Biogeosciences Calendar Archive

October 2007

3-5 October 2007, Puerto Madryn, Argentina
Multidisciplinary Workshop on Southern South American Dust

The objective of this interdisciplinary meeting is to share information and promote collaborations in understanding southern South America dust production and its role in influencing the climate. The program is structured as half hour presentations on diverse topics including dust production, transport and deposition, ice-core isotopes and CO2 exchange, highlighting local projects and contributions from the international community.
Sponsors: National Science Foundation (NSF), Secretaría de Ciencia y Técnica (SECYT), Centro Nacional Patagónico (CONICET)
Contact: S. Gassó, Phone: +1-301-614-6244; E-mail:

September 2007

3-6 September 2007, Warnemünde, Germany
11th Workshop on Physical Processes in Natural Waters (PPNW '07)

The meeting in Warnemünde continues a series of workshops that was started more than a decade ago in Kastanienbaum near Lucerne (Switzerland). The focus of the PPNW workshops is the physics of lakes, covering a broad spectrum of scientific topics including internal wave motion, turbulence and mixing, surface interactions, bio-geochemical interactions, near-sediment processes, and many more. PPNW is an open workshop, actively seeking the contact of neighboring fields like physical oceanography, the atmospheric sciences, and engineering. With 40-50 participants and a small number of invited speakers, the PPNW meetings are characterized by their active workshop atmosphere and a comfortable time frame for presentations and discussion.
Venue: Baltic Sea Research Institute (IOW) in Warnemünde, Germany
Important Dates: The deadline for Registration & Payment as well as the deadline for extended abstracts was 30 June 2007.
Contact: Lars Umlauf, e-mail:

9-14 September 2007, Torquay, Devon, United Kingdom
23rd International Organic Geochemistry Meeting

IMOG is the official biennial conference of the European Association of Organic Geochemists, and welcomes delegates from all over the world. Scientific program themes include Petroleum and Coal Geochemistry, Biogeochemistry, Environmental Geochemistry, and New Trends in Organic Geochemistry.
Venue: The Riviera International Conference Centre
Important Dates: The dealine for submission of abstracts and early registration has passed.
Contact: secretary@imog2007.org

10-12 September 2007, London, United Kingdom
Geological Society of London’s Bicentennial Conference – Earth Sciences in the Service of Society

The Bicentennial Conference will review the current state of the science and demonstrate the relevance of modern-day Earth Science to many important issues of our times, as well as to fundamental knowledge.
Four parallel oral sessions over two days will feature invited speakers reporting on the state of the science across four broad themes. The third day will be devoted to a plenary session on Earth’s Future. Distinguished speakers will present new results and ideas relevant to our understanding of the planet and how these affect key environmental issues, present and future, including: natural hazards, climate change, energy and water resources. Days one and two will feature invited speakers – all international leaders in their fields - in four parallel sessions: Environment; Earth and Planetary Interiors; The Earth System; Resources. Parallel with the plenary session on Day 3, sixth form science students will be able to attend their own special session – an exhibition and a series of presentations, designed to show how studying Earth Science at university can open the way to a rewarding life full of travel and excitement.
Pre and post-conference field excursions will visit many of the most important and interesting sites of British geology.
Venue: Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London
Important Dates: Early bird registration ended 31 May 2007; poster session submission ended 15 June 2007.
Contact: Alys Johnson, Bicentennial events manager, Geological Society of London, Burlington House, London, W1J 0BG
For up-to-date information, programs, registration and abstract submittal, please visit the Bicentenary Conference website. Registration is now open!

17-21 September 2007, Shanghai, China
IMBER/LOICZ Continental Margins Open Science Conference: - Impacts of Global, Local and Human Forcings on
Biogeochemical Cycles and Ecosystems

IMBER and LOICZ are jointly organizing a Continental Margins Open Science Conference which will be held 17-21 September 2007 at East China Normal University (ECNU), Shanghai, China. This conference will provide a discussion platform for highlighting the most recent advances in the field and try to identify emerging directions and future research challenges. The conference is open to all students and scientists involved in biogeochemical cycles and ecosystems in the continental margins.
Coastal zones play a key role in Earth System functioning by contributing significantly to the life support systems of most societies. The coastal system is experiencing global and natural pressure, such as atmospheric and open ocean-shelf exchange, that are also modified by local and human forcings. The larger scale forcings include proximity to large river plumes, physiography of the continental shelf, and human forcings that modify atmospheric deposition across broad shelf areas. These global, local, and human pressures interactively impact biogeochemical cycles and the marine food webs and have direct consequences for society.
Sessions:
Session 1) Ocean-Shelf Biogeochemical Exchanges
Session 2) Continental Shelf Biogeochemistry and Couplings with Benthic Systems
Session 3) Continental Shelf Carbon in a High CO2 World
Session 4) Continental Shelf Ecosystems from High to Low Latitudes
Session 5) Integrated Observations and Modeling: Visions and Reality
Session 6) Eutrophication and Oligotrophication in Coastal Systems
Session 7) Low Oxygen on Continental Shelves
Session 8) Sustainable Use of Continental Shelf Resources
Registration is still open at the Conference Website. For further information: .

30 September-3 October 2007, Halifax, Nova Scotia
34th Annual Aquatic Toxicity Workshop (ATW)

The 34th Annual Aquatic Toxicity Workshop (ATW) will be held at the Westin Nova Scotian in beautiful Halifax, Nova Scotia. This year's conference theme – Navigating New Waters – was inspired by the ocean and by the ever-changing face of aquatic toxicology. This meeting provides an excellent opportunity to discuss current findings with more than 300 environmental scientists from across Canada and beyond and to identify paths forward and priorities in the field. For more information, please visit the ATW website.
Important Dates:
Early Registration period: Late June - 30 August 2007
Late Registration period: 31 August - 3 October 2007

August 2007

25 June - 3 August 2007, Honolulu, Hawaii
2007 Summer Course on Microbial Oceanography

Microbial Oceanography: Genomes to Biomes is a laboratory-field training course at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa’s School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. The 2007 summer course is sponsored by Agouron Institute, the University of Hawai’i at Manoa’s School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education (C-MORE). The 2007 summer course is offered to graduate students and postdoctoral scholars with interests in marine microbiology and biological oceanography. Interested applicants should visit the 2007 summer course website.
Important Dates: Deadline for applications has passed.

28-31 August 2007, London, United Kingdom
Royal Geographical Society’s (RGS) Annual International Conference
Arsenic Contamination of Groundwater and Soil: An Interdisciplinary Conference

A conference emphasising the geographical, interdisciplinary and policy-focused aspects of arsenic contamination is being organised in London by the University of Cambridge as part of the Royal Geographical Society’s (RGS) Annual International Conference in late summer 2007. The conference will address a number of crosscutting themes that relate to the inter-relations of human health, water resources and the sustainability of agricultural production in arsenic-affected areas. These themes will include but not be limited to (i) the extent and severity of arsenic pollution; (ii) the depletion of underground stores of arsenic build-up of arsenic in irrigated soils; (iii) combined exposure from food, especially rice, and water; the sustainability of pumping from deep aquifers; (iv) the effectiveness alternative water supply and arsenic-removal programmes experience. The tentative plan is to divide the conference into four sessions: I. Global Extent and Severity of Natural Arsenic Pollution II. Inter-relationships of Arsenic, Soil, Food, Water and Health III. Hydrology, Geology and Chemistry of Arsenic in Surface and Groundwaters
IV. Mitigation and Sustainability of Water Supply in Arsenic-Affected Areas.
Important Dates: Deadline for submission of abstracts was 1 March 2007 and early registration closed 9 May 2007.
Contact: The session convenors: Professor Keith Richards, Dept of Geography, Cambridge University; Peter Ravenscroft, Dept of Geography, Cambridge University; Hugh Brammer.

