The co-evolution of life and Precambrian environments

Melbourne, September 30, 2019

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Topic

Australia has a rich record of Precambrian sediments which have led to many significant insights into Earth’s early evolutionary history. From the origin of life and land in the early Earth, to extreme climate change and biotic diversification in the terminal Proterozoic, the Precambrian showcases vast transitions in the Earth’s climate systems, ocean-atmosphere composition and biosphere. In this symposium, leading researchers in diverse fields will examine our understanding of the evolution of Earth’s surface environments through the Precambrian. Questions around the link between environmental conditions and biological innovation will form a large part of the discussion: how and why did life evolve on Earth and how has Earth remained habitable for billions of years? The symposium speakers will focus on integrated geobiological, stratigraphic, sedimentological and geochemical research on Earth’s surface evolution too bring new complexity to our understanding of Precambrian habitats.

Where is it?

At the Fritz Lowe Theatre in the Earth Sciences Building at University of Melbourne (Parkville). The building is at the Corner Swanston & Elgin Street.

Troubles finding the venue? Use this campus map. 
Note: Building 200 = McCoy building = Earth Sciences building

Please note: Registration and poster abstract submission is encouraged by the 10th September, but will be open until the 30th September. Poster abstracts received after the 10th September will be accepted but will not be included in the abstract volume.

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Detailed Program
(some changes may occur)

08.00 - 09.00
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09.00 - 09.10​
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09.10 - 09.35
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09.35 - 10.00
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​10.00 -10.25
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​10.25 - 10.50

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​10.50 - 11.20

11.20 - 11.45

​11.45 - 12.10
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​12.10 - 12.35

​12.35 - 13.30

​13.30 - 13.55

13.55 - 14.20

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14.20 - 14.45
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​14.45 - 15.30

​15.30 - 15.55

​15.55 - 16.20
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16.20 - 16.45

16.45 - 18.15

​18.15 - 18.30

​18.30 - 19.30
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20.00 - 22.00

<<<<  Onsite registration (limited places) and poster setup*  >>>>
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Dr David Cantrill (GSAV) and Dr Ashleigh Hood (convener)
Symposium Opening

Prof Martin van Kranendonk (UNSW)
An Origin of Life on land: New insights from a deep time analogue and implications for the search for life on Mars

Dr David Flannery (QUT)
Archean analogues for Martian biosignatures

Prof Balz Kamber (QUT)
Did changing land composition drive Palaeoproterozoic atmospheric and biologic evolution?

PhD Candidate Erica Barlow (UNSW)
Diversification of early life: microfossils from the c. 2.45-2.21 Ga Turee Creek Group, Western Australia

<<<<  Morning Tea (refreshments provided)  >>>>

PhD Candidate Georgia Soares (UNSW)
Localised oxygen and the complexification of life during the GOE

Dr Juraj Farkaš (U. Adelaide)
Chromium isotope constraints on marine redox and Paleoproterozoic oxygenation: Insights from the Greater McArthur Basin

Dr Indrani Mukherjee (Utas)
Pyritised Microfossil imaging using LA-ICP-MS: A tool to test biogenicity

<<<<  Lunch (lunch provided at the venue)  >>>>

Assoc Prof Malcolm. Wallace (U.Melbourne)
Neoproterozoic reefs and oceanic oxygenation

PhD Candidate Adam Nordsvan (Curtin)
Major shoreline migration following Snowball Earth​

Prof Mary Droser (UC Riverside)
The Significance of the Ediacara record of South Australia for ​our understanding of the early evolution of animals

<<<<  Afternoon Tea (refreshments provided)  >>>>

PhD Candidate Ilya Bobrovskiy (ANU)
Preservation and origin of Ediacaran fossils

Dr Lidya Tarhan (Yale)
Reconstructing the paleoecology, paleoenvironments and preservation of Earth's earliest complex communities

Prof Patricia Rich (Swinburne & Monash)
Overview of discoveries at the End of a SuperEon in Namibia

<<<<  Poster session and refreshments  >>>>

Selwyn Medal Presentation

Assistant Prof Noah Planavksy (Yale)
Selwyn Public Lecture:
Earth's history and the search for life in our Universe

<<<<  Symposium Dinner  >>>>
Carlton, Restaurant TBA

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*Poster set up in the morning and available during all breaks

Travel Grant

The Australian Sedimentology Group will fund two $250 interstate travel grants to attend the Selwyn Symposium, which are open to students and ECRs (<5 years since PhD). The deadline for applications is the 23rd August 2019, and the outcome will be announced on the 30th August 2019. Applications to be sent after abstract submission. Please note that the grants are open to GSA members, and we encourage membership with the ASG.
 
To apply, please email [email protected] with the following information:

• Why do you want to attend the Selwyn Symposium? Max 100 words
• Explain why receiving this $250 award will be of benefit to you. Max 250 words
• Where will you be travelling to Melbourne from?
• If a student, what degree are you enrolled in, which institution, start and expected end dates
• If an ECR, date of PhD completion

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