The early evolution of life on Earth was intimately coupled with the development of the oceans’ chemical composition and redox conditions.
The biogeochemical processes of the ancient oceans – today reflected in the chemical and isotopic compositions of sedimentary rocks – are studied by comparing the rock compositions with the chemical and isotope fractionation patterns that are formed in laboratory experiments under controlled conditions. Such approach may lead to uncertainties and false interpretations due to chemical and biological complexity of natural aquatic systems. In this presentation, Dr. Alexey Kamyshny will discuss an approach, which can help to overcome these difficulties and to add significantly to understanding of biogeochemistry of the ancient oceans: study of modern limnic analogs of ancient oceans, which can be used as “biogeochemical time machines”. Dr. Alexey Kamyshny will demonstrate how application of this approach sheds light on the evolution of biogeochemical and redox conditions throughout the history of the ocean, the cradle of life on Earth. At the end of the presentation, Dr. Alexey Kamyshny will discuss preliminary results of his quest for biogeochemical time machines in Croatia.
Dr. Alexey Kamyshny will be hosted by Dr. Irena Creed and Dr. Khoren Avetisyan for this iSPEAC Seminar.
This is a hybrid event and will occur both in-person and online. Refreshments will be served at 9:45 AM. the seminar will occur from 10:00 to 11:00 AM. (EST, Toronto time)
- In person: Room 140, Environmental Science and Chemistry Building,
University of Toronto Scarborough, 1065 Military Trail, Scarborough, ON, Canada, M1C 1A4
Note: Seating is limited to 35 guests.
About the Speaker
Dr. Alexey Kamyshny is a Full Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beer Sheva, Israel. He is also a visiting scientist at the Ruđer Bošković Institute in Zagreb, Croatia. With a strong background in chemistry and geochemistry, his research spans multiple disciplines, including oceanography, paleoceanography, environmental chemistry, geochemistry, economic geology, and the history of science. Dr. Kamyshny earned his B.Sc. in Chemistry from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1998, followed by an M.Sc. in Applied Chemistry from the Casali Institute in 2002. He continued at the Casali Institute for his Ph.D., completing it in 2006. His postdoctoral research took him to leading institutions, including the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Germany, the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research, and the University of Maryland’s Department of Geology and Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center. Since joining the Ben-Gurion University of The Negev in 2011, Dr. Kamyshny has advanced from Senior Lecturer to Full Professor, that has been granted to him last week. He has supervised 12 M.Sc. students, six Ph.D. students, and one postdoctoral researcher. His research has been supported by grants totaling over $2 million, and he has authored 58 peer-reviewed publications, including contributions to Nature Communications, PNAS, and Environmental Science & Technology. With an h-index of 28, he has also co-authored two book chapters and holds two patents. Dr. Kamyshny’s work continues to deepen the understanding of aquatic and marine geochemistry. He has developed analytical methodologies for detecting and quantifying sulfur species in natural aquatic systems. He authored the “Protocols for quantitative detection of polysulfides, elemental sulfur, and polysulfide zero-valent sulfur distribution in natural aquatic systems.” He has also studied sulfur stable isotope distributions providing understanding into biogeochemistry of the modern limnic analogs of ancient oceans.
About iSPEAC
iSPEAC (invited Speakers in Physics, Environmental science, And Chemistry) is the Department of Physical and Environmental Science’s invited speaker series, which covers topics and is delivered by external experts and academics in physics, environmental science, and chemistry. Speakers from near and far are invited to share their cutting-edge research with an interdisciplinary audience of students, faculty and staff. The series is co-sponsored by the Department of Physical and Environmental Science, and the Office of the Vice-Principal Research at UTSC.