July 2007

9-13 July 2007, Bonn, Germany
12th International Symposium in Medical Geography
CHANGING GEOGRAPHIES OF PUBLIC HEALTH

The world’s nature and societies are developing continuously. Changes include the alteration of physical, social and mental environments, of demography and economy, of policies, persuasions and faiths. All of these changes can intensively impact individual health, health behavior, health care systems and, from a holistic perspective, the public health of societies. We would like to encourage your participation in this symposium so that we may collaboratively explore and analyze the geographical patterns and perspectives of change and continuity for human health under the unsettled conditions of the world in the 21st century. All contributions reflecting the broad spectrum of geography and health are very welcome.
Venue: University Club, University of Bonn
Deadlines: Deadlines for abstract submission, early and late registration have passed.
Contact: imgs2007@ukb.uni-bonn.de

9-14 July 2007, University of California, Irvine
Isotope Short Course: Radiocarbon in Ecology and Earth System Science

This course will expose students and postdocs to the uses of radiocarbon in ecology and earth system science, especially in relation to ecosystem and global carbon cycling. The course design is modeled after the stable isotope class at the University of Utah. There will be morning lectures on the theory of radiocarbon by various instructors, followed by laboratory experience with processing and analyzing samples using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry technology in the afternoon. We seek participants with broad interests in ecology and earth system science who are planning on, or are currently, using radiocarbon techniques as part of their research, and wish to expand their understanding of this important and useful tool. The application form for the class can be downloaded from the course website. Please email the completed application to the course organizers. Students will be responsible for their own transportation costs to and from UCI, and for their own food and lodging costs in on-campus shared apartments. Housing reservations will be handled by the course organizers. In addition, there is a lab fee of $500. You can find additional information about course logistics and an overview on the course website.
Course Organizers: Ted Schuur and Susan Trumbore.

16-20 July 2007, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Bioastronomy 2007

Bioastronomy 2007 is the latest in a series of Bioastronomy conferences that have have played an important role in integrating the broader interests and techniques of both astronomy and biology to understand the origin of our solar system and the origin and evolution of living systems and in generating a context for exploration of our solar system and extrasolar planetary systems.
Bioastronomy 2007 will provide an opportunity for astronomers, biologists, geologists, planetary scientists, and those from other disciplines to meet and discuss research of mutual interest for addressing the question of the origin and evolution of life on this planet and elsewhere in the universe. Bioastronomy 2007 will provide the only opportunity of the year for researchers to gather, discuss and advance the field in an international setting.
The program for Bioastronomy 2007 will include invited and contributed papers (see website for abstract submission information).  Invited speakers will provide background for an interdisciplinary audience and describe recent research results. Initial sessions will center on the organic chemistry of the interstellar medium and the solar system and possible links with the origin of life on Earth. Results will be presented from recent space missions investigating Mars and the satellites of the giant planets for environments potentially suitable for life. The third day of scientific sessions will concentrate on the early development of life on Earth, including the role of extremophiles. The final day of Bioastronomy 2007 will focus on the search for and characterization of extrasolar planets and the search for life outside the solar system.

22-25 July 2007, New Orleans, Louisiana
SEGH - Urban Geochemistry and Health Conference
Urban Environmental Contamination and Health under the Microscope: The Aftermath of Katrina

