.

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Meetings are also posted on the IR website (http://www.interridge.org/events).

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2. Jobs and Fellowships

Three new jobs have been posted to the "interridge-classifieds" mailing list and our website (http://www.interridge.org/jobs):

- Assistant, Associate or Senior Scientist - Chemical Sensors - Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
- Assistant or Associate Scientist - Fluid Flow in Geologic Systems - Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
- Postdoctoral Associate - geochemist / chemical oceanographer - National Taiwan University

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To sign up for the interridge-classifieds list, go to -
http://mailman.whoi.edu/mailman/listinfo/interridge-classifieds

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3. Other

- Future of Marine Heat Flow workshop report available

In September 2007 a workshop was convened in Salt Lake City, Utah (USA), with participants from North America, Europe, and Asia for "The Future of Marine Heat Flow: Defining Scientific Goals and Experimental Needs for the 21st Century." Workshop discussions may be of interest to those involved with the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program, InterMargins, and InterRidge. The workshop report is now available online at: http://www.coas.oregonstate.edu/Workshop/FutureofMarineHeatFlow.html.

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InterRidge Email #27 (January 28th, 2008)

1. InterRidge Info
- InterRidge welcomes Chinese Taipei as a Corresponding Member
- InterRidge Education & Outreach Update for 2008
2. Upcoming Meetings
- 5th Asia Oceania Geosciences Society Conference, Busan, Korea, 16-20 June 2008
- Goldschmidt Conference, Vancouver, Canada, 13-18 July 2008
3. Jobs and Fellowships
4. Other
- IODP DRILLS International Lecture Series

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1. InterRidge Info

- InterRidge welcomes Chinese Taipei as a Corresponding Member

We are pleased to announce that Chinese Taipei has joined InterRidge as a Corresponding Member. The membership of "Chinese Taipei" follows the convention of previous ODP and other international organizations such as the Olympics. The addition of Chinese Taipei raises the total number of member nations and regions in InterRidge to 30. Dr. Saulwood Lin of the Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, will serve as the correspondent to InterRidge for Chinese Taipei.

For a list of all InterRidge National and Regional Memberships and Correspondents, please see: http://www.interridge.org/nations.

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- InterRidge Education & Outreach Update for 2008

Kristen Kusek, IR's Education & Outreach Coordinator, has accepted a new position as director of public relations for the Earthwatch Institute.
She'll be based at the international headquarters in Maynard, Massachusetts.

Kristen writes: "I am so grateful to the IR leadership and community for the tremendous experiences I've had over the last four years. Not only has my passport evolved from a bunch of boring blue papers to the colorful, interesting storybook it is today - but more importantly, I have grown a lot, professionally and personally, thanks to my IR experiences. I'll always be proud to have been IR's first education and outreach coordinator, and proud of the diverse outreach success stories we have accumulated since 2004."

Please join us in thanking Kristen for her outstanding service to InterRidge - both for her industrious contributions and her infectious good humor when working with the InterRidge Office in Germany and here at Woods Hole.
We will miss her greatly, but wish her all the best with her exciting new position at Earthwatch.

The IR Office continues to plan for outreach activities in 2008, in particular: sponsoring two awards at the MATE International Student ROV Competition in June, presenting an outreach exhibit with the ChEss program at the EuroScience Open Forum in July, and partnering with the U.S. Ridge 2000 Office in the GLOBE program's FLEXE (From Local to Extreme Environments) project.

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2. Upcoming Meetings

- 5th Asia Oceania Geosciences Society Conference, Busan, Korea, 16-20 June 2008

AOGS 2008
http://www.asiaoceania.org/aogs2008
NEW Abstract deadline - February 7, 2008
To browse the sessions of special interest to InterRidge, please see:
http://www.interridge.org/node/4893.

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- Goldschmidt Conference, Vancouver, Canada, 13-18 July 2008

There will be two sessions focusing on hydrothermal processes at the upcoming Goldschmidt Conference to be held in Vancouver, Canada, this July (http://www.goldschmidt2008.org/).
Abstract deadline - March 1, 2008

Session 15c: Hydrothermal systems in ultramafic rocks
Convenors: Wolfgang Bach, Dionysis Foustoukos
Interactions between aqueous solutions and ultramafic rocks take place in a range of geotectonic settings, from ophiolites to rifted continental margins to subduction zones to mid-ocean ridges. Despite pronounced differences in pH and ionic composition, the interacting fluids invariably develop high concentrations of hydrogen and methane, and those compounds serve as energy source supporting chemosynthesis-based ecosystems. Recent progress in defining the reactions that set hydrothermal fluid chemistry is paralleled by new insights into the microbial utilization of ultramafic rock-derived energy sources. This session invites contributions pertaining to any of these issues. Papers reporting on field, experimental, theoretical, molecular, isotopic, and microscopic approaches that further our understanding of mechanisms and rates of the geochemical and biogeochemical reactions involved are particularly welcome.

