Where are you from, and what is your role in Extreme 2004?

The place I call home is Homer, Alaska, the self-proclaimed barn-door halibut capital of the world. Since 2000, I have worked as the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Environmental Field Scientist from the southern tip of the Brooks Range to Prince William Sound (~ 600 miles). My work there focuses largely on terrestrial and freshwater flora and fauna, and protecting these communities from potential changes or impacts from pipeline activity. I have a B.S in biochemistry (Cal Poly) and have had a number of chemistry, biology, and geology-related jobs since then.

I was a participant with Dr. Alison Murray's 2001 and 2002 "Gene Expression in Extreme Environments" field team in Antarctica where I helped in most aspects of the project field sampling (boat driving and skiing on the sea ice), counting and cultivating microorganisms, and extracting microbial DNA and RNA to look at genes and gene expression. My role in Extreme 2004 — working on the Alvinella Metagenome project — will be similar in many ways, since our group is focused on studying gene expression in the hydrothermal vent ecosystem. Since I am not a regular member of Dr. Murray's team, I act as the "Gal Friday," who fills in any void I find to keep the project moving forward. This can be anything from data entry and counting microbes on prepared slides, to performing extractions, cultivating microbes, preparing electrophoresis gels, and making lattes. As a participant, my brief jaunts into Dr. Murray's world of microbial genomics remind me what it is I love about biochemistry — its ability to explore and explain the mysteries of life and its origins.

Why is this research important? What are the benefits?

Before many great discoveries can occur, scientists need to build a library of fundamental understanding, the "basic science" that helps us understand the world. If we study the characteristics that enable a creature to thrive in environments where humans would quickly perish, it may help us understand other "extreme" organisms, or other ways to survive in a hostile environment. Eventually, others may be able to use the information we glean from Alvinella's survival tactics to teach us new survival methods from "extreme" organisms that could benefit our own survival.

The deep marine world is a place of great mystery, yet I am certain the exploratory tools we have today would exceed the legendary Jacques Cousteau's greatest expectations. The deep ocean and sub-floor environment may be our closest link to the early origins of life, and I can think of no more captivating reason to explore its depths.