The Society for Environmental Geochemistry and Health and the Center for Continuing Education, Tulane University Health Sciences Center are jointly sponsoring this conference to explore the public health issue of urban environmental contamination resulting from catastrophic natural events. The devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans highlight the importance and need for urban geochemical surveys, especially as global climate change causes more Katrina-like events in urban areas.
The themes of this conference will include: Lessons Learned from Hurricane Katrina; Surveying, Sampling, and Mapping Methods; Urban Geochemical Mapping Studies; Risk Characterization and Urban Geochemical Studies; Risk Assessment Models and Urban Contamination; Indoor Dust Exposure, Sources, Transport, Characterization, and Mapping; Public Health Impact of Urban Contamination; Policy Implications for Urban Contamination; Clean-up of Urban Contamination.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the participant should be better able to: Understand the environmental and human health impacts that Hurricane Katrina had across the cityscape of New Orleans; Recognize that catastrophic contamination of the urban environment can only be understood with reference to baseline/background levels; Comprehend the methods involved in sampling and mapping the distribution of contaminants across the urban landscape; Appreciate the techniques employed for assessing the health risks posed by contaminated soils and dusts, and the models used to predict risk resulting from exposure.
Venue: International House, Two blocks from the French Quarter in the Historic Central Business District
Important Dates: Pre-registration: 15 July 2007. After 19 July 2007, please register onsite.
For more information about programs and registration, and for abstract submittal, please visit the conference website.

22-26 July 2007, Pilansberg Reserve, South Africa
ENVIRONMIN 2007: Environmental and Health Aspects of Mining, Refining and Related Industries

Goals and Scope: The aim of the conference is to facilitate interdisciplinary discussions about all environmental and health issues concerned with the mining and refining of ores. The main themes for this meeting are the work environment, environmental exposure and impact, as well as monitoring methodologies and risk assessment. These, in turn, require an understanding and application of analytical science, geochemistry, biochemistry, clinical chemistry, environmental science, toxicology, medical implications, environmental and occupational health, epidemiology, monitoring methodology as well as all the regulatory practices related to these fields.
Venue: Bakgatla. Book accommodation early!
Important Dates: The deadline for abstract submission has passed.
Contact: kingfischer@lantic.net

22-27 July 2007, Aveiro, Portugal
Euroclay 2007

Like in the previous EUROCLAY meetings, contributions from all fields of clay research and its application are welcome. So far we envisage the following topics to play a major role during the meeting: Crystal chemistry and structure; Physical and chemical properties; Colloidal properties and surface chemistry; Genesis and synthesis; Geology, mineralogy and geochemistry; Paleoreconstruction; Geotechnics; Archeology; Soils and sediments; Organoclays; Environmental interactions; Industrial applications; Teaching clays; History of clay science; Clay minerals and health; Clay Isotope Geochemistry.
Venue: University of Aveiro
Important Dates: The deadline for submission of abstracts was 15 April 2007. Accomodations needed to be booked prior to 31 May 2007 and no refunds will be made after 15 July 2007.
Scientific Sponsors: European Clay Groups Association (ECGA)
Contact: info@euroclay2007.com

June 2007

14-19 June 2007, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
IAGS 23rd International Applied Geochemistry Symposium
Special Session on Geochemistry and Health

10-13 June 2007: Pre-conference field trips
16-17 June 2007: Workshops and excursions
20-23 June 2007: Post-conference field trips
The official language of the conference is English.
Venue: Príncipe de Asturias Conference Hall
Deadlines: The deadlines for submitting abstracts and early-bird registration have passed. Deadline for submission of papers to Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis for the proceedings special issue is 30 September 2007.
Contact: iags2007@innova.uniovi.es

