Partners

At UiB:

Collaborations between geologists and microbiologists started at UiB 15 years ago, and a geomicrobiology group has gradually developed through joint research projects. This Geomicrobiology Group (GMG) has played a central and pioneering role in the initial exploration of the deep biosphere of the oceanic crust.

The centre will be developed around the Program Leaders from UiB as listed above. The following senior scientists will play a key role in the centre: Vigdis Torsvik (microbial ecology); Jan Kosler (analytical geochemistry); Haflidi Haflidason (marine geology); Nils-Kåre Birkeland (extremophiles); Tanja Barth (organic chemistry); and Martin Hovland (cold seeps, Statoil/UiB).

In the Bergen region:

There is a cluster of research institutions and companies specialising in subsea and subseafloor technology in the Bergen region. Recently, this cluster was awarded a "Center of Research-based Innovation" in sensor technology and a "Norwegian Center of Expertise" in subsea technology. Our research on the deep seafloor and involvement in IODP and the NEPTUNE programmes depend on sub-sea and sensor technology. We will therefore collaborate closely with these newly established centres and add a basic research, deep-sea exploration and outreach dimension to the strong subsea initiatives already present in Bergen.

University of Washington

University of Washington (UW), Department of Earth and Space Sciences will be a critical, international and active partner with expertise that can contribute to most of the research themes. Collaboration will involve providing access to essential laboratories, human resources and marine infrastructure, such as the world's first regional cabled subsea observatory off the Pacific coast of USA and Canada.

Partners by research group

A large number of international research groups and experts will be linked to the centre as Collaborators. The list of international partners and collaborators includes:
1) Deep seafloor and hydrothermal activity: F Barriga, UoLisboa; M Cannat, IPGP Paris; J Delaney, UW; J Escartin, IPGP, Paris; G Früh-Green, ETH-Zürich; M Lilley, UW; DS Kelley, UW; C MacLeod, UoCardiff.
2) Rock-water-microbe interactions: M Fisk, Oregon State Univ.; C Little, UoLeeds; J Reitner, UoGöttingen.
3) Deep biosphere: J Baross, UW; D Emerson, ATCC; F Inagaki, JAMSTEC; I Head, UoNewcastle; G
Muyzer, Delft Univ. Technology; K Pedersen, Göteborg Univ.; A-L Reysenbach, Portland State Univ.; B Schink, UoKonstanz; JT Staley, UW.
4) Vent and Seep Biota: K Halanych, Auburn Univ.; L Levin, Scripps Inst. Oceanogr.; AH Scheltema &
T Shank, Woods Hole Oceanogr. Inst.; PA Tyler, UoSouthampton.
5) Roots of life: M Schloter, GSF-national Research Center for Environment and Health, Neuherberg;
S Schuster, Pennsylvania-State Univ.
6) Early life: M van Kranendonk, Geol. Survey W.Australia; K Muehlenbachs, UoAlberta; M Rosing,
Geol. Museum Copenhagen; H Staudigel, Scripps Inst. Oceanogr.; M deWit, UoCape Town.

also: N Holm, Stockholm Univ.; M Russell, Caltech, US. Projects, European collaborative research proposal to the EUROMARC program entitled: "Ultra-slow spreading and hydrogen-based deep biosphere: A site survey proposal for zero-age drilling of the Knipovich Ridge".

Relations to international programs

Sampling and investigation of the deep biosphere requires drilling platforms. The exploration of the deep biosphere therefore depends on international cooperation. The exploration of the deep, subseafloor biosphere has become one of three major scientific themes in the international Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP), which operates three drilling platforms.

UiB is a key institution in the Norwegian IODP effort. It hosts the NFR-funded Norwegian IODP-office headed by the CoE Director. The research team behind this proposal plays a central role in the program being represented in several of the key panels and being involved in several research/drilling proposals. The proposed research centre intends, in cooperation with its international partners, to actively use the opportunity the ocean drilling program provides. A major aim of the centre will be to contribute to the development of experiments and research strategies needed to make significant advances in the understanding of the deep biosphere through the IODP.

The proposed Centre for Geo-Biosphere research is invited by the University of Washington to participate in the NEPTUNE program as an international partner. The $250M Neptune program will deploy a regional cabled ocean observatory on the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate off the west coast of USA and Canada. In collaboration with UW we aim to design geochemical and geomicrobiological experiments to conduct on the cable and to use the cable for outreach and educational purposes. The Neptune program will be important for technology exchange between USA and Norway and will provide UiB with important experience and know-how for the planning and deployment of a future European cable off the coast of Norway.

The centre will also target the opportunities provided by the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) to address important research objectives concerning the deep biosphere and early earth environments. Members of the centre are actively involved in the FARDEEP drilling project in Fennoscandia - Arctic Russia to investigate the Palaeoproterozoic earth. Several of our international collaborators are involved in the ICDP projects. The centre also plans to take part in ICDP-drilling of the Achaean rocks of the Barberton Greenstone Belt to address issues on early life.

European partners.

Together with a subgroup of these we already have submitted a proposal to the ESF-funded Challenges of Marine Coring Research program (EuroMARC) to seek funding for a collaborative research program on ultra-slow spreading and hydrogen-based deep biosphere.

Theme leaders and senior scientists have coordinated and participated in a range of projects in the EU Framework Programmes.

Schleper is coordinating a new FP6 ERA-NET systems biology project.
We are also targeting specific areas of the FP7's Environment Programme:
6.2.1 Conservation and sustainable management -Investigating life in extreme environments;
6.2.2 Evolution of marine environments -Deep ocean geophysical and biological processes;
and 6.1.1 Pressures on environment and climate -The global carbon cycle; and Future climate.
The centre will also have close links to the InterRidge program where the proposed centre leader is a member of the steering committee.

Through US and Canadian partners, the proposed centre will also have close links to the Ridge 2000 program.