Small but Mighty; how Microbes change the Earth

Although microbes are very small, their metabolism changes the world, both in the present day and the geological past. This talk will introduce the field of geomicrobiology and show how we can use cutting edge microscopy and spectroscopy to elucidate the ways in which microbes interact with minerals and can clean up pollution. I will also highlight some of my ongoing research into exciting and unusual environments where I have found microbes in Cornwall.