The Formation and Fate of Organic Matter: How It Regulated Earth History and Will Shape Its Future

The 2021 Organic Geochemistry GRC will explore the central role of organic matter in shaping the history of our planet, and in its future. In doing so, it marks the 50th anniversary of the first Organic Geochemistry GRC and celebrates the vibrant relationship the field enjoys with other disciplines. Organic geochemistry emerged from the confluence of analytical and natural product chemistry, the life sciences, and the Earth and planetary sciences. Its vibrancy over the past 50 years is due largely to the unique combinations of those disciplines, and the many new disciplines it has since embraced. The 2021 GRC will examine new frontiers in classical areas as well as the interfacing disciplines that are now driving the field's evolution. Topics will range from the origin of life and the evolution of biomolecules and biogeochemical processes; the biophysical foundation of molecular proxies; under-explored organic geochemical archives; the structure and preservation of organic matter; the opportunities and pitfalls of data intensive analyses; and the critical role of our field in answering the challenges of the 21st century. Organic matter is a central component of the Earth and life, and despite all that we have learned over the past 50 years there is much yet to discover. We invite scientists from all disciplines and from all career stages to join us in Holderness in 2021, to discuss the exciting topics that will inform the next 50 years of organic geochemical research.

We are actively procuring financial support, which will allow us to support the attendance of early career researchers and especially those from under-represented minority and international groups.