The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has announced that senior scientist in the Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry Department, Julie Huber, has been chosen to deliver the Rachel Carson Lecture at the 2025 American Geophysical Union Fall Conference.
The prestigious lecture was established in 1998 to honor renowned author Rachel Louise Carson. The lecture recognizes women whose ocean science is both innovative and deeply relevant to current societal and environmental challenges.
The award recognizes the importance of Huber’s work, which focuses on microbial communities inhabiting the deep ocean and subseafloor crust, organisms that are central to biogeochemical cycling that alter seawater chemistry and may illuminate questions about the origins of life on Earth and the potential for life elsewhere.
Her groundbreaking research connects microbial ecology with large-scale chemical processes, revealing how microscopic life sustains broader planetary functions and contributes essential ecosystem services.
Huber’s lecture will be titled:
“The Deep-Sea Around Us: The Urgent Need to Bring the Seafloor into Sight.”
Commenting on the award, Huber stated:
“Rachel Carson inspired generations to look beneath the surface and understand our connection to the ocean. Her legacy reminds us that ocean science must not only push the boundaries of discovery but also serve society by informing how we care for our planet.”
