The Darwin Center for Biogeosciences has approved five research proposals by Dutch biogeologists. This was the seventh and, for the time being, last opportunity for scientists to submit proposals to the Center. The topics being addressed in the new projects include: greenhouse gas emissions in permafrost areas; the role of micro-organisms in the carbon cycle; and anoxic conditions in coastal areas. Eight new PhD students and two postdocs will join the Darwin Center.

New research programs

Greenhouse gas emissions in permafrost areas in Siberia

Title: The carbon and greenhouse gas balance of permafrost degradation
Dr. Ko van Huissteden (Amsterdam Free University, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences)
Dr. Monique Heijmans (Wageningen University and Research Centre)

Role of bacteria in marine sedimentary processes
Title: Present and past role of chemoautotrophy in marine sediments
Dr. Eric Boschker (Netherlands Institute of Ecology NIOO-KNAW)
Dr. Laura Villanueva (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research NIOZ)

Role of bacteria in the methane and nitrogen cycles
Title: Contribution of nitrite-dependent methane oxidation to the past and present nitrogen cycle in coastal and estuarine ecosystems
Prof. Mike S.M. Jetten (Radboud University Nijmegen)
Prof. Jaap Sinninghe Damsté (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research NIOZ)

Role of micro-organisms in the carbon cycle
Title: Biogeochemical cycling of organic matter in coastal marine sediments
Prof. Fons Stams (Wageningen University and Research Centre)
Prof. Jaap Sinninghe Damsté (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research NIOZ)

Recovery of marine ecosystems from Anoxia
Title: Dynamics of coastal hypoxia: an experimental study of sediment ecosystem recovery from Anoxia
Prof. Jack Middelburg (Utrecht University, Faculty of Geosciences)
Dr. Filip Meysman (Netherlands Institute of Ecology NIOO-KNAW)

Darwin Center for Biogeosciences
Many top scientists from seven different institutes (UU, UvA, VU, WUR, RU Nijmegen, NIOO and NIOZ) are working together in the Darwin Center for Biogeosciences at the interface of biology and the earth sciences. The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) funds 50% of the Center’s budget.