BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk//
X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:From deep time biogeomorphology to geo-evolutionary feedbacks - Pr
 ofessor Neil Davies
DTSTART:20251118T180000Z
DTEND:20251118T193000Z
UID:TALK237025@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:129301
DESCRIPTION:In studies of modern landscapes\, biogeomorphology describes t
 he two-way interaction between biotic and dynamic abiotic landscape elemen
 ts. As organisms interact with landforms and Earth surface processes\, the
 y can modify attributes such as sediment stability\, fluid dynamics and ro
 ughness\, all of which can moderate erosion\, deposition and stasis\, and 
 thus register signals in the landforms and sedimentary deposits of an envi
 ronment. The recognition of such signatures in the deep time geological re
 cord has potential significance for understanding the role of life in plan
 etary surface process because ancient strata enable access to timescales i
 n excess of the finite historicity of instrumental records afforded in the
  study of modern biogeomorphology. Further\, the ancient record encapsulat
 es a wide range of spatio-temporal scales\, which enable ancient life-sedi
 ment interactions to be interrogated on a micro- to global scale and over 
 durations from the instantaneous to evolutionary timescales. Accessing all
  of these means a better understanding of how effect cascades can cause th
 e small scale to impact the large scale and thus set boundary conditions f
 or further effects. Using a series of case studies we demonstrate how an u
 nderstanding of deep time biogeomorphology can be accessed from the sedime
 ntary geological record at outcrop. In doing so we seek to demonstrate the
  fundamental role that life and evolution have has in constructing the sil
 iciclastic record and underline that many sedimentary phenomena are essent
 ially physical processes that are mediated through biological processes. G
 iven that populations which evolve on timescales congruent to that of land
 scape change can have their evolution affected by the change\, we emphasis
 e how further investigation in the vein has the potential to shift percept
 ions of the history of Earth as a living planet through means of coeval in
 terrogation of sedimentary and fossil records.\n\nTalks are priced at £4 
 for non-Scientific Society members. Scientific Society members will have f
 ree access to all our talks. Lifetime membership costs £15 and gives free
  access to all talks\, members-only events and priority access to oversubs
 cribed SciSoc events.
LOCATION:Pfizer Lecture Theatre\,  Department of Chemistry\, Lensfield Roa
 d
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR