New challenges in biogeochemical gradient research

At a recent workshop focusing on biogeochemical gradients predominantly in groundwater and sediments, 32 North American and German scientists discussed research needs in three areas including (1) redox and microbes; (2) contaminants, isotopes, and fluxes; and (3) instruments, monitoring, and modeling. The presentation topics at the workshop at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen in Germany ranged from new concepts for monitoring contaminant attenuation, microgradients, microbial and abiotic recycling of iron and arsenic, porous media characterization, modeling in marine and groundwater environments, and stable isotope as well as radioisotope techniques.