There and Back Again: An oceanographer’s tale about ocean worlds here and beyond
Oceanography came to fruition in the 19th century, when scientists set out to survey the ocean -from surface to seafloor- and determine if and where life existed in the deep sea. Today, oceanographers continue to explore the ocean using ships, submersibles, and robots. Notably, oceanographic technologies are now changing at an unprecedented rate, and there is growing movement towards more modular, "open-design" vehicles and sensors that would allow for more cost-effective and rapid deployments in the open ocean and deep sea. Equally important, these technologies democratize access to the ocean, enabling scholars around the world to further participate in research and exploration.
In our lab, we study the microbes and animals that live in the deep sea, especially those around hot vents and cold seeps. In this presentation, we will travel to the deep sea and back again, discussing some of our recent discoveries, and the linkages that exist between oceanography and astrobiology.