Session 15e: Quantifying the chemical exchange between the oceanic lithosphere and oceans
Convenors: Laurence Coogan, Kathy Gillis
Understanding the extent and timing of chemical exchange between the oceanic lithosphere and oceans is important if we are to quantitatively understand a broad range of processes from element fluxes in subduction zones through to using present and past seawater compositions to interpret chemical weathering rates and paleo-climate. Exchange occurs throughout the lifetime of a plate from high-temperature ridge crest hydrothermal activity through lower temperature circulation on the ridge flanks, to enhanced circulation around subduction zones. Hydrothermal exchange is also enhanced around both active and extinct seamounts. Contributions that focus on any of these areas using the compositions of either fluids or rocks, or that use models, to try to constrain chemical fluxes are welcome.

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Meetings are also posted on the IR website (http://www.interridge.org/events).

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3. Jobs and Fellowships

Five new jobs and fellowships have been posted to the "interridge-classifieds" mailing list and our website (http://www.interridge.org/jobs):

- Graduate studentship (PhD) - geologist/petrologist - National Oceanography Centre, UK
- Post-Doctoral Research Fellows - Several Positions - National University of Ireland

- POGO-SCOR Visiting Fellowships
- Postdoctoral Scholars - Scripps Institution of Oceanography
- Assistant Professors - Physical and Microbial Oceanography - University of Georgia

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To sign up for the interridge-classifieds list, go to - http://mailman.whoi.edu/mailman/listinfo/interridge-classifieds

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4. Other

- IODP DRILLS International Lecture Series

The Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) announces the launch of its inaugural lecture series: IODP DRILLS, the Distinguished Researcher & International Leadership Lecture Series. There are more than 30 lecture events in more than a dozen countries. For more information and the lecture schedule: http://www.iodp.org/drills/.

IODP DRILLS is a topical scientific lecture series to feature prominent, internationally known scientists describing scientific results derived from samples retrieved from beneath the ocean floor. DRILLS will actively engage future generations of scientists in ocean drilling, while highlighting scientific ocean drilling's major accomplishments to the scientific community and beyond.

The three speakers in the lecture series in 2008 are also InterRidge Members:
- Dr. Bo Barker Jørgensen, of the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Germany;
- Dr. Ted Moore of University of Michigan;
- Dr. Yoshiyuki Tatsumi of Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC).

Each DRILLS lecturer will address a primary IODP theme:
- Deep biosphere and subseafloor ocean;
- Environmental change, processes, and effects;
- Solid earth cycles and geodynamics.

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InterRidge Email #26 (January 14th, 2008)

1. InterRidge Info
- Call for proposals for InterRidge Student Fellowship Program
- InterRidge Cruise Database available online
- Workshop report for InterRidge Theoretical Institute: Biogeochemical Interaction at Deep-Sea Vents
2. News from the Ridge Crest
- FIX08 cruise at the East Pacific Rise
3. Upcoming Meetings
- EGU General Assembly, Vienna, Austria, 13-18 April 2008
- 33rd International Geological Congress, Oslo, Norway, 6-14 August 2008
- World Conference on Marine Biodiversity, Valencia, Spain, 11-15 Nov. 2008
4. Jobs and Fellowships

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1. InterRidge Info

- Call for proposals for InterRidge Student Fellowship Program

As part of InterRidge's mission to promote interdisciplinary, international collaboration of oceanic spreading centers, we invite proposals for two 2008 InterRidge Student Fellowships of up to $3000 US each. These new fellowships are designed to encourage international collaboration on any aspect of ridge-crest science by students (undergraduate and graduate), fostering long-standing partnerships for their future careers. These fellowships can be used for any field of ridge-crest science. In particular these awards are encouraged to be used for international cruise participation, international laboratory use, and adding an international dimension to students thesis work.

Application deadline: 31 March 2008.
Details for fellowship application requirements and guidelines for the proposal are posted on the InterRidge website: http://www.interridge.org/node/5362.

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- InterRidge Cruise Database available online

The InterRidge Cruise Database displays metadata from over 400 ridge-related research cruises from 1982 - 2007. InterRidge Members may add their cruises directly to the database through an online form, which can be accessed by clicking on "Cruise Information", then "Cruise Database" from the InterRidge homepage: http://www.interridge.org.
To go directly to the Cruise Database: http://www.interridge.org/IRcruise.

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- Workshop report for InterRidge Theoretical Institute: Biogeochemical Interaction at Deep-Sea Vents

The Biogeochemical Interaction at Deep-Sea Vents Working Group held the third InterRidge Theoretical Institute at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Woods Hole, MA, USA, from September 10-14, 2007. The goal of the institute was to foster multidisciplinary research on the interactions between the biological and chemical components of deep-sea environments associated with hydrothermal circulation - particularly the biogeochemical processes driving these interactions. The event was co-sponsored by InterRidge, Ridge 2000 (USA), JAMSTEC (Japan), IFREMER (France), CNRS (France), and WHOI's Deep Ocean Exploration Institute (USA).
The IRTI featured two days of lectures, a poster session, and a three-day workshop. More than 127 scientists attended the lectures, and roughly 80 participants attended the working group discussions.
You can access the workshop report as a PDF file from the IRTI webpage:
http://www.interridge.org/IRTI/2007.

