1. U.S./South African Undergraduate Education and Research Workshops The Witwatersrand Deep Microbiology Project: A Window into the Extreme Environment of the Deep Subsurface

2. Waste Management Research and Education Institute S.M. Pfiffner, K.L. Davis, T.C. Onstott, T. Kieft, T.J. Phelps, E. van Heerden and D. Litthauer

3. Abstract The South African mines provided a unique opportunity for research investigating geochemical and microbial processes in deep subsurface environments. This venture is an outgrowth of ongoing research through the NSF LExEn program for the Witswatersrand Deep Microbiology Project. This educational effort began in December 2001 with a workshop for U.S. and South African underrepresented minority undergraduate students. The purpose of the workshop was to provide a field laboratory hands-on research experience for undergraduates in the fields of earth science, biological sciences, environmental sciences, and engineering. The goals were to recruit and engage students in hands-on exciting interdisciplinary scientific research, to encourage students towards scientific careers, and to foster opportunities for educational, research and biotechnological efforts. We provided a safe and successful workshop. Program evaluation consisted of exit surveys and post workshop assessments. There were positive impacts on underrepresented minority students. The students expanded their knowledge base, field and laboratory skills, gained an appreciation for interdisciplinary research, and developed international networks. Student interaction with other students and mentors continues. Mentors expanded their networks to international students, scientists and mining companies. Opportunities were gained for collaborative research projects, educational and/or outreach programs and joint funding ventures. Another hands-on undergraduate research workshop will occur December 2002. http://geomicro.utk.eduhttp://geomicro.utk.edu

4. U.S./S.A. Undergraduate Educational Workshop Educational Exchange Initiative Research Opportunities for underrepresented undergraduates Field Laboratory Workshop Life in Extreme Environments and Biotechnological Application Proposed NSF REU Site: Biogeochemical Educational Experiences-South Africa (BEE-SA)

5. SubsurfaceMicrobialBiogeochemicalCycling Community Structure Function Aseptic Sampling w/ Tracers Environment Build a team! Sherwood Lollar-Univ. Toronto DeFlaun-Envirogen Inc. Takai-JAMSTEC Pedersen-Univ. Goteborg Balkwill-Florida State Pfiffner&White-Univ. Tenn. Southam-Northern Arizona Omar&Hoek-Univ. Penn. Boone-Portland State Pratt-Indiana Univ. Stahl-Univ. Wash. Baker-Univ. Wisconsin Stute-LDEO Suflita-Univ. Oklahoma Phelps-ORNL Fredrickson&Brockman-PNNL Wilson-Turgis Tech. Alexander-Univ. Wits. Spoelstra-Driefontein Collaboration Van Heerden&Litthauer Univ. Free State

6. Purpose To recruit and engage students –Undergraduate hands-on experience –Unique and exciting scientific research –Interaction with faculty mentors To encourage students towards scientific careers –Retention of professionals in science and engineering fields To explore opportunities for expanding the educational, research and biotechnological efforts To capitalized on interdisciplinary research To foster a science and technology pipeline

7. Strategies Initial Field Laboratory Workshop – Five days, Dec. 17-21, 2001 –UOFS, Bloemfontein, SA Undergraduate hands-on field and laboratory experiences Students: 5-US, 8-SA –12 female, 1 male Mentors: 4-U.S., 4-S.A. –3 female, 4 male Next workshop Dec. 2002 Submitted REU Site to NSF Web site: http:/geomicro.utk.edu

8. Field Laboratory Research Facility Staffed on a regular basis by faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students Operated by Princeton University Equipped for microbial/chemical analyses Houses an office and lodging facilities Aspects of this facility were transferred to UOFS for the educational workshops

9. University of Tennessee Princeton University Florida A&M New Mexico Institute of Technology Oak Ridge National Laboratory University of the Free State University of the North University of Witswatersrand U.S./S.A. Participants

10. Importance of an International Venue Great education experience for undergraduate students Scientific aspects and social aspects of working in a foreign country with cultural issues Develop international teamwork and networking skills Being isolated from one’s home environment –Exposure to intense research and one-on-one contact –Magnifies the impact of the educational experience –More knowledge and skills absorbed Gain understanding of challenges faced by their future colleagues in academia, industry and government in a developing country

11. Workshop Procedures Advertisements –Host Institutions –HBCUs –AGU, GSA, ASM Student requirements –Transcript –Letter of recommendation –Statement of investigation –Phone interview Student Selection –U.S. and S.A. faculty mentors –Paired students = teamwork Pre-workshop U.S. preparation –Health and safety forms –Emergency contact –Travel plans and insurance –Mine access permission –Parental notification/permission Pre-workshop S.A. preparation –Housing and transportation –Agenda, meals, and social events –Pre-sampling trip in mine –Laboratory and computer logistics –Example experiments initiated

