TEDxMonterey
Melissa Garren: The sea we've hardly seen
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An average teaspoon of ocean water contains five million bacteria and fifty million viruses – and yet we are just starting to discover how these "invisible engineers" control our ocean's chemistry. At TEDxMonterey, Melissa Garren sheds light on marine microbes that provide half the oxygen we breathe, maintain underwater ecosystems, and demonstrate surprising hunting skills. (Apologies for the small audio glitches in this video.)
(Filmed at TEDxMonterey.)
Melissa Garren - Marine biologist
Melissa Garren is a molecular and marine biologist with a passion for unlocking the mysteries of our ocean's ecosystems and finding new avenues for conservation. Full bio
Melissa Garren is a molecular and marine biologist with a passion for unlocking the mysteries of our ocean's ecosystems and finding new avenues for conservation. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:05
In the next ten minutes,
we will immerse ourselves
we will immerse ourselves
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在接下來的十分鐘，我們會讓自己
00:08
in an amazing and beautiful marine world
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沉浸在驚奇美麗的海洋世界中，
00:11
that's very often overlooked.
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一個常被忽略的世界。
00:13
I'd like to take you
on a journey into the sea,
on a journey into the sea,
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我想帶各位踏上通往大海的旅程，
00:15
looking at it from the perspective
of its smallest inhabitants:
of its smallest inhabitants:
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換個角度來看大海，
大海中最小的居民的角度：
大海中最小的居民的角度：
00:19
the microbes.
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微生物的角度。
00:20
My goal is that after this short journey,
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我的目標是，
在這趟短暫的旅程之後，
在這趟短暫的旅程之後，
00:23
you'll share my amazement
at how deeply connected our lives are
at how deeply connected our lives are
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你們會和我一樣訝異
我們的生命和這些微生物
我們的生命和這些微生物
00:27
to these microscopic creatures
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之間有這麼深的連結，
00:29
and also perhaps my concern
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也許也能了解我為什麼會擔心
00:31
that these relationships
are often neglected
are often neglected
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在針對我們的海洋做決策、
00:34
when it comes to making decisions
and policies about our oceans.
and policies about our oceans.
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制訂政策時，這些關係常常被忽略。
00:39
When you look out on a clear blue ocean,
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當你看向這清澈的藍色海洋，
00:42
you're actually gazing at
a microbial soup full of vibrant life.
a microbial soup full of vibrant life.
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你看到的其實是一大碗微生物湯，
裡面滿是活躍的生命。
裡面滿是活躍的生命。
00:46
What you see here
are marine bacteria buzzing about
are marine bacteria buzzing about
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各位在這裡看見的，
是海洋細菌正在忙東忙西，
是海洋細菌正在忙東忙西，
00:50
and exploring other members
of the marine food web.
of the marine food web.
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探索海洋食物網的其他成員。
00:53
To emphasize how small
this world really is,
this world really is,
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為了要強調這個世界有多小，
00:57
I've added a white line
to most of my slides
to most of my slides
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我在大部份的投影片上
加上了一條白線，
加上了一條白線，
01:01
that shows you the thickness
of a single strand of human hair --
of a single strand of human hair --
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代表的是一根人類頭髮的厚度，
01:04
very tiny.
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非常小。
01:05
An average teaspoon of clean seawater
has five million bacteria
has five million bacteria
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平均一茶匙的乾淨海水中
就有五百萬個細菌
就有五百萬個細菌
01:10
and 50 million viruses in it.
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以及五千萬個病毒。
01:13
If I were to scoop up
two gallons of seawater,
two gallons of seawater,
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如果我能舀出兩加侖的海水，
01:16
there would be more bacteria
in those two gallons
in those two gallons
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在這兩加侖海水中的細菌數目
01:18
than there are people on this planet.
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就比地球上的人數還要多了。
01:21
Take just a moment and think about
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花點時間想一下，
01:23
how many gallons might make up an ocean.
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一片海洋是多少加侖？
01:26
Or maybe I've already made
your stomach turn,
your stomach turn,
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也許我已經讓你們反胃了，
01:28
as you think of all of the seawater
we've each accidentally swallowed
we've each accidentally swallowed
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因為你們想到了這些年來
不小心喝下的所有海水。
不小心喝下的所有海水。
01:32
over the years.
