This award will support the participation of nine U.S. scientists in a joint workshop in the "Biology and Molecular Biology of Extreme Thermophiles" to be held at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand in May 1992. The existance of extreme thermophiles, microorganisms which live and grow at temperatures. above 70oC, challenges the understanding of the limitations of biological systems. As sources of thermostable enzymes these microorganisms are very important economically as natural resources. This workshop will allow both academic and industry- based scientists from both New Zealand and the U.S. to present and discuss the results of their most recent research. The meeting is being co-organized by Dr. John N. Reeve from Ohio State University and Dr. Peter L. Bergquist from the University of Auckland. The formal presentations will be grouped into sessions focussed on the environment and ecology, enzymology and physiology, molecular biology and commercial application of extreme thermophiles. Emphasis will be placed on interactions and, hopefully, future collaborations between researchers studying the natural habitats and in situ microbiology of geothermal areas. There will be four days of presentations and group discussions and a field-trip to the Rotorua Geothermal Region located 80 km from Hamilton.
