Ginkgo Elevated CO2 Experiment
Fossil Atmospheres
We are growing Ginkgo biloba plants under ambient (400 ppm) and elevated CO2 levels (600, 800, and 1000 ppm).
Our experiment helps us estimate CO2 levels in fossil atmospheres using fossil Ginkgo leaves we collect from the geologic record.
SCIENCE TEAM
Rich Barclay
Smithsonian
National Museum
of Natural History
- Research
Geologist
​
​
Research Areas:
- Paleobotany
- Paleoclimate
- Geobiology
- Paleocene-Eocene
Thermal Maximum
- Cretaceous-Paleogene
Boundary Recovery
- Ocean Anoxic Events
​
Laura Soul
Smithsonian
National Museum
of Natural History
- Deep Time Science Education Specialist
​
​
Research Areas:
- Macroecology and
morphological evolution
of tetrapods
- Morphological evolution
and development
- Palaeobiogeography,
function and ecology
- Phylogenetic
comparative methods
Jonathan Wilson
Haverford College
- Assistant Professor
of Biology & Director of Environmental Studies
​
​
Research Areas:
- Physiological properties
of extinct plants
- Evolution of plant
biomineralization & the
terrestrial silica cycle
- Leaf Microbial diversity
- Origins of leaves
- Water/carbon tradeoffs
in early vascular plants
Scott Wing
Smithsonian
National Museum
of Natural History
- Curator of
Paleobotany
​
​
Research Areas:
- Ecology of Terrestrial
Ecosystems
- Plant Evolution
- Paleobotany
- Paleoclimate
- Climate Change
- Paleocene-Eocene
Thermal Maximum
Amy Bolton
United States
Botanic Garden
- Manager of Public Programs
​
​
Research Areas:
- Developing activities
and programs in STEM
- Helping to redesign the
new NMNH fossil halls
(opened in 2019)
- Developing innovative
educational programs,
products, and spaces
- Producing educational
television and media.
Antoine Bercovici
University of Nottingham, UK
-Postdoctoral Fellow
​
Research Collaborator at SI NMNH​
​
Research Areas:
- Design, construction, and
implementation of "Ginkgo
Meters", a custome
system for monitoring 8
environmental variables
inside the chambers at
SERC.
- Palynology of Mass
Extinction events
(K-Pg; Permian-Triassic)
Pat Megonigal
Smithsonian
Environmental Research Center
-Associate Director for Research
​
​
Research Areas:
- Biogeochemistry
- Carbon cycling
- Global change
- Greenhouse gas
emissions
- Sea level rise
- Soil
- Wetland ecology