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01:33
But luckily, we rarely get sick
from that seawater,
from that seawater,
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但，幸運的是，
我們很少會因為海水而生病，
我們很少會因為海水而生病，
01:36
because most marine microbes
are working for us,
are working for us,
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因為大部份的海洋微生物
對我們是有幫助的，
對我們是有幫助的，
01:39
not against us.
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不是有害的。
01:40
One of my favorite examples
is that they provide
is that they provide
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我最喜歡的例子之一，
是我們呼吸的氧氣
是我們呼吸的氧氣
01:43
half of the oxygen we breathe.
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有一半是它們提供的。
01:46
In middle school, we all learn
to thank the trees.
to thank the trees.
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在中學時，我們都學過要感謝樹木。
01:48
And admittedly, they may be
more huggable than the microbes.
more huggable than the microbes.
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無可否認，它們可能
比微生物更好擁抱。
比微生物更好擁抱。
01:52
But it turns out
that land plants only create
that land plants only create
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但結果發現，我們呼吸的
氧氣只有四分之一
氧氣只有四分之一
01:55
a quarter of the oxygen we breathe.
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是地面上的植物所創造的。
01:57
Another quarter comes
from macroalgae like kelp
from macroalgae like kelp
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另外四分之一來自海藻，如巨藻，
02:00
and a full 50% from the microbes.
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而整整二分之一是來自微生物。
02:03
Take a deep breath in.
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深深吸一口氣。
02:05
Thank the trees.
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感謝樹木。
02:07
Take another deep breath in.
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再深深吸一口氣。
02:10
Thank the macroalgae.
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感謝海藻。
02:12
Your next two breaths --
tip your hats to the microbes.
tip your hats to the microbes.
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你接下來的兩口氣，向微生物致敬。
02:15
This picture is of a bacterium
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這張圖上的是細菌，
02:17
that happens to be the single most
abundant photosynthesizer
abundant photosynthesizer
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它們剛好是地球上最大量的
光合作用生物。
02:21
on our planet.
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02:23
It's called, "Prochlorococcus,"
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它叫「原核綠球藻」，
02:25
and this is oceans' oxygen-producing
powerhouse and, I might argue,
powerhouse and, I might argue,
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它是海洋的氧氣生產室，
我也主張它是
我也主張它是
02:30
one of the most amazing discoveries
of recent marine microbiology.
of recent marine microbiology.
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近期海洋微生物學中
最驚人的發現之一。
最驚人的發現之一。
02:35
We didn't know it existed until 1988.
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1988 年以前我們都不知道它的存在。
02:37
All of human history has depended
on this little microbe
on this little microbe
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整個人類歷史都仰賴這個小微生物
02:41
for the oxygen they breathe every day,
no matter where or when they lived.
no matter where or when they lived.
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時時刻刻在任何地方
供應人類每日呼吸的氧氣。
供應人類每日呼吸的氧氣。
02:46
And we've only been aware
of that relationship for a mere 24 years.
of that relationship for a mere 24 years.
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而我們卻只到近 24 年
才知道這個關係的存在。
才知道這個關係的存在。
02:50
I find that astounding.
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那讓我覺得震驚。
02:52
How many more critical
relationships are out there
relationships are out there
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外面還有多少重要的關係是
02:54
that we have yet to discover?
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我們尚未發現的？
02:56
I see our relationship with marine
microbes as parallel in many ways
microbes as parallel in many ways
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在很多層面上，我認為
我們與海洋微生物的關係
我們與海洋微生物的關係
03:00
to the relationship we have
with microbes in our gut.
with microbes in our gut.
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很類似我們和腸中微生物的關係。
03:04
We've all experienced the wrath
of unhappy gut microbes
of unhappy gut microbes
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我們都曾經在某個時點體驗過
腸中微生物不開心是什麼感覺，
腸中微生物不開心是什麼感覺，
03:07
at one point or another,
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03:08
perhaps food poisoning or tainted water.
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也許是食物中毒或是被污染的水。
03:11
But we may be less aware of the connection
we have with marine microbes
we have with marine microbes
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但我們可能比較沒意識到
我們和海洋微生物的連結，
我們和海洋微生物的連結，
03:15
and the physical discomforts we can feel
when those communities change.
when those communities change.
