Oliver Baars reports from the GRC about:

„Environmental bioinorganic chemistry”
June 2010, Newport (RI, USA)

The Gordon Research Conference series include almost 200 meetings in 2010 devoted to topics within biological, chemical, and physical sciences, and their related technologies. The meeting brings together leading experts in their field with young scientists. As a PhD student in my last year I was delighted to have the opportunity to take part in the biennial meeting “Environmental bioinorganic chemistry” and presented results on the speciation and bio-availability of the micro-nutrient Cobalt in the oligotrophic eastern tropical Atlantic (cruise: M80-2).

In the spirit of the conference hypothesis have been brought up constantly during the meeting and discussed extensively and sometimes controversially. This characteristic ingredient of GRCs was reflected already in the subtitle of the meeting: Elements In The Environment, From Prokaryotes To People To Planets. The perspective was wide and interdisciplinary with themes spanning femptoseconds to eons in time and covering molecular to planetary systems in space. Lectures were held in the morning and evening by invited speakers while the afternoon was reserved for poster sessions. The atmosphere was casual and on-site housing as well as excellent lodging was provided at the campus of the Salve Regine University in Newport - a city that kept the charme of New Englands guilded age.

The sessions started after a keynote lecture by Paul Falkowski (Rutgers University) who deals with fundamental concepts in environmental biogeochemistry and gave an idea about what was to come – a mixture between in depth scientific studies and large scale views. Additionally a range of modern cutting edge technologies were presented that were used to study the genome, metallome, trace metal speciation or to image elements in single cells. The sessions included
“Bioinorganic chemical oceanography”
“Metal ion impact on photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation”
“Environmental metallomics”
“Imaging the distribution of metals in cells”
“Environmental bioinorganic chemistry + public health”
“Metal ions and toxicology”
and also a truly outreaching session: “The Bioinorganic beyond” were the possible chemical composition of exoplanetary systems was discussed as well as more terrestrial studies on the interconnections of trace metals, life and environment throughout the Great Oxidation Event (GEO).

During the poster sessions and in between lectures lively discussions evolved. In the context of a possible control of plankton growth and composition in some ocean areas there was some interest in Vitamin B12 and Co during this conference (3 posters on Vitamin B12, 1 talk including ocean Co and Vitamin B12 studies, 1 poster on Co distribution and 1 poster on Co speciation). I got into contact with some of the well known scientists in my field as well as my peers. Overall great results were presented and inspired discussions even later at night.  
      
Summary
The conference was a good opportunity to come into contact with leading people and young scientists in this research field. Particularly the discussions after the talks and during poster sessions were an exciting addition to the lecture presented results. In this open and productive atmosphere it was possible to gain a broad insight into latest techniques and concepts in bioinorganic chemistry to evaluate future research directions and collaborations. Newport was a great location and I wish to thank the ISOS and DFG for travel support and funding as well as my supervisors for making this experience possible.

 

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