Dr. Claire Nelson (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University)
Engineered mineralization: reversing climate change by turning CO2 to stone
When most of us think of the "carbon cycle", we picture trees and photosynthesis, right? But actually, the Earth has had a carbon cycle long before plants existed, and this carbon cycle actually controls climate over long timescales, but is little known to the average person. In this talk, you all will learn about the "real" carbon cycle- which has nothing to do with plants- and is responsible for maintaining a stable and habitable planet. In this carbon cycle, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is eventually turned into stone on the ocean floor. Scientists and engineers have figured out how to successfully mimic this process and speed it up- enough to reverse climate change in real time. This engineered solution has already been proven in field demonstrations, and has the potential to mitigate the disastrous effects of climate change. Zoom link: https://union.zoom.us/j/99922401147
