The Root and Branch of Discovery: Lessons on Life from the Archaea

The Archaea: Ecology, Metabolism and Molecular Biology GRC is a premier, international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages. The conference program includes a diverse range of speakers and discussion leaders from institutions and organizations worldwide, concentrating on the latest developments in the field. The conference is five days long and held in a remote location to increase the sense of camaraderie and create scientific communities, with lasting collaborations and friendships. In addition to premier talks, the conference has designated time for poster sessions from individuals of all career stages, and afternoon free time and communal meals allow for informal networking opportunities with leaders in the field.

The domain of life Archaea represents a vast diversity of organisms, metabolic strategies, genomes, and habitats worldwide. Thanks to the collaborative efforts by the community of researchers attending the GRC on “Archaea: Ecology Metabolism and Molecular Biology” since the meeting’s inception in 1984, discoveries abound, enabling unprecedented insight and rapid advances in archaeal biology. Recently, such knowledge advances have been enabled by new cross-disciplinary methods and ideas including metagenomics, cell biology, live imaging and biophysics, phylogenomics, biogeochemistry, metabolism, environmental microbiology and ecology, molecular biology and genetics, biochemistry, development of novel genetic systems, and discovery of new lineages. Collaboration across these fields, brought together in one meeting, enables general principles of life to be revealed. The 2023 meeting will continue the strong tradition of exciting, high quality cutting-edge science, this time centering on the theme of archaeal roots and branches, seeking to reveal general principles and notable exceptions in life’s history, with an aim to predict its future. The archaeal research community in attendance at this meeting has a rich tradition of inclusiveness and diversity in every sense. Practically, such a commitment is realized through an emphasis on talks selected from abstracts submitted by students, postdocs, and early career researchers, our new tradition of the Gordon Research Seminar started in 2019, and gender balance among speakers and organizers. Recent additions of a diversity “power hour”, poster preview talks to highlight poster sessions and foster interaction, and social outings enhance the experience. Co-chairs Thorsten Allers and Amy Schmid, as well as co-vice-chairs Kira Makarova and Tessa Quax, invite you to come join us in 2023!