Dr. Ryan Newton, Assistant Professor at UWM’s School of Freshwater Sciences, will present a talk about his work entitled, “Small Life Considered: Tracing our Understanding of the Most Abundant Lake Bacterium.” Read more about Dr. Newton’s work here.

The bacteria in freshwater systems like lakes and rivers has been studied for more than 120 years. However, the most abundant freshwater lake bacterium on Earth remained unknown until the early 2000s, when DNA sequencing technologies revealed its DNA signature. Even now, this bacterium evades routine laboratory cultivation. In this seminar, Dr. Newton will take a look through time to discuss his research on this microbe, including in the Great Lakes, how ever-changing DNA sequencing procedures have been crucial to understanding its traits and activities in freshwater systems, and the current state of affairs in our understanding of this enigmatic bacterium.

The presentation will begin at 4:00 PM in Lapham Hall N101, preceded by an informal Q&A from 3:45 – 4:00 PM.