Science grant funds Oregon lakes research

After receiving a prestigious $1 million grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, a team of IU scientists will begin a five-year research project in the remote and preserved area of Warner Valley, Ore.\nIU was one of seven recipients of the foundation's 2002 Interdisciplinary Science Award, which will fund the project headed by geologist Lisa Pratt, biologist Carl Bauer and chemist Don Burke. \n"The competition process is very, very stiff," said Kerry Slough, grant development specialist in the IU Office of Sponsored Research. "There's a limited number of submissions allowed, and there's some fine written proposals in the competition. We're very excited about this award."\nAccording to the foundation Web site, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation's "board and staff will initiate and be receptive to ideas in which a large commitment of funds and/or time can make a unique and lasting contribution. The Foundation will operate in a way that ensures flexibility to respond to such opportunities." \nThe organization was created in 1964 and is known for its nationwide encouragement in the areas of science and art. \nThe research project's goal is to monitor bacteria and higher organisms' ability to tolerate drastic changes in ionic force and composition that result from the drying up of the area's lakes. This dessication cycle occurs seasonally and decadally.\nWhat is so unique about the Warner Valley is it contains a number of hypersaline alkaline, or very salty lakes, which are surrounded by rugged land -- a result from debris of volcanic flows. The chemical consistency of the volcanic debris is important for biogeochemical research in that it is similar to the composition of Earth's early crust.\n"We're going to be looking at organisms in this environment that mimic those that were around during Earth's early history," Bauer said. "The salt levels in the area vary tremendously and what happens with the organisms in this environment is thought to have been what happened to Earth five billion years ago."\nBauer explained the group will set up remote monitoring systems where the pH and temperature levels will be recorded at periods of four to five months at a time. This will then allow the scientists to isolate bacteria at different times of the season.\nBauer feels the grant is beneficial because it funds new areas of research that are typically in "risky areas." \n"This is cutting edge science," Slough said. "This will allow us to get IU's name out there. With success like this, we'll attract the best students and the best faculty. Who knows where it could go"