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以及當那些社群改變的時候，
我們會感受到怎樣的身體不適。
我們會感受到怎樣的身體不適。
03:20
As an extreme example: the disease
cholera is caused by a bacterium
cholera is caused by a bacterium
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舉個比較極端的例子：
造成霍亂的細菌
造成霍亂的細菌
就是在海中茂盛生長的。
03:24
that thrives in the ocean.
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03:26
So while most marine microbes
are indeed helping us,
are indeed helping us,
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所以，雖然大部份的海洋
微生物的確都在幫助我們，
微生物的確都在幫助我們，
03:30
there do remain plenty that are not.
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還是有不少其他的並非如此。
03:32
Our relationship with the ocean,
much like our gut,
much like our gut,
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我們和海洋的關係，
非常像我們的腸子，
非常像我們的腸子，
03:35
is dependent on the right
balance of microbes.
balance of microbes.
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要仰賴微生物的適當平衡。
03:38
The old phrase, "You are what you eat"
applies to our ocean microbes as well.
applies to our ocean microbes as well.
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有句諺語「人如其食」
也適用於海洋微生物。
也適用於海洋微生物。
03:43
To give you a sense of what
an overfed ocean may look like,
an overfed ocean may look like,
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為了讓各位了解
被過度餵食的海洋是什麼樣子，
被過度餵食的海洋是什麼樣子，
03:47
here are two examples
of me sampling seawater.
of me sampling seawater.
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請看我在做海水取樣的這兩個例子。
03:49
On your left, it's a clean coral reef,
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左邊是乾淨的珊瑚礁，
03:52
and on your right is
a nearly dead coral reef
a nearly dead coral reef
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右邊是幾乎死亡的珊瑚礁，
03:55
that has a very intense fish farming
operation in the waters there.
operation in the waters there.
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在那裡的水域有很密集的養魚業。
03:59
You'll notice I'm only smiling
in one of these two pictures,
in one of these two pictures,
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你們可以注意到，
我只在其中一張照片裡有笑容，
我只在其中一張照片裡有笑容，
04:03
and in the other one my dive buddy
had to be a whole lot closer
had to be a whole lot closer
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在另一張照片中，我的潛水伙伴
得要靠我非常近才有辦法拍照。
得要靠我非常近才有辦法拍照。
04:07
to capture that image.
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04:09
So if we were to take a drop of seawater
from each of these samples
from each of these samples
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如果從每個樣本中各取一滴海水，
04:14
and put it under the microscope,
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放到顯微鏡下，
04:15
this is what the bacteria and viral
communities would look like.
communities would look like.
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細菌和病毒社群看起來就像這樣子。
04:19
So again, clean reef on your left,
fish farm reef on your right.
fish farm reef on your right.
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同樣的，左邊是乾淨的珊瑚礁，
右邊是有養魚業的珊瑚礁。
右邊是有養魚業的珊瑚礁。
04:22
As we all have had a feeling of discomfort
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當腸中微生物不平衡時，
我們都會有不舒服的感覺，
04:26
from imbalanced gut microbes,
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04:29
a fish swimming through
a part of the ocean
a part of the ocean
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當一條魚游過海洋中像這樣
04:31
that has been overfed in this way --
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被過度餵食的區域時－
04:33
in this case, by intense aquaculture,
but it could be a sewage spill
but it could be a sewage spill
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這個例子中，成因是
密集的水產養殖造，
密集的水產養殖造，
04:36
or fertilizer runoff or any number
of other sources --
of other sources --
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但也可能是汙水溢出
或肥料流出等其他來源－
或肥料流出等其他來源－
04:39
that fish will feel
the physical discomforts
the physical discomforts
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那條魚就會覺得身體不舒服，
04:41
of the ocean microbes being out of whack.
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因為海洋微生物似乎出了毛病。
04:44
There may be less oxygen present,
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可能氧氣的量會比較少，
04:46
there may be more pathogens there,
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可能會有比較多病原體，
04:48
and there may be toxins
produced by some of these microbes.
produced by some of these microbes.
