Meeting Information

The inaugural Southern Geobiology Symposium (SGS) will take place November 5-7, 2026 at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute.

Tentative Schedule of Events

Thursday November 5, 2026

Check-In: 13:00-21:00

Coastal Geobiology Field Trip: 13:00-17:00

Welcome reception: 18:00-21:00

Friday November 6, 2026

Breakfast: 08:00-08:30

Welcome to SGS 2026 @ MSI: 08:30-09:00

Session I (Oral): 09:00-09:45

Break: 09:45-10:00

Session II (Oral): 10:00-10:45

Break: 10:45-11:00

Keynote, Dr. Andreas Teske:       11:00-12:00

Lunch: 12:00-13:00

Session III (Oral): 13:15-14:00

Break: 14:00-14:15

Session IV (Oral): 14:15-15:00

Break: 15:00-15:15

Poster session: 15:30-17:30

Dinner: 17:30-18:30

Social Outing: 19:00-until

Saturday November 7, 2026

Breakfast: 08:30-09:30

Lightning Talks: 09:30-10:15

Break: 10:15-10:30

Keynote, Dr. Rowan Martindale: 10:30-11:30

Break: 11:30-12:00

Awards Lunch: 12:00-13:30

Check out: 13:30

Keynote Speakers

SGS 2026 is delighted to announce that we will have two keynote speakers, Dr. Andreas Teske and Dr. Rowan Martindale!

Dr. Teske is a Research Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Teske's Keynote will be November 6 at 11am. 

Talk title: The Hiking guide to the Guaymas Basin Geo-Ecosystem

Description: An overview on one of the most fascinating seafloor spreading centers, Guaymas Basin in the Gulf of California. Here, it is possible to observe a highly dynamic and diverse geobiological seafloor landscape where active hydrothermalism, cold methane seepage and natural petroleum discharge coexist within tens of miles and sustain characteristic benthic ecosystems. Submersible observations reveal visually outstanding sulfide-oxidizing microbial mats, including some of the largest bacterial filaments on Earth, and invertebrate fauna and microbiota associated with petroleum seepage through seafloor mineral concretions that represent hot spots of fossil carbon-fueled benthic life. Invisible for cameras but within reach for modern microbial surveys using metagenomic techniques, the diversity of energy-rich redox couples and carbon sources at the Guaymas seafloor fuels exceptionally rich microbial life, much of it highly relevant for reconstructing the tree of life.

Dr. Martindale is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Jackson School of Geoscience at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Martindale's Keynote will be November 7 at 10:30am. 

Talk title: Jurassic Geobiology: Reconstructing ancient marine ecosystems from Morocco

Description: This talk will cover some of my research in the Early Jurassic of Morocco. Using paleontological and geobiological toolkits together has allowed our team to better understand some of the unique marine communities and environmental changes across an extinction event. I'll also share some of our newest findings about deep-water chemosymbiotic communities and reconstructing carbonate chemistry from 183 million years ago.

Program

Coming soon!