#006: Ocean in a Bottle - Katie Morgan & Dr. Diane Thompson

Biosphere 2 Podcast

In this episode we are joined by Katie Morgan and Dr. Diane Thompson. Katie Morgan is the Manager of Marine Systems and Education Initiatives at Biosphere 2. She oversees the operations of the Biosphere 2 Ocean, assists in developing the vision and project plan for the coral reef research initiative, and keeps the new coral species at Biosphere 2 alive and thriving. Katie is headed to James Cook University in Australia early next year to continue her journey as a coral reef biologist. Dr. Diane Thompson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geosciences at the University of Arizona, and the Director of Marine Research at Biosphere 2. Diane’s research bridges the fields of ecology, paleoecology, and paleoclimatology. Her research investigates climates and reef systems of the past, and in turn, improves our ability to preserve reef resilience under current and future climate change. Before coming to the University of Arizona, Diane held a two year post doctoral fellowship at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, and was an assistant professor at Boston University. In this episode, we dive deep into the Biosphere 2 Ocean project, exploring stories and lessons from the early missions, takeaways from past research campaigns, insights into coral reef biology, and updates on the current campaign of the Biosphere 2 Coral Reef Lab. Dr. Diane Thompson's Lab Website: https://uathompsonlab.com/ Biosphere 2 Main Website Biosphere 2 Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB-dGCnVK2A&t=6s