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可能有些微生物還會產生毒素。
04:52
The bottom line is that
from their tiny-scale existence,
from their tiny-scale existence,
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結果就是，就它們
這麼微小的存在來說，
這麼微小的存在來說，
04:55
these tiny microbes have
a very large-scale power
a very large-scale power
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這些小微生物的力量是非常大的，
04:58
to control how our ocean smells,
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能控制我們的海洋聞起來如何、
05:01
how it tastes,
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嚐起來如何、
05:02
how it feels
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感覺起來如何，
05:03
and how it looks.
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及看起來如何。
05:06
If you take one idea away
from my talk today, let it be this:
from my talk today, let it be this:
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如果各位今天要從這場演講中
帶走一個想法，請帶走這個：
帶走一個想法，請帶走這個：
05:10
we have an incredibly important
relationship with these marine microbes
relationship with these marine microbes
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我們和這些海洋微生物
的關係極其重要，
的關係極其重要，
05:14
that have very large-scale consequences,
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且其後果是影響很大的，
05:17
and we're just barely
beginning to understand
beginning to understand
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我們才剛剛開始了解
05:19
what that relationship looks like
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那關係是什麼樣子的，
05:21
and how it may be changing.
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以及它可能會如何改變。
05:23
Just as a physician will have trouble
curing a disease of unknown cause,
curing a disease of unknown cause,
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就像醫生很難去治癒
不知道原因的疾病一樣，
不知道原因的疾病一樣，
如果不更進一步了解微生物，
我們也會有類似的困境，
我們也會有類似的困境，
05:27
we will have similar trouble
restoring ocean health
restoring ocean health
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05:30
without understanding the microbes better.
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很難恢復海洋的健康。
05:32
They are the invisible engineers
that control the chemistry of the ocean
that control the chemistry of the ocean
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它們是隱形的工程師，
控制了海洋的化學，
控制了海洋的化學，
05:35
and therefore, what creatures
can live there,
can live there,
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因而也控制了哪些生物能住在那裡、
05:38
whether or not it's safe
for us to swim there
for us to swim there
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我們在那裡游泳是否安全，
05:40
and all of the other
characteristics we sense
characteristics we sense
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以及我們用雙眼、鼻子和味蕾
05:43
with our eyes, noses and taste buds.
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所感受到的所有其他特徵。
05:45
And the more we pay attention
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我們越是去注意
05:46
to these small but very numerous
members of the ocean,
members of the ocean,
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海洋中這些為數眾多的小成員，
05:49
the more we're learning
they do indeed respond to human actions,
they do indeed respond to human actions,
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我們越會了解到，
它們的確會對人類的行為有反應，
它們的確會對人類的行為有反應，
05:53
such as in this fish farm example.
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就像養魚的那個例子。
05:55
Now, as the past few slides
about coral reefs may have suggested,
about coral reefs may have suggested,
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如同前幾張珊瑚礁投影片所暗示的，
05:58
I do indeed spend much
of my time as a researcher
of my time as a researcher
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身為研究者，我的確花了很多時間
06:01
thinking about human-microbe interactions,
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去思考人類和微生物的互動，
06:04
specifically on coral reefs.
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特別是在珊瑚礁上。
06:06
It turns out,
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結果發現，
06:07
we're not alone in having
our own protective community of microbes.
our own protective community of microbes.
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並不只有我們受到
微生物社群的保護。
微生物社群的保護。
06:10
Corals, along with most other
organisms on this planet,
organisms on this planet,
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珊瑚，以及地球上
其他大多數有機體，
其他大多數有機體，
06:14
have their own protective
communities as well.
communities as well.
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也都有它們自己的保護社群。
06:17
However, rather than keeping theirs
on the inside as we do in our gut,
on the inside as we do in our gut,
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然而，並不像我們把保護社群
放在我們的腸子中，
放在我們的腸子中，
06:21
they keep theirs on the outside,
to protect them from their surroundings
to protect them from their surroundings
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它們的保護社群在外面，
保護它們不受環境傷害。
保護它們不受環境傷害。
06:25
So what you're seeing here
is a three-dimensional image
is a three-dimensional image
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各位現在看到的是一個三維的影像，
06:28
of a live spot on a living coral
with all of its living bacteria,
with all of its living bacteria,
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是活珊瑚上的一部份，
包括它所有的活細菌，
包括它所有的活細菌，
06:33
that I took with some
exciting technology --
exciting technology --
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這影像是我用很棒的技術取得的－
06:35
a high-speed laser-scanning
confocal microscope.
confocal microscope.