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2. News from the Ridge Crest

- FIX08 cruise at the East Pacific Rise

FIX08: An interdisciplinary and international collaboration to study autotrophic carbon fixation and fluid chemistry at 9ºN and 13ºN EPR
An international group of scientists representing five different countries, i.e., USA, Germany, France, Italy, and China, is currently on board R/V Atlantis on cruise AT15-28, named FIX08. They are conducting work on in-situ chemistry of high- and low temperature hydrothermal vent fluids and the characterization of microbial communities carrying out autotrophic carbon fixation.
For more details, see: http://www.interridge.org/node/5363.

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3. Upcoming Meetings

- EGU (European Geosciences Union) General Assembly, Vienna, Austria, 13-18 April 2008

EGU General Assembly 2008
http://meetings.copernicus.org/egu2008
Reminder: Abstract deadline TODAY: 14 January 2008.

Please note that there is another session co-sponsored by InterRidge:
BG6.04: Biogeochemical interactions in chemosynthetic deep-sea ecosystems: methods, tools and strategies
Conveners: N. Le Bris (IFREMER, France), C. R. German (WHOI, USA), W. Bach (RCOM, U. Bremen, Germany), S. Duperron (U. Paris 6, France).
The past decade has raised challenging issues about the nature of interactions linking the biotic and abiotic components of deep-sea hydrothermal environments and other chemosynthetic habitats (e.g., methane seeps, massive organic inputs like whales skeletons, wood falls, etc.).
Among these are: the diversity and relative importance of microbial metabolisms in carbon fixation and mineralization processes, the role of key invertebrate species on biogeochemical transformations and fluxes.
Answers to these questions are required to appreciate the response of chemosynthetic ecosystems to environmental disturbance and their potential influence on the global biosphere. This session will focus on new insights to these questions, including inter-disciplinary studies of biogeochemical and geobiological systems and advanced technological developments for the exploration, observation, experimentation and monitoring at relevant scales on the seafloor.

Note: If you are specifically interested in this session, you may contact Nadine LeBris (Nadine.Le.Bris@ifremer.fr) with title and list of authors by Jan. 21st for delayed abstract submission.

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- 33rd International Geological Congress, Oslo, Norway, 6-14 August 2008

Geoscience World Congress 2008
http://www.33igc.org
Abstract deadline: 1 February 2008.

Several symposia at the 33rd International Geological Congress are of interest to InterRidge scientists:
- Topical Symposium EME-05: The Future of Marine Resources
- Biogeoscience General Symposium BGB-02: Geomicrobiology: Low temperature alteration, mineralization and microbial interactions
- Geodynamics and Plate Motions Interdisciplinary Symposium GDP-07: Mid-ocean ridges, a major geo-bio-hydro interface.

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- World Conference on Marine Biodiversity, Valencia, Spain, 11-15 Nov. 2008

World Conference on Marine Biodiversity 2008 http://www.marbef.org/worldconference/
Abstract deadline: 1 April 2008.

Aims:
- To review the current understanding of marine biodiversity, its role in marine ecosystem functioning and its socio-economic context,
- To assess current and future threats and potential mitigation strategies for conservation and regulation of marine resources,
- To identify future research priorities.

Sessions of interest to InterRidge include:
1.3 Deep-sea and extreme environments: temporal and spatial patterns among species and ecosystems, Conveners: Pedro Martinez Arbizu; Andrew Gooday; Ana Colaco; Adrian Glover; Stefanie Keller
1.6 Biodiversity, Biogeography, and Vulnerability of Deep-Water Seamount and Chemosynthetic Ecosystems, Conveners: Tim Shank; Paul A. Tyler
2.4 Ecosystem Functioning and Biodiversity Science in the Deep sea, Conveners: Inge Jonckheere; Françoise Gaill; Eva Ramirez-Llodra; Michail Yakimov; Christian Stenseth; Lisandro Benedetti-Cecchi

Conference Chairs:
Carlo Heip, NIOO and NIOZ, The Netherlands Carlos M. Duarte, IMEDEA (CSIC- University of the Balearic Islands), Mallorca, Spain

Conference Secretariat:
Moira Llabrés
IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB)
Miquel Marqués 21, 07190, Esporles, Mallorca, Spain
E-mail: worldconference@marbef.org

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Meetings are also posted on the IR website (http://www.interridge.org/events).

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4. Jobs and Fellowships

Three new jobs have been posted to the "interridge-classifieds" mailing list and our website (http://www.interridge.org/jobs):

- Assistant Professor - Structure/Tectonics - Louisiana State University
- Assistant or Associate Professor - Marine Chemistry - University of Rhode Island
- Graduate Studies in Marine Tectonics - North Carolina State University

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To sign up for the interridge-classifieds list, go to - http://mailman.whoi.edu/mailman/listinfo/interridge-classifieds

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