03.03.2016: From 4 to 8 March, a kickoff meeting for the Chilean-German priority research program EarthShape takes place in Olmuè, Chile. „EarthShape – Earth Surface Shaping by Biota“ is coordinated by Prof. Todd Ehlers, Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Germany, and Prof. Friedhelm von Blanckenburg, GFZ section Earth Surface Geochemistry.

The research initiative challenges the geoscience paradigm that Earth surface processes are controlled primarily by climate (via erosion) and tectonic forces (via mountain building). This is done by investigating the influence of biota, especially plants and microbes, on the terrestrial Earth surface. EarthShape research will be conducted at four study sites within the Chilean Coastal Range, serving as a natural laboratory for investigating the interaction of biology and topography. Based on this multidisciplinary research fundamentals for a better understanding of interlinkages between biologic and gelogic processes will be set, beyond the usual disciplinary boundaries.

The initiative includes 13 multidisciplinary projects with 17 PhD students, 33 German and 19 Chilean investigators from the fields of geology, ecology, soil sciences, geography, microbiology, geophysics, and geochemistry. EarthShape is a priority research program sponsored by the German science foundation and will serve as an international focal point for surface processes research. It is open to collaboration with scientists from around the world.

EarthShape website>>