Microbial dolomite and carbon sequestration

Abstract

I guess we’re all students of geology here, but I’m going to start with a video-clip of a fantasy rooted in the past, to illustrate how the simplest forms of life can have a massive impact on the destiny of technologically advanced civilizations. In HG Wells’ ‘War of the Worlds’, popularized by Jeff Wayne, the Human Race was under threat of extinction from aliens, but was ultimately saved by humble, unseen bacteria when all other means of defence seemed ineffective in a technology-rich civilization. Climate change and global warming are today’s most serious threat, and it is no fantasy, but strangely enough, I propose to show that bacteria could in reality be the salvation of the Human Race! This talk has more than one focus, and will jump between true science, supported by experimental data, deductive reasoning, prediction and innovation, and illusion. This may seem an unusual approach, but the reason is to illustrate that innovative thinking is necessary to address and solve many of today’s problems, and must be informed and inspired by facts, reasoning and imagination. We must not be diverted by illusions, however appealing or convincing, nor be afraid to cross the strict boundaries that some impose between various disciplines and explore different possibilities. We face today a major threat in the form of global warming and climate change, and it will not be solved by conventional thinking. But today the knowledge of the expert is increasingly being replaced by the wisdom of the many (social networking, Charles Leadbeater) etc.) and our collective abilities can be harnessed to produce new solutions. I hope that this talk will stimulate you to think along these lines, so that your future, and the future of generations to come, can be more secure.

Further information

• Wright-poster.pdf