12. Agenda Monday –Welcome, field logistics, conduct and ethics, sampling trip preparation, site geology lecture Tuesday –Sampling trip to Beatrix mine, on-site analyses Wednesday –Fissure water geochemistry, microbial characterization, enzymatic processes Thursday –Molecular techniques, microbial diversity, intellectual property, data interpretation Friday –Discussion about the workshop and research findings, completion of student reports, celebration

13. Sampling Rocks from freshly mined face Fissure water from flowing boreholes Biofilms Cores Air/Gases

14. SubsurfaceMicrobialBiogeochemicalCycling Sampling Microscopy & Mineral Geochemistry AqueousGeochemistry Environment Dissolved Gases, Cosmogenic & Stable Isotopes & Stable Isotopes PLFA-cell membrane Isolates & Archives Function 16SrDNA Community Structure Enrichments genes, & enzymes

15. Summary: Programmatic Issues Safe, successful workshop Positive impact on underrepresented minority students –Gained knowledge that would help them in their career path –Recommended workshop to other students –student tracking and interaction with mentors and other participants continues

16. Summary: Student Issues Students : –Expanded their knowledge base, field and laboratory skills –Students gain an appreciation for interdisciplinary research –Developed international networking Among themselves With interdisciplinary scientists –Gained opportunities Entered graduate school Participated in other summer program

17. Summary: Mentor Issues Mentors: –Expanded their networks International students and scientists Mining companies –Developed research collaborations –Gained opportunities Continuation of education/career paths Invitations to visit each others institutions Industrial hosting of future outreach events Joint funding ventures

18. Participant Comments Hasina Outtz wrote“… I had an absolutely AMAZING time! The week was definitely well spent, and I was able to gain a lot of experience in lab areas as well as have a lot of fun.” Namisha Muthraparsad emailed us as her next term started “… I AM BACK AT WITS TO DO MY HONOURS. I THINK WE WILL STILL BE SAMPLING FROM THE BEATRIX AND ORYX MINES...A LOT OF MY FRIENDS WANT TO SEE IT (the web site). THEY THINK ITS PRETTY COOL!! COULD U PLEASE GIVE ME THE ADDRESS... HAD THE GREATEST TIME DOWN IN BLOEMFONTEIN.” When asked if the students would participate in an extended version (summer) program, all students said “yes!” Profs. D. Litthauer and E. van Heerden wrote: “To all the workshop friends: Thanks for a wonderful week of getting to know new people and sharing some great experiences. All our best wishes for the new year may all your wildest dreams come true!!!” In their final report, Patience Modise (S.A. student) and Ana Inés Gracía Zalisñak (U.S. student) wrote “... we studied different geomicrobiological and biochemical procedures during the 5-day workshop in South Africa, and learned the techniques used for the above-mentioned processes. Thank you for giving us this great, unforgettable opportunity, not only to learn science, but also to experience an amazing cultural exchange of ideas, language, customs, and country.”

19. NeSS Benefits Readily accessible year round Educational technology transfer Undergraduate program as a model Basis for interdisciplinary educational outreach Opportunities for joint collaborations Opportunities for international students coming to U.S. Linked with extensive network of R&D institutions Top quality multidisciplinary R&D opportunities Waste Management Research and Education Institute

20. Proposed REU Site: BEE-SA Proposal submitted to NSF September 2002 Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) Program – Site at UT and UOFS Recruit and encourage the retention of underrepresented minority undergraduates in the fields of Earth and Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences and Engineering Summer program (7 weeks) 2003-2004 Eight to ten U.S. underrepresented minority undergraduates and two K-12 teachers doing hypothesis-driven research LExEn field research, lectures and laboratory tutorials given by U.S and S.A. mentors (designated mentors for one-one training)

21. Future Endeavors  Adventures into extreme environments continue to yield exciting developments in geomicrobiology of the deep subsurface. Acknowledgements  These educational workshops were funded by the National Science Foundation EAR Geology and Paleontology under the program direction of Richard Lane. The field laboratory workshop for Dec 2001 (NSF-0132418) was a supplement to the NSF Life in Extreme Environment Program for the Witswatersrand Deep Microbiology Project (EAR-9978267). The December 2002 workshop (NSF-0228968) was funded separately by the program. Thanks go to the Gold Fields and Harmony mining companies, Rob Wilson, Turgis Technology Ltd., other South African and U.S. universities and industries that provided assistance to the workshop.