This five year collaborative project includes the study of prokayotes (e.g. bacteria) and micro-eukaryotes (fungi, yeasts) to get a first-order understanding of the complete food web involved in the utilization of volcanic rocks. The geomicrobiology experiments will focus on the extreme environments of the McMurdo area around Ross Island, Antarctica. These will include some ancient lava flows and lakes in the Dry Valleys area (Taylor Valley), some lava flows in the Royal Society Range (Walcott Glacier), and a range of locations on Mount Erebus, an active volcano with a lava lake at its summit.

The goal of the GOLF439 Expedition Website is to integrate Antarctic research with education, while serving scientists, educators and students alike. Videos, images, movies, reports, lesson plans and data will be posted in real time. This website is hosted by EarthRef.org and the Enduring Resources for Earth Science Education (ERESE) portal, providing an integrated Cyberinfrastructure for biological, geological and educational data. Visit the site to check out picture galleries, daily reports and short video clips from the 2008 Antarctic field campaign, and let us know what you think! If you are an educator, please contact us with questions that were generated in your classrooms!