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高速雷射掃瞄共軛焦顯微鏡。
06:38
All of the red circles
are the symbiotic algae
are the symbiotic algae
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所有的紅色圓圈都是共生海藻，
06:42
that live inside the coral tissue,
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住在珊瑚組織內，
06:44
turning sunlight and into sugars
they both can use,
they both can use,
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把太陽光轉換成它們
都可以用得到的糖類，
都可以用得到的糖類，
06:47
and all of the little blue dots
are the protective bacteria.
are the protective bacteria.
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所有的小藍點，就是保護性的細菌。
06:53
So when I use image analysis software
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我使用影像分析軟體
06:56
to highlight the outer layer
of the coral in white,
of the coral in white,
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把珊瑚的外層用白色來強調，
06:59
you can see that there are still
some tiny little blue dots
some tiny little blue dots
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你們可以看到，仍然有一些小藍點
07:02
above that layer.
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在那一層之上。
07:04
And those bacteria are sitting
in a mucus layer,
in a mucus layer,
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那些細菌位在黏液層，
07:07
which is also part
of the coral's protective layer.
of the coral's protective layer.
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那也是珊瑚的保護層的一部份。
07:11
From the bigger perspective,
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從更大的觀點來看，
07:12
I spend my time thinking
about these relationships,
about these relationships,
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我把時間花在思考這些關係上，
07:14
because too many reefs are going
from looking like the picture on your left
from looking like the picture on your left
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因為太多本來是
像左圖這樣子的珊瑚礁
像左圖這樣子的珊瑚礁
07:18
to the picture on your right.
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正在變成右圖那樣子。
07:20
Believe it or not,
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信不信由你，
07:21
the picture on your right remains
a very popular tourist snorkeling spot
a very popular tourist snorkeling spot
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右圖中的地方仍然是
非常熱門的觀光浮潛景點，
非常熱門的觀光浮潛景點，
07:24
on the island of Maui,
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位在茂伊島，
07:26
even though it's lost most of its coral
cover over the past decade or so.
cover over the past decade or so.
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儘管在過去十年左右已經
失去了大部份的珊瑚覆蓋。
失去了大部份的珊瑚覆蓋。
07:29
Corals are getting sick
all around the globe at alarming rates,
all around the globe at alarming rates,
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全球的珊瑚都在生病，
且速度非常快，
且速度非常快，
07:32
and we really don't know how or why.
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我們並不知道如何、為什麼發生。
07:36
I see the microbes on the coral reefs,
both the good ones and the bad ones,
both the good ones and the bad ones,
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我看到在珊瑚礁上的微生物，
不論是好的或壞的，
不論是好的或壞的，
07:41
trying to link their micro-scale
behaviors to this big picture
behaviors to this big picture
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都在嘗試把它們的微小行為
連結到這個大局面：
連結到這個大局面：
07:45
of: How do we help the reef
that looks like the right
that looks like the right
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我們要如何協助像右邊這樣的珊瑚礁
07:49
back towards something
that looks more like the left?
that looks more like the left?
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回到像左邊這個樣子？
07:52
Or: How do we stop
coral disease from spreading?
coral disease from spreading?
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或：我們要如何阻止珊瑚疾病散播？
07:54
Just over a year ago,
no one had ever seen a view like this.
no one had ever seen a view like this.
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僅一年前，都沒有人
看過像這樣的景象。
看過像這樣的景象。
07:58
This video is a prime example
of making the invisible visible.
of making the invisible visible.
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這支影片是個最好的例子，
把看不見的變成看得見的。
把看不見的變成看得見的。
08:04
We're looking at a side view
of the same coral as before,
of the same coral as before,
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我們現在看到的，
是先前看過的珊瑚的側面，
是先前看過的珊瑚的側面，
08:06
where the protective layer
meets the seawater;
meets the seawater;
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這是保護層和海水的交界處；
08:09
so, seawater on your right,
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海水在右手邊，
08:10
coral on your left.
