Our guest speaker for November is Kassie Cvikel.

"Kasserena (Kassie) Cvikel's research focuses on the sedimentary fill of the Mesoproterozoic (1.1 Ga) Midcontinent Rift System (MCR) in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Specifically, she is investigating the Copper Harbor Conglomerate Formation (CHC), a volcaniclastic succession that preserves a variety of remarkable sedimentary structures. Within this widely interpreted alluvial fan system, Kassie's work has identified a unique interval in which exceptionally well-preserved microbial mat communities appear to have expanded landward into newly colonized terrestrial environments. This rarely studied field site provides compelling evidence for some of the earliest terrestrial microbial ecosystems, offering valuable insights into the transition of life from aquatic to subaerial settings."