29 June 2007, Cambridge, UK
Techniques In Geomicrobiology Short Course

Sponsored by the Mineralogical Society and the Environmental Mineralogy Group, this one-day course is being run straight after the Frontiers in Mineral Sciences 2007 conference. The course is designed primarily for postgraduate students starting out in the field of Geomicrobiology in its broadest sense, but will also be open to all researchers in the field. International students may also apply. This course aims to introduce the principles, capabilities and limitations of the techniques available to the geomicrobiologist.
The course will cover: 1. Overview of geomicrobiology; 2. Microbial isolation, culturing, metabolic analysis and enumeration; 3. Molecular geomicrobiology; 4. Imaging and analytical methods at the micro and nano scale; 5. Isotopic techniques; 6. Modelling techniques;
7. Spectroscopic methods.
Venue:Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, UK
Deadlines: Registration deadline has passed.
Course tutors: Dr. Liane G. Benning, Prof. Simon Bottrell, Prof. Geoffrey Gadd, Prof. Ian Head, Prof. Jonathan Lloyd, Dr. Bryne Ngwenya, Dr. Vernon Phoenix, Prof. Andrew Weightman
Contact: Bryne Ngwenya, Edinburgh University, e-mail: , Vernon Phoenix, Glasgow University, e-mail: , Liane Benning, Leeds University, e-mail:

May 2007

21-25 May 2007, Syktyvkar, Russia
IV International Mineralogical Seminar
Mineralogy and Life: The Origin of Biosphere, Coevolution of Mineral and Biological Worlds, Biomineralogy

Scientific program: The role of minerals in the origin of biological systems and biosphere; Coevolution of mineral and biological worlds; Biominerals and biogenic mineral formation; Mineralogical factors of bioecology, medicine mineralogy; Biomineralogical technologies and biomaterials.
Venue: Institute of Geology of the Komi Science Center, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Deadlines: The deadline for submitting abstracts has passed.
Contact: minlife@geo.komisc.ru

22-23 May 2007, Truro, UK
“Future Issues in Environment & Human Health” International Conference
Hosted by the Peninsula Medical School

Scientific program: This conference brought together scientists to discuss the future research issues in the area of environment and human health. Speakers included representatives from the European Commission, the European Environment Agency, UK Government Departments and Agencies, and leading research centers in the UK.
The conference was organized by members of the Peninsula Environment and Human Health Forum. The Forum brings together organizations in southwest UK whose scientists are investigating among other things, genetic susceptibility to environmental triggers of diseases and the roles of stressors such as radon gas, UV-B radiation, ozone, endocrine disruptors, pesticides, algal toxins, nanomaterials, heavy metals and the metalloid, arsenic, on disease processes.
Whenever we consider environmental threats to human health, we do so knowing that, superimposed on the threat itself, are additional impacts due to global warming and altered precipitation patterns associated with climate change.
The conference: revealed new information about interconnections between the environment and human health; highlighted emerging issues; considered the role of environment and human health research in relation to policy formulation; discussed international efforts to deal with the impacts of a changing environment on human health, especially in relation to climate change.
The future of research in these and many other areas was discussed.
Venue: The Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske, Truro
Contact: Joanne Jacob, e-mail:

April 2007

1-4 April 2007, Annapolis, Maryland
10th International Symposium on Wetland Biogeochemistry: Frontiers in Biogeochemistry

Recent years have witnessed a dramatic increase in our knowledge of microbial metabolic diversity that calls for revisiting the classical paradigm of resource competition in soils and sediments. Discoveries have come from both traditional biogeochemical studies and novel molecular studies, and they demonstrate the power of integrating these fields. Many recent advances have important implications for the management of natural and created wetland ecosystems.

The symposium included invited presentations by an outstanding array of experts and contributed presentations. Plenary sessions focused on the main themes of the symposium, while a wide variety of other current topics in wetland biogeochemistry were addressed in concurrent sessions. There was a poster session reception and a variety of other social events.

Venue: Loews Annapolis Hotel

Deadlines: Early registration deadline has passed.

Contact: Patrick Megonigal, Symposium Chair, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD; (443) 482-2346

Sponsored by: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, University of Florida/IFAS Wetland Biogeochemistry Lab at the Soil and Water Science Department.

