Katrina Edwards
Katrina Jane Edwards | |
---|---|
Born | March 15, 1968 |
Died | October 26, 2014 | (aged 46)
Other names | Mistress of the Dark World |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Geomicrobiology |
Katrina Jane Edwards (15 March 1968 - 26 October 2014) was a pioneering
Life and education
Katrina Edwards was born the third of five children on March 15, 1968, in Columbus, Ohio, to Sandra and Timothy Edwards.[1] At Columbus Alternative High School Katrina completed her secondary education, and pursued an early career at the Delaware Municipal Airport in general airport operations and later as a chief flight instructor.[1][2] While continuing her work at the airport, Edwards attended Ohio State University to pursue an undergraduate degree in geology.[3] In 1994, she received her bachelor's degree with honors.[1]
In 1996 Edwards left her work at the airport to attend the
Katrina Edwards died on October 26, 2014, at the age of 46. Edwards is survived by her parents, her siblings, and her three children.[2]
Work and discoveries
While at
Edwards, as founding director and
Edwards authored over 100 published papers, contributed to and edited several microbiology textbooks, served as the associate editor of American Mineralogist, and served on the editorial boards of Environmental Microbiology, Geobiology and Geomicrobiology journals. Her 2000 paper, "An Archaeal Iron-oxidizing Extreme Acidophile Important in Acid Mine Drainage" featured as the cover story in the journal Science. Edwards also published a blog on Scientific American's website, relating the experiences of her team so members of the public could follow the events as they occurred during a research expedition in the Mid-Atlantic Ocean.[1]
Iron transformation pathways of intraterrestrials
Edwards studied intraterrestrial transformation pathways (metabolic processes) of iron (Fe) in sulfide-mineral deposits and the effects of their metabolic reactions on their surroundings. Because of its abundance, dynamic solubility, and oxidation-reduction properties, iron is an important element in the biochemistry of mid-ocean ridge hydrothermal systems. It is abundant in most fluids discharged from hydrothermal vents. Iron plumed from hydrothermal vents in sulfide mineral deposits precipitate (form a solid) with sulfur (S). The precipitate then becomes part of the physical structure of the sulfide deposit. Iron also has the potential to act as the substrate for microbial metabolism and respiration. This means that it can be reduced during a microbial process that uses it in the place of oxygen to create energy. This and other studies by Edwards have revealed how microbes can live deep in the Earth's crust in bedrock that was previously thought to be devoid of life.[6]
Awards and recognition
Edwards was elected a fellow of the
References
- ^ USC Dornsife. University of Southern California. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ Astrobiology at NASA. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f "Katrina Edwards". Oceanus Magazine. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
- L.A. Weekly. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
- ^ "Deep life". Deep Carbon Observatory. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
- PMID 27242685.