LUMEN visit to Globe Institute
We visited the Globe Institute at the University of Copenhagen for a symposium on the evolution of photosynthetic organisms on Earth. This event featured two preeminent scholars in the field, Professor Roger Summons from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Professor Andrew H. Knoll from Harvard University.
The seminar provided a deep dive into the evolution of photosynthetic organisms, tracing how photosynthetic life forms have dramatically altered the Earth's atmosphere, oceans, and biosphere.
Professors Summons and Knoll shared their latest research offering a unique perspective on tracking the evolution of life on Earth. Professor Summons talked about “Tracking early photosynthetic organisms with molecular fossils”, where he took us back through the Geological record using fossil molecules of phytoplankton, shedding light on how the earliest microbial ecosystems have evolved. This talk was followed by Prof. Knoll who discussed “Phytoplankton Evolution: Foils and Geobiological Context”, who provided a more contemporary view to how microbial ecosystems have evolved to fuel solar energy into the biosphere with insights from genomics, micropaleontology, and geochemistry .
Participants had the opportunity to engage directly with the speakers through discussions during the seminar. The seminar was designed to foster an environment of learning and collaboration, allowing participants to expand their network and connect with leading figures and peers across scientific disciplines.
The seminar was also an opportunity to welcome our visiting PhD student, Sandra Rizzo Calderon, who will be spending a 6-month period with the LUMEN group as part of her PhD studies at the University of Cadiz.
We’re grateful to Dr Tais Dahl from the Globe Institute for organizing such an interesting event!