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Professor Dr. Lisa Stein () Lisa Stein received her PhD from Oregon State University in 1998 and worked at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Caltech as a postdoctoral scholar. She was an Assistant Professor at the University of California, Riverside and an Associate and Full Professor at the University of Alberta. The Stein laboratory of Climate Change Microbiology at the University of Alberta focuses on the pathways of inorganic nitrogen and single carbon metabolism in bacteria and archaea. The Stein lab studies the integrated cycles of nitrogen and methane at the molecular, whole-cell, and ecosystem levels to predict how and when greenhouse gases are released to the environment. Projects in her lab aim to harness microorganisms to generate commercially valuable bioproducts using single-carbon waste streams as feedstocks. Other projects aim to neutralize and maximize microbial activities in the nitrogen cycle to increase global crop productivity without the production of greenhouse gases. Understanding the interconnections between the nitrogen and methane cycles will enable novel climate change mitigation strategies that simultaneously reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere while maximizing production of food, fuels, and material resources for humanity Microbial Solutions to Mitigating Climate Change Lisa Y. Stein, University of Alberta Microorganisms are gatekeepers of the two most important greenhouse gases behind carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. By understanding the metabolism, physiology, and ecology of methane- and ammonia-oxidizing microbes, innovative technologies are being developed to mitigate GHG emissions while continuing to improve human and planetary health and well-being. At the University of Alberta, we have created an interdisciplinary program between Science and Engineering that aims to use methanotrophs to convert fugitive, industrial, methane emissions into value-added products, like bioplastics and liquid jet fuel. This work requires a keen understanding of how nutrients control and optimize bacterial growth and production. We are harnessing the power of post-genomic tools to construct genome-scale metabolic and regulatory network models to predict, control, and optimize targeted end products from natural, adapted, and genetically modified strains. On the nitrous oxide front, we are working with colleagues in Europe to develop biological soil amendments that can effectively replace chemical-based fertilizers and nitrification inhibitors to end the era of Haber-Bosch. We are also developing microbial inocula for indoor aquaponics farms that promote plant growth without GHG production. In this talk, I will share our work on harnessing microbial metabolism towards innovative climate change solutions. A broad overview of our current approaches and future goals for developing a new bioeconomy in methane bioconversions and net zero agriculture will be presented.
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Professor Dr. Haruko Kurihara () Haruko Kurihara is a professor at Faculty of Science, Biology at University of the Ryukyus, Japan. She got her PhD at Kyoto University in 2004. Her research focuses on the global climate change impacts, particularly on the effects of ocean acidification on marine life and marine ecosystems including coral reefs. She published extensively on ocean acidification impacts on several marine organisms including sea urchins, shellfishes, crustaceans, corals and sea grass. Her research focuses on the eco-physiological responses of marine organisms toward stress at organisms, population and community level. Her research interests are understanding the impacts of climate change on marine organisms, fisheries and coastal ecosystems for better sustainable ecosystem services management and conservation. Ocean acidification impacts on marine ecosystem and its potential mitigation solutions Haruko Kurihara The increase of atmospheric carbon dioxide is now acidifying and decreasing the saturation of calcium carbonate in the ocean. This change which is known as ocean acidification (OA) affects marine organisms, particularly marine calcifies such as corals, mollusks, sea urchins and crustaceans. Additionally, with global warming and co-occurring local stressors, OA is suspected of degrading the ocean ecosystem and threatening marine ecosystem services including tourism, reef barrier and fisheries. Here in this presentation, I will introduce the present knowledge about the effects of OA and multiple stressors on marine organisms at individual to population and ecosystem levels. Meanwhile, some potential biological strategies to mitigate the impacts of ocean acidification such as the usage of seaweed farming, sea grass beds will be introduced. Additionally, the importance of diminishing local stressors and understanding acclimatization and adaptation traits of organisms to the changing environment will be discussed for potential technological solutions in those changing worlds.
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