By Scott Sugden, PhD student at McGill University

Almost 10% of Earth’s land area is covered by ice sheets or glacial ice, but because of ongoing climate change, more than one-third of Earth’s glacial area will melt by 2100. In other words, an enormous amount of land is about to undergo a major transition from wet, cold, mineral-rich subglacial sediment to dry, warm(er), nutrient-poor soil. Soils, in turn, are a key player in Earth’s biogeochemical cycles. So, how will the loss of glacial ice – and associated increase in soil area – alter biogeochemical activity in polar regions?

This question sits at the heart of my PhD research. To understand biogeochemical activity in deglaciated soils, I study the microorganisms that live in these soils. I focus on the “who,” the “what,” and the “how” – who lives in the soil, what (biogeochemical activities) they are doing, and how they do it (i.e., enzymes or pathways). My research also explores how the answers to these questions change with time since deglaciation. Over the past three years, I have tackled these questions using many, many kilograms of soil and a mixture of DNA sequencing, single-cell imaging, in situ gas flux measurements, and microcosm experiments.

My thesis research has brought me from Axel Heiberg Island (in northern Nunavut) to Livingston Island (in Antarctica), and, more recently, the 19^th International Symposium on Microbial Ecology (ISME) in Cape Town, South Africa. With the support of a QCBS Excellence Award, I was able to present a poster at this conference – the premier international conference for microbial ecologists. I not only shared my time-sensitive, environmentally relevant research on a global stage but also connected with some of the world’s best soil, permafrost, and arctic microbiologists.

The journey to Cape Town

I have always been a travel enthusiast while trying to keep costs low, so when I saw a flight with an overnight layover in Nairobi for $1,000 less than a more direct trip to Cape Town, I jumped at the opportunity. (And what supervisor doesn’t love saving $1,000?). But then what to do with a free afternoon in Nairobi? My lab-mates and I went on a four-hour safari in Nairobi National Park, where we saw zebras, rhinos, giraffes, ostriches, gazelle, and, best of all, lions. What an exciting first day on the African continent! 

The next day we continued to Cape Town and settled in for the week in one of Africa’s most cosmopolitan cities. We visited the Oranjezicht organic farmer’s market, where we tried some authentic (and delicious) South African cuisine. We also walked along the coast and enjoyed spring in the southern hemisphere before embracing a week of science and learning.

The conference: small facts, big ideas

The week was full of exceptional talks and posters – I saw great presentations related to my own field of research (and filled several pages of a notebook with a list of papers I still want to read…), but perhaps more importantly, I learned about the broader challenges my field is currently facing and how researchers are working to overcome them. 

For example, microbial ecologists have become heavily reliant on DNA and RNA sequencing for their research. Several presenters emphasized how other methods (like microscopy or isotope-labeling experiments) are needed to complement all this sequencing data. My thesis research leverages a lot of sequencing data, so it was valuable to hear several presenters suggest other methods to pursue. There were also several talks highlighting the value of using math and computer models to better understand microbial ecosystems. I’m one of the (seemingly rare) biologists who loves math, so for me, this has become “challenge accepted”! 

Building new connections

Personally, I hate the ‘networking’ part of conferences. I don’t like the idea of marketing myself to complete strangers with a little “nudge nudge” about future jobs or collaborations. But when Victoria Orphan gave a keynote presentation about a single-cell imaging method that I’ve been struggling to apply to my own samples, my lab-mate encouraged me to go ask her a few questions after her talk. And it wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be! Professor Orphan suggested I send her a follow-up e-mail, and we’ve had a nice and extremely helpful post-conference exchange.

I also learned that serendipity plays a huge role in networking. I saw an extremely interesting talk about permafrost from Virginia Rich, but I figured there was no way I would ask her questions afterwards. But then, the next day, the conference organizers wanted to take a group picture of everyone at the conference. Lo and behold, I was standing next to Virginia for that picture, and she paused to introduce herself and ask about my research. In the past few months, we’ve started toying with the idea of a postdoctoral fellowship in her lab. Random chance gave me the opportunity to connect with someone I was too scared to approach myself!

What I took home to Montreal

I spent a few days exploring the Cape Town area after the conference, but (all too soon) it was time to head home to McGill. In addition to a LOT of new knowledge and great feedback on my own poster, I have come back to Montreal with a new appreciation for the value of the scientific method and the fact that networking doesn’t need to be as unpleasant as I think. ISME was my first international conference, and I learned to value the international breadth of scientific research. As you read this blog or go to sleep tonight, there’s probably a PhD student across the world working away on something related to your own research. I think that’s pretty cool.