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珊瑚在左手邊。
08:12
It's incredibly exciting to me
that we can finally see these bacteria
that we can finally see these bacteria
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這很讓我興奮，
我們終於可以即時看到
我們終於可以即時看到
08:16
in real life, in real time,
at their micro scale,
at their micro scale,
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這些活生生的細菌，
且是從它們的微尺度來看，
且是從它們的微尺度來看，
08:20
and learn how they interact
with the world around them.
with the world around them.
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並去了解它們如何
和周圍的世界互動。
和周圍的世界互動。
08:23
Ecologists all over the world
are used to being able
are used to being able
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全世界的生態學家都很習慣能夠
08:25
to grab a pair of binoculars
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拿起一組雙目望遠鏡，
08:27
and go out and observe
what their study creatures do each day.
what their study creatures do each day.
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走出去觀察他們研究的
生物每天在做什麼。
生物每天在做什麼。
08:30
But microbial ecologists
have desperately needed
have desperately needed
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但微生物生態學家非常需要
08:33
breakthroughs in technology,
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在技術上有突破，
08:35
such as with this fast confocal,
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就像這高速共軛焦顯微鏡，
08:37
to make similar observations.
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才能做到類似的觀察。
08:40
I work to find ways that cutting-edge
technologies like this
technologies like this
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我努力在找方法，
讓像這樣的尖端科技
讓像這樣的尖端科技
08:43
can help make the unseen seeable,
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能協助讓看不見的東西被看見，
08:46
to see marine bacteria in action
and learn how they behave.
and learn how they behave.
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看見海洋細菌在活動，
了解它們的行為。
了解它們的行為。
08:51
In doing so, we can learn how they respond
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若能這麼做，我們就能了解
它們對我們的行為和行動，
它們對我們的行為和行動，
08:53
to our actions and our behaviors
and the environment around them
and the environment around them
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以及它們周邊的環境會有什麼反應，
08:57
in ways that will help us
better manage our oceans.
better manage our oceans.
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才能幫助我們把海洋管理得更好。
09:00
Another example of how I'm doing this
is by using microfluidics
is by using microfluidics
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再舉個例子說明我怎麼做，
我用的是微流控，
我用的是微流控，
09:08
to study specifically how pathogens
behave in the ocean.
behave in the ocean.
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特別用來研究病原體
在海洋中的行為。
在海洋中的行為。
09:11
The basic idea behind microfluidics
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微流控背後的基本想法是
09:13
is that you can use
nanofabrication techniques
nanofabrication techniques
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你可以用奈米製造技術
09:16
to recreate or mimic
the conditions bacteria experience
the conditions bacteria experience
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來重現或模仿細菌所經歷的狀況，
且用的是它們自己
在海洋中的微小尺度。
在海洋中的微小尺度。
09:20
at their own tiny scale in the ocean.
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09:23
What you see here is a microfluidic
chamber on a microscope slide
chamber on a microscope slide
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你們看到的是顯微鏡
載玻片上的微流控室，
載玻片上的微流控室，
09:28
with a microscope lens underneath it.
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下面有顯微鏡的鏡頭。
09:31
We use high-speed video microscopy
to record bacteria behavior.
to record bacteria behavior.
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我們用高速影像顯微鏡觀察，
來記錄細菌的行為。
來記錄細菌的行為。
09:35
The colored tubing is where
bacteria and seawater flow
bacteria and seawater flow
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有顏色的管線是細菌
和海水流入和流出
和海水流入和流出
09:38
in and out of the device.
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這個裝置的管道。
09:40
And it's using a device like this
that I recently discovered
that I recently discovered
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最近我用像這樣的裝置，發現到
09:44
that a known coral pathogen
actually has the ability
actually has the ability
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一種已知的珊瑚病原體真的有能力
09:47
to sniff around the seawater
and hunt for corals.
and hunt for corals.
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在海水中聞來聞去，獵尋珊瑚。
09:51
Here's the video of in action.
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影片裡它們正在行動中。
09:53
You'll see all of the pathogens
which are the tiny green dots on the left
which are the tiny green dots on the left
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你們會看到，左邊的
小綠點是所有的病原體，
小綠點是所有的病原體，
09:58
start detecting the coral mucus I put
on the right side of the channel,
on the right side of the channel,
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它們開始偵測我放在
通道右邊的珊瑚黏液，
通道右邊的珊瑚黏液，
10:02
and they swim quickly
over in that direction and stay there.
over in that direction and stay there.