1-5 April 2007, Denver, Colorado
20th Annual Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems

The meeting included a broad technical program of 15 sessions, approximately 40 exhibitors, a field trip to Climax Mine in the Colorado Mountains and to the National Mining Hall of Fame & Museum in Leadville, a keynote panel of speakers, and professional education short courses. Visit the EEGS website for more information.
Venue: Marriot City Center
Contact: staff@eegs.org

11-13 April 2007, Lawrence, Kansas
GSA Medical Mineralogy Session & Panel Discussion

A special session on Medical Mineralogy was organized for the Geological Society of America (GSA) 41st Annual Meeting of the South-Central & North-Central Sections.
Venue : Kansas Memorial Union, University of Kansas
Deadlines: Early Registration Deadline was 12 March 2007; Cancellation Deadline was 19 March 2007.
Contact: A. Umran Dogan, Ankara University, Turkey, and University of Iowa; Meral Dogan, Hacettepe University, Turkey

March 2007

12-14 March 2007, Durham, New Hampshire
GSA Special Session on Health and Geology in the Northeast

A special session on Health and Geology in the Northeast is being organized for the 42nd Annual Meeting of the Northeastern Section, GSA. This session will focus on the relationship between geological factors (both natural and anthropogenic) and disease, pathology and death in modern and fossil humans, animals and plants. This is an eclectic field and the intent of the session is to bring together researchers with various backgrounds and interests in order to facilitate discussion of the interrelationships between geology and health. This session is co-sponsored by GSA Geology and Health Division.
Meeting Site: University of New Hampshire
Deadlines: Registration deadlines have passed.
Contact: Catherine Skinner, Yale University; Nelson Eby, University of Massachusetts-Lowell

27-30 March 2007, Monterey, California
EarthScope 2007 National Meeting

EarthScope will hold its 2007 National Meeting in Monterey, California 27-30 March 2007 at the Portola Plaza Hotel. This conference is designed to emphasize integrated, multi-disciplinary science; present the latest results from EarthScope; enhance the role of young scientists in EarthScope research; and examine the future of EarthScope. The meeting will include mini-courses, workshops, and a field trip on Tuesday, and technical and poster sessions on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. There will also be a reception event at the Monterey Bay Aquarium on Wednesday evening. Deadlines: Registration deadlines have passed.

February 2007

24-28 February 2007, Cairo, Egypt
The Second International Conference on Geo-Resources in the Middle East and North Africa

The International Group for Geological Studies is hosting an Exhibition on Geo-Resources at the Conference Centre, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. The themes that will be presented at the conference include: Oil and Gas Resources, Water Resources and Environment, Mineral Resources, and Application of Remote Sensing in all Fields of Earth Sciences. The purpose of the conference is to discuss opportunities and benefits of working together on the geosciences in the Middle East and in Northern Africa.

27, 28 February and 1 March 2007, Reston, Virginia
USGS 2nd Earth Science and Public Health Meeting

The USGS is hosting the 2nd Earth Science and Public Health Meeting 27, 28 February and 1 March at the National Center in Reston.  This will be a forum to foster collaboration between the Public Health and Earth Science Communities, which can lead to solutions for existing and emerging environmental health problems.  The intended audience is organizations and individuals interested in environmental and earth science factors affecting human health.  This meeting is designed to provide a broad forum for discussion, bringing together a variety of  interested parties, including policy makers, scientists, resource managers, Congressional staffers, Federal and State government, and non-governmental organizations.
Overall, the meeting will be set up along six thematic areas:  (1) potential contaminants and pathogens in air, dusts, and soils; (2) drinking water exposure to chemical and pathogenic contaminants; (3) human consumption of bioaccumulative contaminants; (4) pathogen exposure through recreational waters; (5) vector-borne and zoonotic (animal to human) diseases; and (6) animals as sentinels of human health, along which the USGS public health research is aligned.
The first day of the meeting - Tuesday, 27 February - is an overview day.  Invited are a variety of people including DOI, Congressional staffers, and managers from public health organizations, as well as the scientists attending the entire meeting.  During this day, we will have a poster session centered around the six topical sessions listed above.  The following two days will consist of talks, posters, and break out sessions organized around the six topical sessions.
Registration is free.

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