Conducting research on the impact of climate change on plankton in the oceans
Developing innovative materials to teach about sustainability, climate change and mass extinction
Calcareous plankton in the oceans are under threat as a result of climate change. Changing temperatures have the potential to alter the balance of plankton ecosystems. Ocean acidification will dissolve calcite shells of plankton potentially leading to dire consequences for marine food chains. Our research focuses on ancient events where the calcareous plankton have been subjected to rapid environmental change, including abrupt global warming and mass extinction. Such events provide important information on the likely future of living plankton.
Given the pace of environmental change, education about sustainability issues is critical for future action. We have developed an innovative set of courses on climate change, energy, food, water, coastal hazards and Earth modeling that provide students with an understanding of the threats as well as solutions to these complex issues.