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它們很快速地游向
那個方向並待在那裡。
那個方向並待在那裡。
10:06
Up until now, it was thought
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一直到現在，人們還認為
10:08
that a pathogen would need some good luck
to find its host in the ocean.
to find its host in the ocean.
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病原體會需要好運氣
才能在海洋中找到宿主。
才能在海洋中找到宿主。
10:13
But simply by watching
and observing, we can learn
and observing, we can learn
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但光是靠著看、
靠著觀察，我們就發現到
靠著觀察，我們就發現到
10:16
that these bacteria are very well adapted
to seeking out their victims.
to seeking out their victims.
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這些細菌非常懂得如何
找到它們的受害者。
找到它們的受害者。
10:21
These micro-channels are bringing
us closer than ever before
us closer than ever before
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這些微通道讓我們比以前更接近
10:24
to understanding how bacteria
navigate that big blue ocean.
navigate that big blue ocean.
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能夠了解細菌在大藍海中如何導航。
10:28
It turns out that this pathogen
can even detect the coral mucus
can even detect the coral mucus
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結果發現，這種病原體
甚至可以偵測到
甚至可以偵測到
被我稀釋成兩萬分之一的珊瑚黏液。
10:34
when I dilute it 20,000 fold.
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10:37
So these bacteria are very well adapted
to hunting down these corals.
to hunting down these corals.
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所以這些細菌非常擅長獵尋珊瑚。
10:43
I'm currently testing
different environmental conditions
different environmental conditions
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我目前正在測試不同的環境條件，
10:47
to see what scenarios make
this pathogen more or less capable
this pathogen more or less capable
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看看在什麼情況下，
這種病原體會比較能
或比較不能找到珊瑚。
或比較不能找到珊瑚。
10:51
of hunting corals.
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10:52
By learning more
about what triggers the hunt,
about what triggers the hunt,
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若能更了解是什麼觸發了獵尋，
10:55
we should be able to find ways
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我們應該就能找到方法
10:57
to help slow down or prevent this disease.
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來協助減緩或預防這種疾病。
11:00
There's also some evidence
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也有一些證據顯示
11:02
that the healthy microbes on the coral
can fight off the pathogen
can fight off the pathogen
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珊瑚上的健康微生物
能夠抵抗病原體，
能夠抵抗病原體，
11:07
if the conditions are right.
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如果條件適當的話。
11:09
So, one final image of a coral
and its healthy bacteria.
and its healthy bacteria.
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最後再看一張珊瑚
和其健康細菌的影像。
和其健康細菌的影像。
11:13
I hope you've enjoyed this short journey
into our microbial oceans
into our microbial oceans
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我希望你們很享受這趟
短暫的微生物海洋之旅，
短暫的微生物海洋之旅，
11:16
and that the next time you
look out at the sea,
look out at the sea,
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下次你們望向大海時，
11:19
you'll take in a deep breath
of fresh ocean air and wonder:
of fresh ocean air and wonder:
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你們會深深吸一口新鮮的
海洋空氣，心中納悶：
海洋空氣，心中納悶：
11:22
What else are all
of the unseen microbes doing
of the unseen microbes doing
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所有這些看不見的
微生物還在做些什麼
微生物還在做些什麼
11:25
to keep us and our oceans healthy?
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來讓我們和我們的海洋保持健康？
11:27
Thank you.
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謝謝。
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Melissa Garren - Marine biologistMelissa Garren is a molecular and marine biologist with a passion for unlocking the mysteries of our ocean's ecosystems and finding new avenues for conservation.
Why you should listen
Melissa Garren studies marine microbes to better understand how pollution and climate change are destroying coral reefs and effecting our environment. Working under a fellowship from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute she began using molecular techniques to study microbial life in the ocean. At the Costa Rican wildlife refuge, Melissa helped spearhead a long-term monitoring project as well as educational initiatives. After recently receiving her Ph.D. in Marine Biology from the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, she is now using microfluidic technology to understand the living ecosystem of coral reefs in a postdoctoral position at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Melissa Garren | Speaker | TED.com